[Nobody]

(I posted this note in 911 with no response; maybe here I'll have better luck?)
I have a dual 500 MHz G4, using an Adaptec 2906 card to daisy-chain my older SCSI devices as follows: 2906->zip drive->Agfa duoscan T1200 scanner->jaz 1 drive. I have two hard drives on my computer, one of which runs 10.2.8 (Jaguar) and is used for backups; the other one, used for current work, runs 10.3.2 (Panther).
All SCSI devices work with no problems when the system is booted up under Jaguar, and also when the system is booted up under Classic from the disk with the Panther OS installed.
Under 10.3.2 the scanner fails to be recognized by the Fotolook 3.6 software and a system profile shows "No information available" under the SCSI category. However, both the zip drive at the beginning of the SCSI chain and the jaz 1 drive at the end, work fine: disks and cartridges mount and are recognizable.
Similar problems have been noticed by a number of people at the appropriate Mac OS X forum, and the buck is being passed by Apple, Adaptec, and Agfa, according to their reports. Some people claim to have their SCSI devices working after installing, re-installing or deinstalling various extensions, but it does not sound like the problem is understood. None of the suggested methods worked for me.
I don't know enough to understand the intricacies of kernel and off-kernel drivers, but somehow the SCSI information is not being passed to the system profiler by the Panther Adaptec driver, and it is not being passed to my scanner software. I would love to learn how to modify the existing drivers to correct this problem, but I also would be happy if Apple would clean up the drivers used under Panther or if Adaptec would provide a new driver that works with Panther. Do you have any suggestions?

[PCsmashr]

I have an Adaptec SCSI 2906 too. I think the scanner not being recognised is a panther issue, rather than a scanner issue. My SCSI scanner is not recognised at all on Panther, nor classic environment. I have to boot into OS 9, which I don't do. To fix your problem, make sure the SCSI card is installed properly in your machines PCI slot. (I'm assuming you have a Sawtooth right?) Make sure the scanner is on and everything. Then boot up, check the system profiler under PCI/AGP cards. If the card is correctly installed, then it will show up as" pci9004,750- SCSI bus controller, or something like that. If it shows up, you know your card isnt the problem, and that you just have an outdated scanner. I'm probably upgrading to a USB scanner anyway. But make sure you have your Scanner drivers installed in OS 9 also, just to be sure. If you need any more help, or have more questions post back. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Nobody]

Thanks for your comment. I can see the PCI card as you describe. Also, I can use my Zip and Jaz drives, which are on the same SCSI daisychain, but not the scanner. However, my system profiler does not recognize any SCSI devices ("No information available"), so I think that the problem is that Panther does not make the SCSI information available, whereas Jaguar does (everything shows up properly under the system profiler). Is there any place where I can learn how to edit the Apple SCSI driver?

[Philbert]

I have a very similar setup with the same results.
Panther
Jaguar
external scsi Jaz drive
Adaptec 2906
Agfa Arcus II
First of all, you have to realize that Agfa is OUT of the scanner business. The Fotolook driver for OSX is a first generation beta (circa 10.1) that won't be developed any further.
In 10.1, I could use the scanner with no problem. In 10.2, I could usually get the scanner to work but it involved numerous restarts until it finally showed up - it was really hit and miss. If the scsi card didn't appear in Sys Profiler (as a bunch of ATA cards), I knew the scanner wouldn't work. However, after one of the 10.2 updates, using Fotolook would result in a kernel panic so I scrapped the idea of using it in OSX. (I had no interest in using VueScan)
In Panther, I can't get the scanner to show up at all, despite the fact that my Jazz drive works fine. (and always has) I too get "no information" under scsi devices in Sys Profiler. That very well might be the key. Does anyone using a scsi card (different brand?), have the card show up?
Alas, I think it's simply time we accept the fact that scsi is a dying/dead I/O. I could spend money experimenting with other scsi cards trying to get it to work, but I really don't see the point. My scanner was fairly high-end at the time I bought it ('96 - $2200), but the truth is, a scanner with Firewire/USB capabilities, which will provide better quality and higher resolution than the Agfa can be bought for $300.
(I also just replaced my old $1300, Apple LaserWriter Select 360 for an HP laser that cost $360 which is twice as fast with twice the resolution.)
That's progress ...

[PCsmashr]

I just found a program that lets me scan in OS X! Panther too! Its really cool! ITs called VueScan, and it is optomised for OS X and scsi scanner compatibility. This program can be found on versiontracker. Maybe it will work for you guys too! My useless scanner, has found new life because of this wonderfull program. Thanks Vuescan! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[PCsmashr]

By the way, I'm using a SCSI Microtek Scanmaker X6EL from 1998, and it now works perfectly in OS X. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Nobody]

I have an Adaptec 2906 card in my digital audio G4 ( suped up with a Mercury Extreme 1.2-1.47 processor which I can only set at 1.33 because I get kernal panics otherwise). The SCSI card does not show up in the Apple System Profiler yet my old Umax S6E Vista scanner seems to work fine in 10.3.2 using Vuescan. However, I get freezes every day or so and I think my 2906 card might be at fault ... also might be the reason I can't use the new processor at its maximum and guaranteed speed. But it does in fact work.
Any advice from anyone about the 2906 card ( should I remove it? bite the bullet and buy a USB scanner? ) Anyone know why I might be getting freezes that require a cold restart? I'd appreciate help. I have two internal HDs as well as a Pioneer-105 superdrive I installed later. 640 mgs memory.

[Nobody]

Hi. I realize now that my SCSI card, Adaptec 2906, does show up in the ASP under PCI/AGP cards so you've convinced me my card is good. It doesn't show up under SCSI either. Yet the scanner, an old Umax S6E Vista, does work with Vuescan. From what you say, even if the card is good, my scanner probably needs replacing ... especially since I get freezes once a day. (I am using 10.3.2). Do you know if I can just continue to use what I have, in spite of occasional freezes, rather than replace anything ... or would it be better for the overall running of my G4 on 10.3.2 to go over finally to usb and buy a new scanner?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks ... fern

[Maj_Salvo]

fernem,
I think you should compare, the 2906 and 2930 cards. I started out with the 2906, on my B&W G-3, but found out the 2930 was twice as fast as the 2906, and it's peripheral support was bootable, the 2906 being non-bootable. Also the 2930 is UltraSCSI, w/50 pin connections I/O.
My scsi chain being, pci 2930, Imation super disk drive, 4X CD drive, LaCie 4x 4x 16x CD burner, Microtec scanmaker V310, and Epsom Stylus 1520 color printer.

[theoceanfrog]

hey jh
i have a very similar set up to you and don't want to get rid og my legal size scanner plate. are you abe to scan in photoshop? and how did you get everything working - just making the conversion now
thanks for any advice you can offer
peace
k