Mac OS X 10.4: SCSI Issues: Fix for Adaptec cards; Drives causing startup/shut down problems, more

Adaptec SCSI fix Several users have reported issues with Adaptec SCSI cards after updating to Mac OS X 10.4, including an inability to recognize SCSI devices, problems starting up or shutting down with the card installed, and more.

A workaround, successful for many users, involves removing the following files from the /System/Library/Extensions folder:

• Adaptec 290X-2930.kext
• Adaptec 29160x.kext
• Adaptec 39160x.kext

but leaving the file

• Adaptec 78XXSCSI.kext

in place, then restarting.

MacFixIt reader Steve Morris writes:

"I left Adaptec78XXSCSI.kext as the only SCSI Adaptec driver (had the newest date) and that restored my 2906 card and scanner. Also now when I look in system profiler, I see one UMAX Scanner in the Parallel SCSI device tree not multiples I had seen before."

Other SCSI issues Despite success of the Adaptec workaround above, various SCSI devices are still causing major problems with Mac OS X 10.4 including problems installing the OS, starting up, shutting down, or using other devices. If you are having such problems, disconnect any SCSI devices or SCSI PCI expansion cards and check for persistence of the issue.

MacFixIt reader Norm Gan reports an issue where other devices' functionality is affected by the presence of SCSI expansion cards:

Norm writes:

"I have had a strange problem in Mac OS X 10.4 that appears to be related to the presence of my Adaptec 2930 SCSI card. Printer Setup Utility will not let me select Epson AppleTalk to add my Stylus Color 980N connected via EtherNet. As soon as I select Epson AppleTalk from More Printers in PSU, I get a non-quittable hang (cannot quit even from Activity Monitor, which also hangs).

"I have removed all the Adaptec Extensions from /System/Library/Extensions, but it does not help. I have done all the various Installations (started with Archive and Install, followed by Upgrade Install, and finally an Erase and Install on my G4 450DP/1.5GB) with no change to the problem. Card must be removed to get to my networked Epson Stylus Color 980N."

Dave Manning reports a similar issue, where Mac OS X 10.4 refused to install until a SCSI card was removed.

David writes:

"I too have had problems with my SCSI card from Adaptec. The card had to be removed prior to installing OSX 10.4. The DVD would stall during startup. When I removed the card, the installation went flawlessly."

Keith Young reports that SCSI cards from manufacturers other than Adaptec are affected:

"I use an Initio Miles Bluenote card in my Quicksilver dual 1 GHz G4 to run my Microtek Scanmaker 5. With 'Tiger' it no longer works although the card is visible to the system profiler. Initio are working on a fix."

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