Posted on 07/02/2015 10:16:33 AM PDT by NewJerseyJoe
I once again call upon the collective genius of all the FReeper minds, this time to help me solve a computer issue.
I recently had no choice but to upgrade from the PC I've been using since -- wait for it -- 2000 (or thereabouts). Why did I wait so long? Well, because I've tweaked and customized it over the years to do exactly what I want it to do. But I had to face the reality that it's too slow to do things properly anymore, and more and more online stuff just doesn't work on the old XP machine.
I got a Dell-refurbished Optiplex, and I'm extremely happy with the speed and responsiveness, and Win 7 (x64) is quite refreshing.
But there's a snag.... I have an old Microtek legal-size flatbed scanner which I love -- it works perfectly and suits all my needs. (I need the legal-size scan surface for the stuff I work with.) I was worried that my SCSI card wouldn't work in x64, but I found 64-bit drivers online that remedy exactly that problem. So I was ready to proceed with installation when I realized that my Adaptec AIC-7850 (AVA 2906) PCI SCSI controller doesn't fit in the opening for the PCI slot on this computer -- I think it's what they call a "small form factor" PC.
I haven't been in the market for a SCSI product for 15 years, so I don't know what kinds of products are available these days.
1. The first thing I thought of was a low-profile SCSI controller. They're available to purchase, but the ones I found cost a few hundred dollars.
2. Then I thought, "Perhaps someone has invented some sort of SCSI-USB converter." I found such items -- but every product I saw has been discontinued.
3. Next thought: maybe there is some sort of extender card or extension cable, so I can have the SCSI controller outside the chassis of the PC. The only things I found in this regard are ribbon cables meant for use *inside* the chassis.
So I've struck out three times. As I mentioned, I now turn to the experience of my fellow FReepers for a solution. The legal-size flatbed scanners I've found cost hundreds of dollars, and I need a lower-cost solution to this problem.
Your technical expertise is appreciated. Thank you.
Curious — all of these (and similar) USB-to-SCSI devices have been discontinued. I wonder why??
Stick with Adaptec for this stuff. Search google for adaptec scsi low profile external 50 pin. find PCI or PCI-e, (I'm not sure what slot you need).
I know, for instance, an ASC-29160LP would work for you, but I don't know what kind of slot you need to plug it into (PCI or PCI-e). If you only have PCI-e, that won't fit.
If you aren't sure, you can go to http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19?c=&l=&s= and enter the service tag number off of the machine and everything you need to know about that machine is there, even the configuration tab on the page will show you what the machine was when new.
If you are going to buy a used card from ebay, make SURE 1) the card has windows7 or 8 drivers (whichever you need) available on the mfg website. 2) Make SURE the low-profile bracket comes with it. Most cards come with 2 brackets depending on the height of the slot you have. 3) Make sure it is for the correct type of PCI slot in your computer. since you probably already have the cable, you are covered there. Good luck
I replied to the wrong person describing what HE had, not what you had. Disregard my post because I am not clear on what type of SCSI connector you need. Here is a link to a decent guide that will help you sort it out: http://www.ramelectronics.net/scsi_connectors.aspx
My problem is finding an (affordable) SCSI card with a low-profile bracket. My existing card has a full-height bracket and will not fit with this computer.
I'm half-seriously considering snipping off the rest of the bracket to make the card fit. :-o
Sorry if I was imprecise in my previous response. What I meant was the height of the bracket, and if the connecter is more-or-less centered in the bracket.
The simple answer is that SCSI has fallen out of favor and is not being used in newer machines. By comparison, it is old, fat (size) and lazy (slow). As SCSI machines are no longer produced, there is less and less of a market for the parts to maintain the solution.
Toss the scanner..
Don’t laugh, I’ve done similar things. Most of them have just a couple of small screws holding the bracket on and I totally remove them. You will need to make something for the inside of the case though so the card doesn’t get pushed up out of it’s slot when you seat the cable. the best approach is usually making a shim just thick enough to clamp the top of the case against the top of the card. cardboard and tape work just fine, I must say. Just make sure to not block important airflow paths if applicable.
You can pickup a all in one printer/scanner for legal size for about 230 bucks or so depending on brand and features.
They are about 4X the cost of a letter size due to the fact that it’s a smaller market for them.
Trying to stuff a card that was never intended for your motherboard could be done I suppose with a bunch of re-engineering, but I seriously doubt that the program will run on win 7, even if you get the interface to work and I doubt anyone ever wrote a updated program because the old bed scanners are way obsolete.
Junk it....or risk damaging your new box....I used to do builds, and I would not touch that with a ten foot pole.
See (search) the article about what some guy had to do with hw/sw to get his Apple II? computer to connect to the net. It was amazing what can be done to get devices to communicate that were never built that way. Another alternative is to by a used computer of the right Hw/Sw config and dedicate that to your favorite scanner. The first thing I learned about PCs was I needed 2. One to tinker with and one to use to learn how to fix the one I had screwed up. Too bad life is so short....
Sounds like the old computer works. Find a place for it and the scanner and network a folder for scan transfers.
Dremel Tool Time
You must have some pci express slots. Have you thought about buying a pci express scsi card?
Ok I’m confused about what you have. Can you give the Dell model number or service tag? That would make it a breeze to look up the specs and port availabilty.
I didn't buy the refurb from Amazon, but this is the PC. (I have more RAM and a much larger HDD than the one shown.)
When the idiots at TxDOT bought standard HDMI cards to go into small form factor PC’s we found plenty of the short replacement parts to move the cards to but just opted for cutting and bending the standard ones to to fit. Just use one of the “blanks” for an example. Primitive, yes but cheap and functional.
It’s a full-height, half-length card.
What o was suggesting is to go to dells site. I looked and there is extensive docu!mentation on those pc’s. If you have a service tag, you can get the exact config and specifications. I suspect it has PCIe slots. Since it is a business ess pc I would
Suspect they are standard size. I think you may be able to buy a PCIe card to solve your issue.
Hi... as I wrote in the original post, the cards are expensive — a couple of hundred dollars. And as I wrote in a subsequent comment, I’ve been out of work for a while. My choices are (A) find a low-cost solution or (B) no solution at all, i.e., keep the old PC in another room with the scanner hooked up.
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