old world driver help!

traut · Nov 10th, 2007, 01:08 PM

I've got a 9600/300 that I'm trying to get a pci usb card working on. Its an Opti Firelink with the 82C861 chipset. I searched everywhere on line, and no one seems to have a driver that will work with OS 9. Closest I found was a driver from Macalley for a card that used the same chipset, but it didn't work. Does anyone have a dusty old disk kicking around with the right drivers that they'd care to share? Or maybe point me towards some dark corner of the internet where technology like this goes to die? Any help/suggestions appreciated!

Dave

Rob · Nov 10th, 2007, 05:54 PM

OS 9 often doesn't like USB2 cards. USB1 cards usually aren't a problem. Even if you can get a USB2 card to function, it will only work at USB1 speeds in OS9.

Check your computer flea markets for an old USB1 card. They shouldn't cost more than a few bucks now. If I remember correctly, it's the Texas Instruments chipset that is the one to get (USB1).

traut · Nov 11th, 2007, 10:47 AM

Actually the card is USB1. Here's the specs I found on it:

OPTi offers the world's "most compatible" USB solution. Introduced in 1997, the 82C861 controller was the first practical OHCI solution available, and continues to outsell the competition due to its high quality and low price. Two ports, 12Mbps bandwidth, and your choice of PQFP or LQFP 100-pin packages make the FireLink a perfect design solution for adding USB capabilities to motherboards, in embedded applications, on a PCI card or through CardBus.

FireLink 82C861 Controller features:
Windows 98/Me/CE/2000 support
Apple Mac OS support
OpenHCI
Dual USB ports
1.5 Mbps and 12Mbps data rate
USB Rev 1.1 and PCI Rev 2.1 compliant
Same device operates at 3.3V or 5V
Managed power consumption
Clock stop capable
Pin compatible with CMD, Lucent parts
100-pin PQFP/LQFP

Anyways not the end of the world if I don't get the card to work. I'm planning on selling the 9600 soon, and just wanted working USB as a bonus to have on an old world machine. Thanks for the tip on the Texas Instruments card, if I'm in this situation again I'll look for one of those.

Rob · Nov 11th, 2007, 11:58 AM

Check in your Extensions folder (Inside your System Folder). Make sure the Apple USB extensions are installed. There should be one called "USB Support", "USB Device Extension", and a few others. It's possible that some were disabled when you installed 3rd party drivers.

You could also try moving the PCI card to another slot. The 9600 has six slots. I think the top 3 and the bottom three are on different power blocks. If there are other cards in the same block they may be pulling too much power to also run a USB card. This is also a problem if you have an older G4 upgrade card.

Another thing you can do is zap the pram. Hold down the Apple-Option-P-R keys during boot up. This will clear the pram memory, and may help the system recognize the new card. Removing the power cord and the motherboard battery for a minute or two will do the same thing. In either case you'll have to reset the date and time afterwards.