New FHC Computers Is RATOC SCSI to USB cable still available

Prayers answered. We finally received two new computers for our FHC, today. Dell OptiPlex 7010 and Dell OptiPlex 9020.

Does anyone know if the RATOC (U2SCX) SCSI to USB cable is still available as it appears production has ceased? If not available, I will have to change the SCSI card to the cascaded computer which can take a full card or see if a smaller card is available.

I will call FHC support tomorrow and see what suggestions they have for our Canon MS300 scanner. It is currently interfaced with HP Compaq 530. Looking at the forum I have noticed many have used the RATOC cable to interface their Canon MS300 scanner.

I looked at the FHC help center, but many of items are not showing even when logged in with LDS sign in.

Thanks

Bizegrama wrote:If not available, I will have to change the SCSI card to the cascaded computer

Before you do that, you might want to look for drivers for that version of Windows. If you've got a 64-bit OS, than you must use 64-bit drivers. You can't use 32-bit on a 64 OS.

Thanks, russelhltn

The new computers are both Windows 7 64-bit OS (checked that today). I will look for the drivers for 64-bit. Old computer had Windows XP 32-bit OS.

Don't want to try changing without being able to get it up and running as we have a patron using the Canon scanner for downloading images from some Polish microfilms.

You might also check with Dell to see if there is an optional "riser" available for your machine's form factor. This allows full height PCI/PCIe cards to mount sideways in the case.

You might also look around and see if there's another machine in the center running Win7 that might be a better choice for the microfilm scanner. Either because it accommodates the card or because it's Win7-32 bit.

Also check the various machines for support folders. Some people have found drivers stashed away there.

russellhltn wrote:You might also look around and see if there's another machine in the center running Win7 that might be a better choice for the microfilm scanner. Either because it accommodates the card or because it's Win7-32 bit.

At present I have the two new computers the Dell Optiplex 7010 & 9020, the other computers are a cascaded Lenova large console running with 4GB ram Win 7 64 bit, a cascaded old HP Console with only 1GB ram running Win XP 32 bit & never updated, and the old HP Compaq 530 with XP 32-bit which came with the MS300 scanner as "digital imaging unit". My hope was to get rid of the latter two.

Unfortunately, we are very limited on space, I may have to leave the old (10 yr old HP Compaq - which I already replaced HD a few years ago) up and running and put new computer on top of old one and figure a way to use one monitor/keyboard for both. I was hoping to replace the old HP Compaq 530 with the Optiplex 7010. We have the MS300 scanner, computer/monitor/Lexmark MX511dhe all on one 6' banquet table. We have small rolling computer tables for the other two computers of which one I am getting rid of - cascaded HP console.

The options are getting fewer and fewer. Have spent most of morning taking to technical support (most it waiting on the phone). I have spoke the technical support for FHC support - Ratoc SCSI to USB cables no longer available. The few I see on internet are like $600, money we can't afford. I also spoke with Dell, and Canon. Canon suggested I call a couple of places that work with National Archives. So have a few more phone calls to make. But it's looking bleak!!

Update:

A few more phone calls and spoke with technical support at Adaptec (referred by a different company's tech support). Wonderfully helpful person! I am going to check the current SCSI adapter card in the old HP Compaq, if it is an adaptec, she said it might have a driver for Win 7 (which means I can move over to old cascaded Lenovo). Even if it doesn't list on site - to call TS as sometimes they can figure it out.

The other option is a PCI SCSI card to put in the new computer which may be the way I go. She even checked to see what slots the Optiplex 7010 has available and what might work with it. There are two options for cards for the new computer, both operate faster than we need (one is reasonable in price, the other is 3x more). The first one would be best.

TS did say if we purchase, they will have to help us adjust speed as scanner operates much slower than speed of card. But they are equally willing to help if the old card is adaptec, too. Real customer service, I am impressed! They know their products.

Kudos to Adaptec for great technical support personnel. And it only took one phone transfer to get a live person at TS. Hope if I call back tomorrow I get the same person.

Kudos & Thanks to all of you here on the tech forum. I will update as this proceeds.

Bizegrama wrote:The other option is a PCI SCSI card to put in the new computer which may be the way I go. She even checked to see what slots the Optiplex 7010 has available and what might work with it. There are two options for cards for the new computer, both operate faster than we need (one is reasonable in price, the other is 3x more). The first one would be best.

A word of caution, if you go this route.

We were in a similar situation, except that we have the Konica Minolta MS6000 MKII. We purchased a SCSI card for one of our new computers. The card came with Windows 7 drivers. It turned out that Konica Minolta had abandoned SCSI support after Windows XP. The only Windows 7 drivers they had were for USB connections. Our final solution ended up being to buy a USB conversion kit from KM, which replaced the SCSI interface board in the scanner with a USB interface.

The Adaptec PCI SCSI card we bought was not returnable for a refund. PM me if are interested in it. If it will solve your problem, you might as well have it.

danpass wrote:A word of caution ... It turned out that Konica Minolta had abandoned SCSI support after Windows XP.

Bummer. The FHC I'm responsible for has a Canon MS300 Microfilm scanner connected to a SCSI card running Windows 7/32bit. So that shouldn't be a show-stopper for the Canon. The card is the one originally given to us with the first WinXP scan station.

russellhltn wrote:

danpass wrote:A word of caution ... It turned out that Konica Minolta had abandoned SCSI support after Windows XP.

Bummer. The FHC I'm responsible for has a Canon MS300 Microfilm scanner connected to a SCSI card running Windows 7/32bit. So that shouldn't be a show-stopper for the Canon. The card is the one originally given to us with the first WinXP scan station.

The SCSI card in our original scan station did not have Windows 7 support. I did try installing it in the new computer, but Windows could not find a driver for it, nor could I find one to download. Your card is probably newer.

Wow, so much to consider.

The Adaptec TS person suggested the Adaptec SCSI Card 29160N.

http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/support/sc ... sc-29160n/

Though she said the speed it operates at (160mb/sec) is too fast for most scanners, so they would have to help me turn down the speed. It does come with Win 7 64 bit drivers, and from what I have read on this forum the MS300ii scanner drivers will work.

Any input is appreciated.

The card I have, to which you are welcome is the Adaptec 29320LPE PCI-Express Ultra320 SCSI Controller Card. I also have an adapter cable TMC C7030-3PA-AT -- VHDCI68-HD50, 3FT, w/Active High-Byte. We paid $125 for the card and $34 for the cable. I'm pretty sure our FHC director will agree to just let you have either or both, if they will solve your problem and if you were to pay for the shipping.

danpass wrote:The card I have, to which you are welcome is the Adaptec 29320LPE PCI-Express Ultra320 SCSI Controller Card. I also have an adapter cable TMC C7030-3PA-AT -- VHDCI68-HD50, 3FT, w/Active High-Byte. We paid $125 for the card and $34 for the cable. I'm pretty sure our FHC director will agree to just let you have either or both, if they will solve your problem and if you were to pay for the shipping.

Thanks, I will have to check and see if it will work with the new computer or older one. I'll do a little research.

danpass wrote:The SCSI card in our original scan station did not have Windows 7 support. I did try installing it in the new computer, but Windows could not find a driver for it, nor could I find one to download. Your card is probably newer.

Maybe. I think we were part of the original roll-out. I might have found the drivers with the help of either the forum or the FHC mailing list. But for Win7/32, XP drivers usually work just fine. It's Win7/64 that causes no end of grief for older hardware. (Which is why I suggested looking at using one of the other computers in your center for the scanner.)

I'll have to stop by the FHC and check the model.

russellhltn wrote:I'll have to stop by the FHC and check the model.

According to the sticker on the chip: Adaptec AVA-2930LP. It's a half-height card. The scanner says "Canon Microfilm Scanner 300" on the front, "M31022" on the back. All under Win7/32-bit.

The old HP Comapq 530 has an Adaptec AHA 2930 cu SCSI card. The old card is 2.5 x 4.7 inches, so will not fit in new Dell Optiplex 7010 which has one PCI slot & one PCI express slot that are smaller. There is a Win 7 32 bit driver for the old card, but no Win 7 64 bit driver. Speed is real slow compared to the newer cards. 20mb/sec versus 160mb/sec or higher.

Need to make another call to Adaptec. I need to find out if what will work with a speed 1/6 of newer cards. I will check for drivers for MS300 on newer computers (but doubt they will have them since scanner is so old). The older cascaded might have them.

Hmm... I will be working on computers and rearranging computers, etc tomorrow at FHC. If I can find a way, maybe I can just leave old computer with MS300 scanner. Our space is very tight. We have most of the computers in what use to be cloak room, and in the main room (which use to be Relief Society room before we got Phase 2 addition). I have one computer on rolling cart, 3 microfilm viewers, 1 microfiche viewer, 3 tables for microfilm viewers, a file cabinet, a film cabinet, a rolling cart for a few research books, etc. My other big problem is lack of wall plugs. I had to get FM to more in area that is old cloak room area (behind accordion door). But if I move more equipment out in main room, I will need more plugs (even with surge protectors) as there is only one plug on each two sides of room.

Thank you. All will let you know how this all proceeds

Bizegrama wrote:I will check for drivers for MS300 on newer computers (but doubt they will have them since scanner is so old). The older cascaded might have them.

Others have already indicated that there are both 64 and 32 bit Windows 7 drivers available for the MS300.

danpass wrote:The card I have, to which you are welcome is the Adaptec 29320LPE PCI-Express Ultra320 SCSI Controller Card. I also have an adapter cable TMC C7030-3PA-AT -- VHDCI68-HD50, 3FT, w/Active High-Byte. We paid $125 for the card and $34 for the cable. I'm pretty sure our FHC director will agree to just let you have either or both, if they will solve your problem and if you were to pay for the shipping.

danpass, the card you have, the Adaptec 29320LPE PCI Express, is one of the two that the Adaptec TS recommended. Will talk with Adaptec tomorrow. It will require an adapter as the MS300 has 50 pin and the 29320 is 68 pin. I will PM you tomorrow. We have no problem paying for postage if it will work for us. Thank you so much for the offer.

Bizegrama wrote:It will require an adapter as the MS300 has 50 pin and the 29320 is 68 pin.

You will not need to buy an adapter. The adapter cable I offered to you along with the SCSI card is exactly what you need.

Bizegrama wrote:I will PM you tomorrow. We have no problem paying for postage if it will work for us. Thank you so much for the offer.

You're welcome. I'm glad that it will be put to good use.

I just spoke with the FHC director and she did agree to let you have the card and cable.

If you are needing the 64-bit drivers for any of the three major microfilm/fiche readers (Canon MS300, MS300 II, MK MS6000 MKII) they are available through the FHC Application Finder (Digital Imaging System 64-bit Drivers).
Also, I am in the process of creating a package and knowledge article pertaining to a 64-bit SCSI drivers that were used previously. Currently Adaptec does not make 64-bit drivers for their older SCSI cards but I was able to find a 64-bit driver that has worked for the Adaptec cards that we have here in SLC.

hobbsrc wrote:If you are needing the 64-bit drivers for any of the three major microfilm/fiche readers (Canon MS300, MS300 II, MK MS6000 MKII) they are available through the FHC Application Finder (Digital Imaging System 64-bit Drivers).

Also, I am in the process of creating a package and knowledge article pertaining to a 64-bit SCSI drivers that were used previously. Currently Adaptec does not make 64-bit drivers for their older SCSI cards but I was able to find a 64-bit driver that has worked for the Adaptec cards that we have here in SLC.

That's good to know. I did find some 64 bit drivers for the Canon MS300ii which I understand will work with with SCSI, too. It was on cascaded computer I received a year ago that has Win 7 64 bit. They were in Digital Imaging System folder. I copied those files on to the new computer.

Please let us know when the new knowledge article is ready.

Thanks

Hi, We have a Minolta MS6000 with a RATOC U2SCX SCSI to USB Convertor. I wanted to try to get it working with a Windows 7 64bit Computer. The Scanner works with the old XP Computer, but the computer is having

difficulities maintaining Printer drivers when the Scanner is working.

I have 64 bit drivers for the Minolta ms6000 but I cannot locate Windows 7 drivers for the RATOC U2SCX Convertor.

Did anyone have any luck getting this setup to work with a Windows 7 Computer?

Jack
FHC Director

Give the drivers found here a shot. It doesn't say Vista/Win 7, but it does say x64 - and that's the most important part.

Also, if you go on the FHC Application Finder, it may have some drivers there.

Hi, I thank you for the quick response. I downloaded the driver for the U2SCX and will try it Wednesday.

Do you have a link for the FHC Application Finder?

Thanks,
Jack
FHC Director

jslawson55 wrote:Do you have a link for the FHC Application Finder?

Thanks,
Jack
FHC Director

Click the Start button in Windows and search for it on the Start Menu.