I have an old centris, and old 7600 and another old mac similar to centris. Cannot get them to boot. Or they sound like they start but no Mac Tone and no graphics. I do have one more mac, It's a Performa 631 w/ CD and one scsi out - no ethernet or fire wire. It boots and works even though the date errror keeps coming on at startup (battery maybe)
I wish to somehow take the old HD's from the other computers and hooked them up somehow so that I can retrieve my info from them. I also have programs like photshop and quark express that I would like to use and thought If I could somehow get these drive hooked up and mount on the desk top as external drives I could still use my programs and info.
Any suggestions? :cool:

With regard to your Performa, try zapping the PRAM at startup: shutdown the computer, start up, and hold down the key combination Command-Option-P-R until you hear the startup chime two or three times. PRAM holds various parameters associated with your Mac OS, including the time/date. If you plan on keeping it, I'd also replace the CMOS battery on the motherboard. If you Google "cmos battery performa 631" you'll find a whole lot of sources for the battery.

With regard to the Centris and 7600, I'd first try the PRAM zapping trick with them. Your monitor info is also stored in PRAM. If that works, it might be worthwhile replacing the CMOS battery for those computers, too. It all depends on what recovering your data is worth to you.

You could create an AppleTalk network by cabling the Macs together if they all had Ethernet ports but that's not an option for you. Assuming you can get the 7600 and Centris up & running, I'd go through the files and identify what you absolutely need to keep, and compress the ones you're going to keep to reduce their size. Then I'd do one of the following (assumes you're wanting to keep the Performa):

1. Create an online file storage account; here's a list of 28 alternatives. Note that the amount of free storage you're going to get is limited, so you'll have to transfer your files in "chunks". Dump your files from the 7600 and Centris, and download them to your Performa. When you're done recycle your old Macs or sell them for a few dollars/euros on a site like eBay or craigslist, or in your local shopping newspaper.

2. Alternatively, buy a SCSI external hard drive large enough to hold all the files from the old Macs. Dump all the files to the hard drive as above.

A great resource for owners of vintage Macs is Low End Mac; they have the specs for all Macs, sources for parts & purchase, mail lists, etc.

And you thought that dinging me by rating my answer negatively would get you better assistance because..

Disagreeing implies the information provided was incorrect or unhelpful. You said they sound like they start and I suggested attempting restarting them with Command-Option-P-R - a technique you didn't indicate you had tried in your original post. I gave the best answer possible given the information you provided.

Perhaps you just didn't read the second paragraph. Yes I do know how to zap the pram. I do hope you didn't take offence but, It was not the answer I needed. Perhaps I just didn't make myself clear. No matter. I found a connector with power source that makes the drives act like hardrives and was able to get into one but still having trouble with the other two. Not sure why.

Your second paragraph nowhere says that you know how to zap the PRAM. Disagreeing means the wrong information was provided. I provided quality information, based on the content of what you posted. I'm reporting the post so someone with AMHD can clarify the policy regarding negative ratings.

You're absolutely correct. No where in the second paragraph does it say I know how to zap the pram. (I believe it obvious that was a sidebar item) But of course, that's not EVEN CLOSE to what I was referring to.
If you are worrying about your answer, I would like to clarify that perhap you didn't understand what I was trying to accomplish and you did the best that you could do.