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#1 2005-02-27 2:59 pm
- dvpierce
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 16875
Upgrading system software. (Please Read)
This seems to come up a lot, and as the Classic Mac OS becomes a dimmer and dimmer memory, I'd like to just point out something very important. Specifically, the Classic MacOS's upgrade paths are kind of convoluted.
With OS X, it's pretty simple. You buy X.1, X.2, X.3, etc, and any free updates are called X.1.5, X.2.8, X.3.8, whatever.
With Windows, it's also pretty simple. You buy a version of windows (XP, Me, NT, 2000, 98, 98SE) and a few updates are free, sometimes there are big ones called service packs, but you are still stuck with the version of windows you bought.
Classic is not that convenient. So, for your edification and mine, a not-quite canonical list:
System 6.0.3 - oldest version available from Apple's Web Site.
System 6.0.5 - Also available from Apple
System 6.0.8 - Also available from Apple
System 7.0 - Available for download from Apple
System 7.0.1 - Available for download from Apple (Full install, not an update)
System 7 Tune Up (For 7.0 or 7.0.1) - Free Update, Downloadable from Apple.
System 7.1 - Not a free update from previous versions. Try eBay or specialty shops.
System 7.1.3 - Free update from 7.1 or later. Get it from Apple
System 7.5 - Originally not a free upgrade from previous versions, not available from Apple.
System 7.5.1 & 7.5.2 - Were free updates but don't bother with them because:
System 7.5.3 - Free, download it from this page. 19 parts decompress to a single disk image.
System 7.5.3 Revision 2 - Available from Apple but not really worth the bother because 7.5.5 is free.
System 7.5.4 - Never released
System 7.5.5 - Free for anybody with 7.5.3 or later - download
System/MacOS 7.6 - Not a free upgrade. Sorry. Try eBay or secondhand shops.
MacOS 7.6.1 - Free upgrade for users of 7.6 only. download
MacOS 8 - Not free. At all.
MacOS 8.0.1 - Fixed a minor bug for OS 8 users, but not available on Apple's download site.
MacOS 8.1 - free update for MacOS 8.0.x only. Introduced HFS+ (MacOS Extended File System) Download
MacOS 8.5 - Not free.
MacOS 8.5.1 - Free Update for 8.5 only
MacOS 8.6 - Free Update for 8.5 or 8.5.1 only.
MacOS 9 - Costs money. Required for classic emulation in MacOS X.
MacOS 9.x.x
All updates to MacOS 9 are free. If you have 9.0.4, you need to download both the 9.1 and the 9.2 installers. The 9.1 installer requires 9.0 or later, the 9.2.1 installer requires 9.1. You have to go through a couple of "Export Agreement" hoops to download the software, but it's available from Apple's web site.
Hope this helps.
Corrections/Omissions? Post 'em.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#2 2005-03-18 5:00 pm
- Ra
- Member
- From: US (way up North)
- Registered: 2003-10-05
- Posts: 1434
Re: Upgrading system software. (Please Read)
If updating the OS in older Macs and clones, you can do so from OS 9 to OS 9.2.2, and only with "Mac OS9 Helper." Mac OS9 Helper is a shareware, and it's creator would accept whatever donation you could provide. It's the only software of it's kind, and the only one that allows you to update older Macs to OS 9.2, since the installer in the OS 9.2 CD won't allow you to update from previous versions of the OS.
There is a a database at the Mac OS9 Helper's page with all the Macs and clones one can update. Mac OS9 Helper comes with two links. One must use these links to download the only versions of OS 9.2 and 9.2.2 available. Only these updates can be used. These are very large files, so a DSL or similar modem must be used. The update works as long as you have OS 9x in your old Mac.
The benefits for updating to OS 9.2, and 9.2.2 are listed at the web site. One of them is of benefits is for those who use MS Messenger in their older Macs, since Messenger does not work with OS 9.1 and older.
Mac OS9 Helper:
http://www.os9forever.com/os9helper.html
Last edited by Ra (2005-03-18 5:03 pm)
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein
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#3 2008-08-16 1:09 am
- Scott Baret
- Member
- Registered: 2008-03-30
- Posts: 54
Re: Upgrading system software. (Please Read)
For those who don't know what to use from this list...
Only the following Macs can run System 6: 512Ke, Plus, SE, SE/30, Classic, Portable, PowerBook 100, II, IIx, IIcx, IIci, IIfx, IIsi, LC, LC II. Use 6.0.8 as it will run on all of these machines. It's your only option on a Mac without a hard drive, a 512Ke, or a Mac with 1MB of RAM. Macs with 2MB of RAM should also run System 6. Users of the Plus, SE, and Classic may wish to stick with System 6 for speed benefits although System 7 can run fine on these machines.
Any Mac with 2MB of RAM or more and a hard drive introduced before Fall 1992 can run System 7.0.1.
Macs introduced in Fall 1992 shipped with System 7.1, which introduced enablers. The enabler is a small file that allows a particular Mac to run that system version without having to upgrade the entire system. This is why there were so many versions of System 6. (As an example--System 6.0.3 was introduced to run on the SE/30 and 6.0.4 came out with the IIci and Portable).
To play it safe on Macs with enablers, use System 7.5.3 on Macs introduced between Fall 1992 and Spring 1994. This includes most three-digit Performas, most Quadras, most PowerBook 100s, etc.
OS 8.1 is the newest version that will run on 68040 processors. Some 68030s will run 7.6 while others will not. The older Macs cannot go any higher than 7.5.5. Evaluate your needs and your system to determine if you will stick with 7.5.x or a newer version.
I recommend OS 9 for any PPC based Mac 233MHz or faster. If you still have 32MB RAM upgrade it to 64MB or higher (I recommend 192MB or higher). Older PPC Macs may work fine with OS 9 depending on configuration (RAM, hard drive size, upgrades, etc) or may be sluggish. However, I recommend at least 8.0 for those whose PPC Macs originally shipped with 7.x.x.
Check some of the vendors who advertise in the back of Mac Addict. Some of them seem to have new old stock OSes (including 9).
I should point out: DO NOT BUY AN OEM CD. You don't have the license to use it on a computer other than the one it was shipped with. A lot of people try to pass them off on auction sites but the distribution of those discs is in violation of the license agreement they are accompanied by. ONLY BUY THE RETAIL VERSION of an older system such as OS 9 or OS 8 (or, for that matter, any software product).
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#4 2008-08-16 1:31 am
- dvpierce
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 16875
Re: Upgrading system software. (Please Read)
Some 68030s will run 7.6 while others will not.
SE/30, IIx, & IIcx were the 68030 machines which can't run 7.6.
The SE/30 can be upgraded with a ROM SIMM from a IIsi to work.
The IIcx will accept a motherboard from a IIci or Quadra 700.
You can upgrade the IIx with the motherboard from a IIfx, but that introduces some other problems.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#5 2008-08-16 3:06 pm
- Scott Baret
- Member
- Registered: 2008-03-30
- Posts: 54
Re: Upgrading system software. (Please Read)
The machines dvpierce mentioned are what are known as "32 bit dirty" machines (along with the Mac II).
Also, on the subject of upgrades, the LC II can use an LC III, LC III+, or Quadra 605/LC 475 logic board and the Color Classic can use an LC 550 board. (Color Classics have also been modified to use other LC/Power Mac 5xxx series boards).
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