This discussion is locked
B_web

Q: Using Sheepshaver Software

Is there any way to use Sheepshaver emulator software without owning an older Mac. The site says that I need to import a ROM image from an older Mac. Well, the reason that I want the software is to simulate an older Mac... I wouldn't have to do that if I had one. Is there anyway around this if I only have one Mac computer?

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jul 6, 2006 6:23 AM

Close

Q: Using Sheepshaver Software

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by zirconocene,Helpful

    zirconocene zirconocene Jul 6, 2006 3:46 PM in response to B_web
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 6, 2006 3:46 PM in response to B_web
    Without an older Mac (that has supported ROMs), the only other way is to try to find the file on the net. Classic MacOS relies on the ROMs to function, so you must have them to function. If memory serves correct, the MacOS ROMs are copyrighted, which is why sheepsaver/basilisk are distributed without them.

    MBP 2.16   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  
  • by JimUrban,Helpful

    JimUrban JimUrban Jul 6, 2006 4:16 PM in response to B_web
    Level 4 (2,590 points)
    Jul 6, 2006 4:16 PM in response to B_web
    Sorry,you've only got two choices...
    1.Buy an older Mac
    2.Buy newer software

    Jim

    PowerBook G3 500 Mhz "Pismo" (Wonna buy it so I can get a MacBook?)   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  
  • by B_web,

    B_web B_web Jul 6, 2006 5:48 PM in response to JimUrban
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jul 6, 2006 5:48 PM in response to JimUrban
    new software?
  • by Rachel R,Solvedanswer

    Rachel R Rachel R Jul 6, 2006 7:15 PM in response to B_web
    Level 6 (18,700 points)
    Jul 6, 2006 7:15 PM in response to B_web
    new software?


    Software that has either a PowerPC Mac OS X version (and therefore will run under Rosetta on the Intel Macs) or that has been updated to Universal versions so that it runs natively on Intel Macs.

    The program you're trying to use (an old game, I believe?) is made for Mac OS 9 and therefore can't run on an Intel Mac without using emulation software like Sheepshaver. As you are discovering, that emulation software is not easy to set up. (It also might not be worth the trouble, might run your Mac OS 9 programs far too slowly in emulation than you would like, and might cause problems on your MacBook Pro. Those are all guesses, though.)

    The advice is good: Looking for newer software that will do what you want will probably be much more rewarding than trying to run very old software on your very new Mac.  
  • by zirconocene,

    zirconocene zirconocene Jul 7, 2006 5:21 PM in response to Rachel R
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 7, 2006 5:21 PM in response to Rachel R
    OK, so this post spurred me on to try to set up Classic emulation on a MacBook Pro.

    a) It works! Sound works, TCP/IP networking works, shared folder works.
    b) Pretty fast overall, boots fast, runs Explorer 5 quickly enough.

    I haven't tried anything like a game, but maybe when I have a little more time.

    I used SheepShaver 2.3 (http://www.gibix.net/dokuwiki/en:projects:sheepshaver)

    Tried using the "Mac OS ROM" from my mac mini's classic folder, no go. Tried to use "ROM Grabber" on an old SuperMac S900, but that would consistently bomb out. Finally saw that SS2.3 will use the Mac OS ROM from "Mac OS ROM Update 1.0". This installer tome is available from Apple download (do a google search). All fine and good, but it is an "Installer Tome". I couldn't find a way to extract the file in OSX, but you can with TomeViewer, a classic app (search versiontracker.com). This may lead you into a bit of a mess, since you need a classic Mac to extract what you need to run Classic...

    Anyway, since I have multiple Macs running classic, it wasn't difficult to fire up tomeviewer extract the proper Mac OS ROM file and then load it up on my MBP.

    I happen to load OS 8.5 (and then upgraded to OS8.6) on a 400Mb disk file. With the standard set of extensions, booting takes about 30 sec to get to finder. Screen redraws seem pretty fast, mounts CDs, plays alert sounds, pretty much, looks and feels like a Classic Mac. As I mentioned Explorer 5.1 works reasonably fast, no speed demon, but definitely not slow either. Haven't tried much else than that, Opera 5 and 6 bombs the entire program though.

    So, it IS possible to run Classic on Intel Macs!!

    MBP 2.16   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  
  • by Rachel R,

    Rachel R Rachel R Jul 7, 2006 6:14 PM in response to zirconocene
    Level 6 (18,700 points)
    Jul 7, 2006 6:14 PM in response to zirconocene
    So, it IS possible to run Classic on Intel Macs!!


    Thanks! That's good to know.

    Despite my earlier skepticism, I am glad to hear that. I don't know that I'd go that far, but there might just come a time when I have to do something in Mac OS 9 (test a web site I've worked on, for example) and I don't have a Mac running OS 9 available. So, in a pinch, there's a solution to that problem.
  • by B_web,

    B_web B_web Jul 7, 2006 10:24 PM in response to zirconocene
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jul 7, 2006 10:24 PM in response to zirconocene
    is there any way that you can send me an unzipped version of the ROM? since i do not have an older mac, and the MBP is the only one that i do have.

    Thanks

    Bweb