N_NN13

Q: Problem with installing 7.5.3 on powerbook 1400cs

Hello,

 

I have got a powerbook 1400cs with no working OS on it. I am able to boot with 8.5 disktools. I tried with 7.5, but that didn't work.

I have the 7.5.3 installation files on a compact flash card and i copied the files to the powerbook. I can extract them and mount the installer, but when i run the installer I get the message "The system software 7.5.3 installer script does not recognize this Macintosh" and the destination disk is the Disk Tools floppy.

Clearly I am doing something wrong ;-)

How can I install the OS?

 

Grt,

 

Nanda

PowerBook, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

Posted on Dec 14, 2015 9:41 AM

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Q: Problem with installing 7.5.3 on powerbook 1400cs

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Dec 14, 2015 12:23 PM in response to N_NN13
    Level 6 (9,894 points)
    Dec 14, 2015 12:23 PM in response to N_NN13

    Hi,

     

    Depending on the PowerBook 1400cs variant, the original system software was 7.5.3 plus a PowerBook 1400 Enabler (117), 7.6.1 (133) or 8.0 (166). So, unfortunately, a plain System 7.5.3 (the US nineteen files download?) would not be sufficient.

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Dec 14, 2015 5:54 PM in response to N_NN13
    Level 9 (66,865 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Dec 14, 2015 5:54 PM in response to N_NN13

    http://ftp.iinet.net.au/pub/apple/US/Macintosh/System/

     

    Is an excellent resource for all system files from that era.

  • by N_NN13,

    N_NN13 N_NN13 Dec 15, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

    Hi,

     

    I have found out that i have the 117.

    I have found the enabler, a hqx file. But i don't have stuffit expander on the powerbook to decompress it.

    And the powerbook is my only mac :-) Decompress in windows and moving the files to the mac doesn't seem to do anything.

    I have searched for old stuffit expander on the web, but i can only find .bin files which i can't open on the powerbook, kind of a circle is that ;-)

    Any suggestions?

     

    Grt,

     

    Nanda

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Dec 15, 2015 4:49 PM in response to N_NN13
    Level 6 (9,894 points)
    Dec 15, 2015 4:49 PM in response to N_NN13

    Nanda,

     

    If you are downloading MacBinary (.bin) or BinHex (.hqx) files onto a Windows PC, always keep them as they are. Do not try to decode or decompress anything until on an old Macintosh computer. The encoding is there to protect Mac application files (which have two parts, one data and one resource fork).

     

    It is possible to use a Windows machine to create a floppy that contains a ready-to-use decoding program for Mac. See the message Re: How can I write to 1.44fd from OS X 10.10.3? for details.

     

    Remember, a system before Mac OS 8.1 does not understand Mac OS Extended (HFS+) formatting, only Mac OS Standard (HFS). So, if you wish to install such a system, make sure that the hard disk is appropriately formatted.

  • by N_NN13,

    N_NN13 N_NN13 Dec 16, 2015 10:11 AM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2015 10:11 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

    Hi Jan,

     

    This helped. I was able to install the stuffit expander.

    When i try to expand the enabler, i get the message that it is not a complete binhex file, so i guess there is something wrong with the file.

    I can expand it on my windows pc, but not on the powerbook.

    I tranfered the original hqx file with a hfs formatted compact flash card. I thought this was possible, because that was the way i transferred the installation files as well and those are readable on the powerbook.

    I guess i should be looking for another enabler.

     

    Btw, thanks very much for the help!

     

    Grt,

     

    Nanda

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Dec 16, 2015 12:04 PM in response to N_NN13
    Level 6 (9,894 points)
    Dec 16, 2015 12:04 PM in response to N_NN13

    Hello again,

     

    >i get the message that it is not a complete binhex file, so i guess there is something wrong with the file.

     

    When an hqx or bin file has been downloaded via a Windows PC, do not double-click on the file once it is on the old Mac in order to carry out the decoding. Instead, drag the file onto the StuffIt Expander icon (it has to be a special program icon, not just a generic one). Often, one can try to rebuild the Desktop on the Mac if the icon is of the generic type; it should then change. One can also just launch the StuffIt Expander application, and then go through the File menu.

     

    >I tranfered the original hqx file with a hfs formatted compact flash card. I thought this was possible, because that was the way i transferred the installation files as well and those are readable on the powerbook.

     

    How did you write the CompactFlash card? A CF card formatted HFS (Mac OS Standard) can be written to on another (pre-Mac OS X 10.6) Mac. A PC running Linux may also be able to handle HFS. Windows would require special software (like TransMac or MacDrive). Is the hqx file merely encoded, or is it additionally compressed inside?

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Dec 16, 2015 1:42 PM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 6 (9,894 points)
    Dec 16, 2015 1:42 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

    Addendum

     

    It is of course possible that the hqx file has somehow become damaged. Normally, StuffIt Expander 4.0.1 works fine for decoding BinHex (hqx). However, you may want to verify the general ability to use the installed StuffIt Expander version to carry out the decoding while running the exact temporary system in question on the PowerBook 1400cs/117. One way could be to download any other hqx file (for example, from http://archive.info-mac.org/), handle it the same way as before and transfer it to the PB 1400cs/117.