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shazbot

Q: Internet browser won't work

Yesterday I found a PB 540C complete with power supply. It's installed with System 7.5.3 and I think it has about 12MB RAM.

I've successfully installed and used WannaBe; however, I'm having problems with iCab. I bring up a browser window; I type in a URL; but no page content comes up in the window. Just a blank white window, called "untitled".

I'm connected to my G5's ADSL modem router via Ethernet using DHCP.

As I say, WannaBe worked (instantly), but this one doesn't.

Any tips? Thanks!

G5 1.6 GHz PPC, Powerbook 520 with dead power supply; Powerbook 540c., Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Dec 21, 2008 6:50 PM

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Q: Internet browser won't work

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  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Dec 22, 2008 1:57 AM in response to shazbot
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    Dec 22, 2008 1:57 AM in response to shazbot
    Hi,

    I guess that it would be correct to assume that an appropriate version of iCab is installed (and that it is in an online mode). Since you have been successfully using the WannaBe browser, the TCP/IP settings ought to be OK.

    12 MB (have a look at About This... under the Apple menu) means that only a small amount of memory is available for the programs. You could (temporarily) turn on Virtual Memory in the Memory control panel to see whether there is a change. Virtual Memory will slow the system down, though. More real RAM should be added.

    A PowerBook 540c works better with a text-based browser (WannaBe). Even with more RAM installed, a "normal" web browser is not going to be fast.

    Jan
  • by shazbot,

    shazbot shazbot Dec 22, 2008 1:17 PM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 22, 2008 1:17 PM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Hi Jan,

    Basically I am an idiot. I realised after browsing the discussions here that I needed to check that TCP/IP was switched on. I noticed it was switched off in the Extensions Manager. Doh. My knowledge is pretty rusty with these old machines... it does puzzle me though that WannaBe worked even though the TCP/IP control panel was inactive at the time.

    So anyway, after I fixed that it was up and running. But yeah, it doesn't work too well... only with the most basic web pages like Google which have next to no graphics on them. The rest cause the program to crash. But never mind... I can get used to WannaBe.

    Thanks for your help.