Sys 7.5.3 "CD Install"

Copy the CD Install folder onto the hard disk, and then start the Installer in that folder when booted to the Network Access disk.

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Niel has already answered how to proceed when you have that folder. If I may expand a bit on this.

The (nineteen) files from the Apple http site are in MacBinary (.bin) format. Once decoded, these (one .smi and eighteen .part) can be placed in a common folder on the hard disk where one wants to install the operating system (or for that matter in a folder on another hard drive). The nineteen files constitute one large disk image. When you double-click on the first (.smi) file, the total disk image will mount. As a result, something which looks like a variant of a floppy icon will appear on the Desktop. If you drag-copy that mounted disk onto a hard disk, you will get the "CD" folder in question. Since internal compression is involved, the size of the latter folder is approx. double that of the total size of the nineteen files.

It is possible to run the installer directly from the mounted disk, even if the disk image itself (the decoded nineteen files) and an existing system are on the hard disk where you wish to install the new system. This seems to be logical, since the mounted image actually is an independent (virtual) disk.

If you on the other hand try to install with both the whole "CD" folder and an existing system on that hard disk, the installer will probably complain and ask you to remove the system folder first.

Normally, it is better anyway to start from the Network Access disk, remove (or manually inactivate) any existing system folder on the hard disk, (mount the total image) and run the installer. Alternatively, a key combination can be used to clean install.

For example, in the text file for the System 7.5.3 download here, System 7.0.1 or later is said to be required to mount self-mounting images (.smi). On numerous occasions I have experienced difficulties with anything earlier than 7.5, though. What you are referring to is probably that Mac OS 8.1 is needed to create .smi files.

Regarding volume sizes, see KB article # 11333.

Jan

In the Windoze world, having any components left over from a previous system is a recipe for disaster. None of the previous system components is the slightest bit compatible with the subsequent system, and if you fail to delete even one of them, or mis-edit your config.sys or autoexec.bat, you are totally screwed. So one learns that the way to install a new System is to start by erasing the disk.

In the pre-OS X Mac world, it is very common to install the next System directly on top of and while running the previous System. Except in very rare cases, this not only does not cause problems, it does not induce incompatibilities. Mac system software in very strongly forward and backward compatible, and erasing the disk is not necessary for system stability.

The way the Installer accomplishes this trick is to place new files in their new locations, and temporarily relocate any replaced components of the current System to a "delete on Startup" folder. If the install completes successfully, the move is made permanent and the System sets itself to restart when you say OK. If the Install is not successful, your disk is left in its previous state, unharmed.

Since the current System accesses its files by their file ID, not name/location, the current System continues to run just fine, even though its files have been moved. After a Restart the new files will be opened and loaded the first time by their name/location, and you wake up running the new System.