OS 8.6 for a 3400 Powerbook

Question

OS 8.6 for a 3400 Powerbook

My sister is running my old Powerbook 3400 (lovely machine!) but is now running into problems because she needs System 8.6 more and more these days for certain apps, documents, etc. You can get nothing for OS 8.1 now, but so much still if you have 8.6.

Question, where can I download System OS 8.6, and is it straightforward to install as a replacement for 8.1? (The 3400 originally had 7.5, but I did an update to 8.1 though I don't have the CD any more). I assume that OS 8.6 is available free these days?

Posted on Oct 12, 2005 6:20 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 12, 2005 7:45 AM in response to christopher rigby1

Hi, Christopher -

There is a free download update for OS 8.6, but it installs only on top of either OS 8.5 or OS 8.5.1; there is no free update to go from OS 8.1 to OS 8.5 or higher.

To go to OS 8.6 from OS 8.1, you will need to acquire and use a retail OS 8.5 or retail OS 8.5.1 Install CD, and then use the OS 8.6 download update; or acquire and use a retail OS 8.6 Install CD.

Sites like these often carry the OS 8.5, 8.5.1, or 8.6 Install CDs -
http://www.macworks.com Phone (800)-227-3971
http://www.macresq.com Phone (888) -447-3728
http://www.shrevesystems.com Phone (800)-711-8679
http://www.macsolutions.com/
http://www.sunrem.com/ Phone (800) 821 3221
http://www.mactreasures.com Phone ( 408) 227 1645
http://www.allmac.com (800) 933 4962
http://www.poweron.com/
http://www.lovemacs.com/products/software.shtml
http://mac-o-rama.com (877) 622-6659
http://store.yahoo.com/hardcoremac/index.html
http://www.applerescue.com/index_link.htm

Ebay is another possibility.

Regardless of the source, be sure to get a retail OS 8.5, 8.5.1, or 8.6 Install CD - the retail Install CD's have a universal installer; model-specific Install CD's do not.

In case you need the OS 8.6 download update - Article #60283 - OS 8.6 Update

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Answer 2

Oct 12, 2005 7:54 AM in response to Don Archibald

Many thanks Don - there is a lot here to follow up. I will look into it and see what my sister thinks. Good advice about retail CDs, I will be sure to remember this.

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Answer 3

Oct 12, 2005 8:13 AM in response to christopher rigby1

Hi, Christopher -

You're quite welcome.

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Answer 4

Oct 12, 2005 9:11 AM in response to Don Archibald

Some more for upgrading to OS 8.6:
you need at least 24 MB RAM
Quoted"you must also install the following updates:
Font Manager Update
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60444
Drive Setup 1.7.3
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58303
Most of the update links for 8.6 are here
http://www.greenconcepts.com/consulting/macos86.html
"
Good luck

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Answer 5

Oct 12, 2005 9:19 AM in response to AppleIIFreak

Thanks for that, AppleIIFreak

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