Okay, so I have a Performa 6320CD running System 7.5.3 (soon to be 8.1) and with a Sonic Systems Commslot I Ethernet card going directly to a cable modem hooked directly into a cable jack. It gives me an option to switch to Ethertalk, but gives me a generic "can't switch" error. It also isn't set up for TCP/IP, which I can fix with Open Transport, but I can't seem to find a download, on Apple's official website or otherwise that unstuffs and boots without error.
I'm running 7.5.1, so I'll upgrade to 7.5.3. I forgot what I was running when I started the thread, I need to upgrade. Maybe that will do something.
When I go into MacTCP and click Ethernet, it says it can't switch. I just have a normal Ethernet cable going directly from the computer to a cable modem which is plugged into a jack.
Just to rule out one possible problem: do you know that the correct drivers for the Ethernet card have been installed? If in doubt, please post back with the exact card model/number, and someone here may be able to tell you where to find the drivers (if anything other than the standard Apple software is required).
Yes, try the System 7.5.3 download. Please note that this is not a normal floppy set. You are supposed to transfer the nineteen downloaded files to the hard disk of the Mac. You could carry out the actual transfer on, for example, a CD-R. If you are using a PC for the download, make absolutely sure that the files are copied over as they are (MacBinary = .bin), and carry out the decoding on the Mac (drag the .bin files onto the StuffIt Expander program icon). Once on the Mac, place the decoded files (one .smi and eighteen .part) in one folder. Double-click on the first file (.smi) to mount the total disk image. The installer will be found inside the mounted image. In order to perform a clean installation, have a look at especially steps 7 and 8 (disregard the information about the System 7.5.5 Update at this point) in this article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA44452
I guess that the cable modem has only one Ethernet port. You may want to connect a router (with a built-in switch) between the modem and the computer. This could help in the case of cable and speed detection difficulties. It may also make things easier if a special IP address setup (via MacTCP) will become necessary.
I go into Control Panel, click "Network" and try to switch to Ethertalk. It doesn't let me. It says there is an error. Going into the internet browser iCab, it gives me error -43.
I don't know whether this info will be of any use to you, but it might. I have a Performa 6320CD which I bought new (and still like!) I added RAM to 64MB and a 1.2GB ATA internal hard drive. It has run OS 8.1 on it since 8.1 came out. Just a few years ago I bought a no name ethernet card and added it. I was able to network the Performa with my PM9600 and the iBook at the time, although I never did much with the Performa. (I wanted the ethernet ability but had no present need at the time.) As I recall, everything worked well both directions, except along the line I put Tiger on the iBook, and Tiger did not play as nicely with the older Macs (things went more easily one direction than the other, or something like that).
Anyway, as of today, on my Performa, these are the extensions and control panels which I have installed:
System Profiler info on Performa 6320, December 2009
Extensions:
Present and not enabled: Apple Ethernet CS (1.0.3),Apple Ethernet LC (1.0.3)
Enabled: Apple Ethernet LC 1.0.1
AppleShare 3.7.4
EtherTalk Phase 2 (2.5.7)
Open Tpt AppleTalk Library 1.3.1
OpenTpt Internet Library 1.3.1
Open Transport Library 1.3.1
OpenTpt Modem 1.0.1
OpenTpt Remote Access 1.0.1
OpenTpt Serial Arbitrator 1.0.1
OpenTptAppleTalkLib 1.3.1
OpenTptInternetLib 1.3.1
OpenTransportLib 1.3.1
When I open up my TCP/IP control panel, I get a "Connect via" choice of AppleTalk (MacIP), Ethernet, or PPP. On each of these under the "Configure" I get choices of Manually, etc. I never recall getting any error messages.
