Laserwriter 8

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Level 1

9 points

Laserwriter 8

How do I reinstall Laserwriter 8 on my B&W G3 running 9.2.2. I have a copy on another hard drive. Is it as simple as deleting the copy on the startup OS and copying the clean version in?

Posted on May 21, 2020 11:23 AM

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Answer 1

FrancisOscar Author

Level 1

9 points

May 23, 2020 11:20 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

I moved the old extension to the trash, moved the backup in and found that the printer was not linked anymore. Moving to the trash was probably a BAD idea. I then went to the printer's install CD and reinstalled. After pointing at the correct PPD, the print menu source selection options are back to normal. The printer is still painfully slow to start printing from some applications (hours, not minutes), but it does work again. It is past time to finish moving to the newer Mac.

Thanks for your help. Consider this solved.

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Answer 2

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,289 points

May 24, 2020 3:55 AM in response to FrancisOscar

Glad to hear that it is working.

A GCC Elite 12/1200 N as such ought to allow printing to start without too much delay. The RAM (16 MB standard) should be sufficient in most cases, unless very complicated documents and many fonts are handled. If necessary, more printer RAM could be installed (up to 64 MB). Some files (such as PDF) may take longer (to start printing or to print) via one application or driver than another. With this printer model, it is per se possible to compare speeds for similar document types when the printer is connected to different Macs (Ethernet or USB), and to Windows/Linux computers.

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Answer 3

FrancisOscar Author

Level 1

9 points

May 24, 2020 12:48 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

I checked and the printer says it has 16MB memory. The long delay has been going on for months, perhaps years. Irritating, but tolerable since we don't do much on that old Mac. Once printing does start, a document's pages print out at the rated speed. No idea what causes it.

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Answer 4

QuickPost

Level 10

103,449 points

May 21, 2020 12:06 PM in response to FrancisOscar

Hello,

If memory serves me right, all you should need to do in order to install the LaserWriter drive is to insert the installation disc(s) that came with your Macintosh and follow the prompts to install a printer.

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Answer 5

FrancisOscar Author

Level 1

9 points

May 22, 2020 11:52 AM in response to QuickPost

My printer is a GCC 12/1200. There is a very similar Apple laser printer from the olden days. My problem is that the Laserwriter 8 software is apparently corrupted. That used to happen to me every few years back when that was our main computer. What I need to do is install a clean copy of Laserwriter 8 from my backup hard drive. My old-timers must be catching up with me because I can't remember how I used to do it. Is it as simple as moving the offending copy to the Trash and copying the good one into its place?

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Answer 6

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,289 points

May 22, 2020 1:12 PM in response to FrancisOscar

Hello,

The existing LaserWriter 8 Chooser extension should be in an Extensions folder (in the System Folder). It ought to be OK to just remove this extension (put it temporarily in another folder outside the System Folder), and then move a new one to the Extensions folder. Restart and test. Once you know that everything is working well, you could throw away the old extension.

However, one should perhaps not rule out that there is another problem (PPD file, fonts, et cetera).

BTW, the latest LaserWriter 8 software versions separately available from Apple - Support - Downloads (Peripherals) are 8.6 and 8.6.1 (intended for Mac OS 8.5.1 and earlier). I guess that you are using a newer version.

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Laserwriter 8

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