Setting the date in my PowerBook Duo 280C

Macintosh PowerBook Duo 280c: Technical Specifications

Just to expand a bit on this.

First of all, you would have to download/transfer the SetDate file from bbraun's web page mentioned by K Shaffer. There are several methods, depending on the computers/equipment that you have access to.

For an overview, see: http://manuals.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Manuals/powerbooks/0305512ATINFOPBDUO.PDF. Keep an encoded file (.hqx in this case) unaltered until on the target computer (the PowerBook Duo 280c). Once there, use (for example) StuffIt Expander to decode the .hqx. Next, the contained .cpt must be decompressed. The SetDate control panel file is the one of interest here.

If necessary, archives like http://umich.edu/~archive/mac/util/compression/ and https://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/mac/info-mac/_Compress_&_Translate/ may be useful in this context.

Yes, testing a USB floppy drive with, for example, a 2004 iMac would probably not be a bad idea. The following article could perhaps be of some interest to you: https://siber-sonic.com/mac/newmillfloppy.html .

Do check whether StuffIt Expander (version?) is on the PowerBook Duo's hard disk.

The PC Exchange control panel will make things easier (allowing transfers on PC-formatted floppies, if necessary).

Since Apple's Duo MiniDock is equipped with a SCSI port, two Zip 100 drives (one SCSI for the Duo, and one USB for a newer Mac/PC) could be useful. Alternatively, a SCSI CD-ROM drive, if one wants to use CD-R discs for file transfers to the Duo.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Manuals/powerbooks/0306074APB200UG.PDF

There are SCSI-to-Ethernet adapters from some manufacturers. These adapters are usually expensive. Driver software can be a problem. The ability to handle TCP/IP must be checked for each model.

johann147 wrote:

my new laptop.

These machines were great when the came out, but now there terrible for work. There more like a collectors item then a “new laptop”. The P-RAM battery in those machines only go up to 2019.

For those need to see layers without peeling onions ~ an exposé:

• "Solving Mac OS 8's Y2K20 Bug" - TidBits

https://tidbits.com/2020/01/03/solving-the-mac-os-8s-y2k20-bug/

"The Looming Y2K20 Bug, and How to Protect Your System" | Low End Mac

https://lowendmac.com/2019/the-looming-y2k20-bug-and-how-to-protect-your-system/

The active particle from above is within:

http://www.synack.net/~bbraun/macapps.html

And this 'SetDate' may help:

http://www.synack.net/~bbraun/macsrc/SetDate-1.1.cpt.hqx

{..once done, this ultimately Changes how you set Date-Time in antique Mac 8..}

Good luck & happy trails!🌻🌤

Hi johann147,

Do you have the external floppy drive for the PB Duo?

Which operating system version is on the hard disk? Is there a PC Exchange control panel?

Do you have another pre-1998 Macintosh computer with a built-in floppy drive? A more modern Mac and an external USB floppy drive? A Windows PC with a floppy drive?

-

It is in fact possible to set the date.

See, for example, Niel's reply with link here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251251759

Hello,

I am sorry, this Macintosh was introduced over 25 years ago and it appears that its real-time clock cannot support years later than 2019. There is nothing you can do.