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Hello everyone,
I have a PowerBook 145b with System 7 in German, and I would like to reinstall it in French. Unfortunately, I don't have the official installation floppy disks.
However, I have an external USB floppy drive and 3.5" floppy disks with a capacity of 1.4 Mb. Could someone tell me how to create new installation diskettes and how to install System 7 in French?
Thank you for your help.
Best regards,
Tolga
Hello Tolga,
As mentioned in my previous message, System 7.1 was the original for the PowerBook 145B and would be the first supported version.
However, an old Version Matrix, System 6.0.x to 7.0.1 from Apple appears to indicate that even the earlier System 7.0.1 may work (but not a plain System 7 = 7.0), but that should be looked upon as an experiment.
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/French/Macintosh/System/Full_Installs/System_7.0.1/ (the link is not directly accessible any more).
The supported versions in the technical specifications for the PowerBook 145B above are:
7.1
7.5
7.1.1 (Pro)
7.5.1
7.5.3
7.5.5
7.6
7.6.1
I do not know anything about the files that you mentioned.
Normally, a system software download from Apple would have been encoded in a MacBinary format (.bin) for protection.
Generally speaking, one would use an appropriate version of StuffIt Expander (such as 4.0.1) for the decoding, but only when the .bin file has been transferred to the old Macintosh computer (which must already have a working operating system). Do not decode or decompress on a modern computer (Mac or PC). Any downloaded .bin file must be transferred unaltered to the old Macintosh.
The transfer of the .bin file from a modern computer could take place on a PC-formatted 1.44 MB floppy, provided that the receiving old Mac (such as a PowerBook 145B) has a File Exchange utility or PC Exchange. Otherwise, the transfer would have to be done on a Mac-formatted 1.44 MB floppy (plain HFS, not HFS+).
Once decoded (and possibly decompressed) via StuffIt Expander on the old Mac, the resulting files may be in an image format. In order to create bootable floppies from .image files on the old Macintosh computer, a Disk Copy 4.2 utility can be used (the Make A Copy button).
Later .img files require Disk Copy 6.3.3 (the Make a Floppy command).
Disk Copy 6.3.3: Document and Software
There are also self-mounting image files (.smi), sometimes with several parts (.part).
It is a utility used to detect and if possible mount SCSI hard drives. The original home page with the version 1.5.5 (for 68k) was http://www.overnet.de/hhp/mte/. It also had a good manual. Unfortunately, this web page appears to be available only via the Wayback Machine (2016) now.
Normally, one would see a hard drive at ID 0.
You may want to try placing the control panel in the Control Panels folder inside the NAD System Folder instead, but it should not really matter.
Try another startup. Also, check whether the various settings under the Options button (such as using the Mt. Everything driver) would change anything. However, the drive as such at least ought to be recognised, which it is not right now.
The hard drive does not appear on the SCSI chain. This could be a hardware problem inside the hard drive or with the circuits in the PB 145B controlling SCSI (bad cable connection, etc). Possibly even software-related.
Can you hear the hard drive spinning? Any other sounds from the hard drive (clicking or similar)?
Have you opened a PowerBook 140-180 before?
I think its an hardware issue. I can hear a sound like "beep beep" or "click click" and the hard drive also spins but stops after 7-10 sec.
I never touched hardwares before 2000 years so nope i never opened
Yes, probably hardware. Is the power supply OK? The screen pictures indicate that it is. The power adapter should be able to provide 7.5 VDC out at 2 A (if you have access to a multimeter you could easily verify the output voltage without a load). Also, any change if you start the computer without the main battery in place?
These models are not difficult to open (four Torx screws under the computer and one near the SCSI port), but you may find additional information via a web search.
Talking about the SCSI port, this would allow you to connect an external SCSI hard drive or CD-ROM drive. For example, a Zip 100 SCSI model.
You may also be able to find used internal 2.5" SCSI hard drives via an online auction site such as eBay or Tradera, but the prices are generally relatively high (and there is no guarantee that the drive will work OK for a longer time).
Opening the computer would be mainly for inspection, if there is something obviously wrong (like a loose cable). Also, these old computers may have bad/leaking/discoloured/cracked electrolytic capacitors.
Hi,
It’s me again haha
I found this : https://jcm-1.com/product/bluescsi-for-powerbooks-v1-1a/
It can be a good solution actually. If I choose « Build It Yourself Kit », I have to just ad an SD card right ?
Yes, I have read about this and similar devices but never tested one, and do not know any details, so cannot really give any advice. If it works well, it could be a good solution. The prices are not high. The kit seems to require soldering. I suggest that you take a closer look at the information on that site, and also check what people have to say on various vintage Mac sites. It would be interesting to hear what you find out.
Hi,
I am thinking that I can't stop this project. I love my PowerBook 145B.
Official GitHub (https://github.com/erichelgeson/BlueSCSI)
Documentation (index - BlueSCSI v2 Documentation)
So I found this video on youtube (in French) and he explains all steps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTSFF27VsIw
I will buy here https://jcm-1.com/product/bluescsi-for-powerbooks-v1-1a/ (Fully Assembled, Include 16GB SD Card). It will costs 55$ (50 Swiss Franc) (20$ for shipping).
I opened the computer and it was so easy! I located the HD so I can change it with BlueSCSI.
You know how to make bootable OS 7.5.3 floppies ?
Bonjour,
It is probably a good idea to buy an assembled device. Please post an update with your results later.
Yes, the hard drive is easily accessible.
>You know how to make bootable OS 7.5.3 floppies ?
The earlier System 7.5 (in box) had a conventional set of floppies, with the first disk bootable.
However, the (free) complete System 7.5.3 (for example, with 17 files French or 19 US) used the .smi and .parts method that you are well acquainted with by now. All files are placed in a folder on the hard disk. The bootable floppy is the NAD 7.5. If one so wishes, the NAD 7.5 System Folder can be drag-copied onto the empty hard disk, thus installing a temporary system there. This is really quite easy, once you know how to do it.
If you had an external SCSI hard drive (such as an Iomega Zip 100), you could also carry out the installation from there. With a USB Zip 100 drive connected to the PB G4 Ti, files could be moved on Zip 100 disks between the computers.
I do not know exactly how the SD flash memory cards are used in this emulator device. However, generally speaking, you could perhaps check whether a PC Card Adapter for SD in the PC Card slot of your Mac OS 9 PB G4 Ti could be useful in some way in this context.
Bonjour,
I checked and I have to copy a blank hd file (500MB or 1GB) on my Mico SD Card (ofc after formated) and set up the HD with NAD (Apple HD SC).
I guess I will copy the NAD on my HD (directly from the NAD) ?
And after that booting on my SD Card and copy all 17 parts ?
(Yea I found OS 7.5.3 from apple links (thanks Internet Archives)).
And yea I will ofc post news when I recieved the part
Sounds good.
In the meantime you could perhaps explore the possibilities of running the PB 145B with only one floppy and a RAM disk... An NAD should use less than 2 MB of RAM. With 8 MB of real RAM installed, this means that up to 6 MB may be free for applications.
:-)
Hi Tolga,
A German web site http://www.knubbelmac.de/ has categorised information about freeware and shareware for old Macintosh computers. Could perhaps be of interest for your PowerBook 145B. See also the previously mentioned https://www.nic.funet.fi/index/mac/info-mac/ and https://websites.umich.edu/~archive/mac/ .
Hello Jan,
I had completely forgotten to give news about my adventure with my wonderful PowerBook 145B.
I received my BlueSCSI and was able to make about twenty floppy disks to install version 7.5.5 in French.
Everything works perfectly, and I can use my setup from the 90s. PowerBook145B, StyleWriter II and QuickTake 100.
Thank you very much for your help. I hope my adventure will be useful to others.
Thanks again and see you soon,
Tolga
[Edited by Moderator]
Look now it’s loading also but I have interface.
Should I just install without erasing? For the moment ?
Install System 7 on PowerBook 145b
