Powerbook 1400 and system installation CD

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Level 1

10 points

Powerbook 1400 and system installation CD

Probably this issue was discussed somewhere on the Forum but it seems that I am not lucky. The last Friday was my happy day as I received my PowerBook 1400 in great condition. My 16 years old dream from old times was finally completed and now I am more exited by PowerBook than my very fast and modern MacBook.

I hope that I will be able to find any sort of peripheral to connect PowerBook to the Net (probably PCMCIA card?) but before I will start to play with the system and driver installation I want to backup the OS. The problem is that I do not have installation CD (my PowerBook is equipped only with CD - no FDD). Is there any chance to download or rebuild installation CD (bootable) with the appropriate OS? What I see on http://support.apple.com/kb/TA48312?viewlocale=en_US is rather full MacOS history than clear picture how to prepare CD for 1400.

May I kindly ask forum-Gurus for some sort of advise?

Cheers

PowerBook, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

Posted on Feb 25, 2012 5:11 PM

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Answer 1

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,337 points

Feb 26, 2012 6:51 AM in response to BigLynx

Hi,

As far as I know, a system CD image file for this computer is not available for download from Apple. Depending upon the PowerBook 1400 version, System 7.5.3 (and a special system enabler) to Mac OS 8.0 is minimum required. System 7.5.3 can be downloaded from Apple (but not the system enabler in question).

A CompactFlash memory card in a PC Card adapter for CompactFlash can be very useful for PowerBook computers with PCMCIA slots. The CF card can be used for file transfers, but also as a backup solution. The CF card may even be bootable if it contains an appropriate system folder

http://www.info.apple.com/support/applespec.legacy/powerbook.html

http://www.lowendmac.com/pb2/powerbook-1400.html

Jan

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Answer 2

Allan Jones

Level 9

79,790 points

Feb 26, 2012 8:32 AM in response to BigLynx

Don't give up yet!

The site for really old downloads still works although cannot be found by Apple's current search parameters. I had a bookmark on an older Mac in the house. See this:

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/

You may find what you need under "System" in that list. Some of the required enablers are there, although I've not looked for your specific model. System software up to OS 7.5.5 is a free download.

Note; If you need a language other than "North American English," click the "parent directory" link to go up a level until you find the language choice page.

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Answer 3

BigLynx Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 26, 2012 1:48 PM in response to Allan Jones

Allan

This is indeed great place. It seems that System 7.5.3 is the only one version available in full (no update) distribution.

Unfortunately, I am not able to mount .SMI on my 10.7.x. Stufflt also does not recognize it. Also I am not sure if I need "enabler" for my 1400 and of what sort.

Any idea how to produce boot-able CD from .SMI archive on MacOS 10.7.x?

Cheers

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Answer 4

Allan Jones

Level 9

79,790 points

Feb 26, 2012 6:33 PM in response to BigLynx

I'm going to call in the cavalry. Stand by....

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Answer 5

Feb 26, 2012 6:47 PM in response to BigLynx

Do you have a working Mac OS on the 1400 now? If so, which one?

Do you have Stuffit expander on there as well?

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Answer 6

Feb 26, 2012 6:59 PM in response to Allan Jones

I don't know how you could make a bootable CD from those .smi and .part files, except on the 1400 itself, and then you have no easy way to get it off again. If there is a better mac OS already in place, it would be better just to copy it off.

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Answer 7

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,337 points

Feb 27, 2012 12:49 AM in response to BigLynx

Generally speaking, with access to a CompactFlash card in a PC Card adapter (similar to the example below), it is easy to make a temporary backup copy of an installed system. First of all, the CF card has to be reformatted to Mac (HFS). Then, one can just drag an entire system folder to the CF card.

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDAD-38-A10-CF-Card-Adapter/dp/B00006B9QD

Jan

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