Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

I have a PowerBook 145B but something is wrong with the systemfolder so it wont boot. I've downloaded System 7.0.1 from Apple and put it on Floppys with my Macintosh Classic. The PowerBook boots from the floppy, after a minute its just white. What to do?

I have a PowerBook 145B but something is wrong with the systemfolder so it wont boot. I've downloaded System 7.0.1 from Apple and put it on Floppys with my Macintosh Classic. The PowerBook boots from the floppy but after a minute it just comes up a window thats completely white.

I've tried a lot of things, but my Macintosh classic (with original floppys) runs 7.0.0. And the PowerBook needs atleast 7.0.1 and did run 7.1.0 as original OS.

How do I fix this?

PowerBook, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier, PowerBook 145B

Posted on Mar 10, 2012 5:18 PM

Reply
6 replies

Mar 11, 2012 8:18 PM in response to Wartward

Because your PowerBook 145B shipped with OS 7.1, it can't run an earlier version of the Mac OS, such as 7.0.1. Unfortunately, Apple never made OS 7.1 available for download. You can run OS 7.5.1, 7.5.3, and 7.5.5 on your PowerBook, but I'd recommend doing so with the maximum amount of supported memory - 8 MBs. The 19-part download of OS 7.5.3 is segmented, so that each one will fit on a 1.44 MB floppy disk. The problem is that the 19-diskette set isn't an installer set as such, having no bootable disk. It's solely intended to be used to transfer the individual segments to the resident hard drive in the computer. Once that's done, double-clicking the first .smi segment creates the OS 7.5.3 installer disk image on the desktop, which you drag onto the hard drive icon. This produces a folder with the OS 7.5.3 installer in it. I've done this before with an old Mac LC and it works. You can also download the 3-diskette OS 7.5.5 Update and run that. These downloads can be found on the same page where you found the OS 7.0.1 download: Older Software Downloads.

Mar 15, 2012 12:48 PM in response to Wartward

When you say it won't boot do you get a folder with a ? in it or nothing? Reason I ask is that the hard drive itself may be bad or stuck from sitting for a long time. If you can hear it spinning up or spinning then the HD is working but if you don't hear anything you might need to take out the drive and swish it gently back and forth a couple of times to unstick it. NO hard knocks.

Mar 24, 2012 7:02 AM in response to Jeff

Thanks for theh help, I didn't know it was 7.1 was the original OS.

The thing is, I can't get to the harddrive of the PowerBook, so there is no chance for me to get the 7.5.3 files on it. It needs to be re-installed if I'm going to get that to work.

Any idea how I can fix this? Can I pop out the harddrive and re-frm it?

Mar 25, 2012 2:02 PM in response to Wartward

Hi,


You may want to try another startup floppy for a test. Use, for example, the Network Access Disk 7.5.


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


Make sure that you are using Disk Copy (the Make A Copy button in version 4.2, or the Make a Floppy command in 6.3.3) in order to create a correctly sector-copied disk from the downloaded image.


Jan

I have a PowerBook 145B but something is wrong with the systemfolder so it wont boot. I've downloaded System 7.0.1 from Apple and put it on Floppys with my Macintosh Classic. The PowerBook boots from the floppy, after a minute its just white. What to do?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.