Need to Get System 7.5.3 on Performa 450 via PC Floppies

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Need to Get System 7.5.3 on Performa 450 via PC Floppies

I have a Peforma 450 machine, that has an ethernet card in the PDS slot, System 7.1. I want to install System 7.5.3, as that's the latest free version available, and I understand only System 7.5 and above come with a TCP/IP stack. I've downloaded the Network Access Disk and all of the System 7.5.3 parts, but I can't figure out how to get them onto a floppy that the Performa can read. I've tried the solution at http://www.jagshouse.com/MacsandPCs.html, using rawrite and then WinImage, but haven't been able to get anything going. The machine just spits them out saying they aren't formatted. Am I using rawrite/WinImage wrongly? If not, does anyone know of any freeware solutions? Thanks.

Performa 450, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

Posted on Jun 22, 2006 12:43 PM

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Answer 1

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,241 points

Jun 22, 2006 3:15 PM in response to mstcrow5429

With a working System 7.1 on the Performa 450, you should be able to create the bootable Network Access floppy there instead. Use Disk Copy 4.2 (the Make A Copy button) for this.

You will need a way of transferring the Network Access Disk 7.5, Disk Copy 4.2 and 7.5.3 MacBinary files as they are (do not decode the .bin on the PC). Unless a PC Exchange control panel is in the System Folder, or the Apple File Exchange program can be installed from the 7.1 Tidbits system floppy, the easiest method might be through the freeware utility HFVExplorer (try a Google search) on the PC. HFVExplorer uses Mac-formatted 1.44 MB diskettes (you can reformat normal PC floppies using the Performa).

You will also need StuffIt Expander for Macintosh: A file here, called MACDISK.EXE, can be downloded onto the PC. Next, prepare an empty PC-formatted 1.44 MB diskette via the FORMAT A: command in DOS or the "Full" formatting option under Windows. Run the MACDISK.EXE program on the PC. Follow the on-screen directions. The result will be a Mac-formatted floppy, including a ready-to-use StuffIt Expander 4.0.1 installer. Install StuffIt Expander. Drag each .bin file onto the StuffIt Expander program icon.

The 7.5.3 files do not require the use of the Disk Copy utility. The (nineteen US) files are, once they have been decoded (one .smi and eighteen .part), placed in one common folder on the Performa's hard disk. Then one double-clicks on the first (=.smi) file to mount the total disk image. The installer will be found in the mounted image.

Jan

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Answer 2

mstcrow5429 Author

Level 1

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Jun 22, 2006 5:44 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

When I insert a floppy into the Performa, and attempt to intialize it, I get an error that the intitialization failed during the verification process. I tried this with three floppies. When I attempt to format them in HFVExplorer, I get "HFVExplorer: Error writing to HFS volume: error seeking device (Invalid argument)"

I can generate a Mac HD "Starterpack" using Macdisk. The files show up as present in HFVExplorer, but the disk drive in the Performa simply attempts to mount the disk repeatedly, with no success (I had to shut the thing off to stop it). However, when I do view it in HFVExplorer, it first gives the error message above, then displays the files.

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Answer 3

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,241 points

Jun 22, 2006 6:39 PM in response to mstcrow5429

When I insert a floppy into the Performa, and attempt to intialize it, I get an error that the intitialization failed during the verification process.

Does this happen even if you have started the Performa 450 with Extensions off (the Shift key down)? Have you tried resetting the PRAM? Would it be correct to assume that the computer starts as it should to the Desktop?

When I attempt to format them in HFVExplorer

HFVExplorer requires the use of pre-formatted Mac floppies (the "format" there appears to be some kind of erase operation, that does not work directly with PC-formatted disks). BTW, since the floppy disk that is a result of (an internal disk image in) the MACDISK.EXE program has become Mac-formatted, one ought to be able to erase it within HFVExplorer.

A bad internal battery can sometimes cause unexpected problems. It would probably not be a bad idea to check that the Performa battery is not far from 3.6 V. Also, have you inspected all cables and connectors? It could possibly be worth trying a cleaning kit for floppy drives.

Jan

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