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Level 1

8 points

How can you FORCE Classic mode to run on an Intel Mac? OS 9 emulation Rosetta Software Design

Hello everyone, I had a few thoughts on running Classic mode on intel macs which I wanted to share.

Now I know little about software design, but maybe someone who does could tell me if these ideas I had are at all feasible:

Now in the first place I now that, technically, "Classic" mode went out back with Tiger because of the switch to Intel chips. Switching to Intel, Rosetta was required to "translate" pre and non-intel OSX applications, with the exception of Classic since Rosetta does not translate deep enough into the system to do that. As a substitute to Classic, SheepShaver, Basilisk II, etc. can be used to emulate OS 9, but these are very lousy applications compared to Classic mode.

Is there ANY way whatsoever Rosetta could be edited, or Classic itself so that it will work on intel macs?

(that is, with the exception of 10.7+ systems since these don't even use Rosetta)

I know if Classic was placed on an intel mac, it would tell you to download Rosetta, but from there will crashes because frameworks in the system's library does not support (or was not designed for) Classic...

So what I wanted to know:

What if an old, Classic supporting PowerPC system's library folder was added to an Intel computer in a location other then that computers real system folder (as not to confuse the real, current system) and Classic manually edited so that it would search for the needed frameworks/etc files in the new location? Would it work?

Since, after all, it now has the correct "system" to run on (which before Rosetta could not convert), do you think there's any chance it would work and function properly?

Now beyond that, I wouldn't know the actual results (or consequences). I suppose the main problem to consider would be that the the PPC's system frameworks/etc wouldn't work at all on an Intel (which leads us back to Rosetta lacking in this area), and since those frameworks will be searching for other files in the system library (which would bring them to the current, Intel system) the same results would happen: crash! Or maybe sensing the system was mixed up, one or more files would try to "fix" themselves, and in turn destroy the computer's real system.

So, would it be worth a try?

I'd love to hear any other thoughts on running Classic on Intel...

Posted on Jun 19, 2014 7:20 AM

22 replies

branchport Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 30, 2014 8:59 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

The downloads worked and installed safely! Thanks for your help.

It's so cool, it's almost surreal to see OS 9 look like it's booting on a modern computer!

Now, everything seems to work well, only when I pop-in a game CD it automatically detects it in the emulator as it would in the real OS 9, but when I click to play it the emulator instantly crashes. What could be the reason for this?

Ah yes, I just tried updating SheepShaver in Chubby Bunny, and I think I got it right. The new version shows when you click "About SheepShaver", and now you can enter full screen if you press ctrl-return. This new SheepShaver is the latest build for mac, but you may want to instal a universal version from emaculation, so it could be used on mac or pc (the unedited Chubby Bunny uses a universal SheepShaver).

Anyway, here's how I did it:

Have two widows up, one with Chubby Bunny, the other with the new SheepShaver. In Chubby Bunny's folder, right click "Classic.app" (which is actually SheepShaver in Chubby Bunny, just re-named) and click "Show Package Contents". In the SheepShaver window, right click "SheepShaver.app" and click "Show Package Contents".

Now you will see in both windows there is a "Contents" folder. Copy the whole folder from the SheepShaver window and replace the old "Contents" folder in Chubby Bunny. (the only difference is Chubby Bunny had a folder in here called "disabled Resources", but it was empty so I saw no use in copying it).

I also copied the files inside "SheepShaver scripts" and pasted them to replace the old files in CB's "SheepShaver Docs".

Let me know how this works for you.

I'm surprised how much CPU usage the emulator takes up, I guess it's understandable since you are now running two systems in one computer at the same time. Not even a minute of running and the fan turns on on my macbook, and it eats up the battery at 10x the normal rate. I couldn't see using it like this for a long length of time unless maybe I bought a laptop cooling-stand.

What's with the blue-billed platypus on "newOS.app"?

MlchaelLAX, I thank you very much for all your help (I was loosing hope with all the nay-sayers). Here are some points for you for basically answering my thread's question in your first reply! This application is a great substitute to Classic (just hope I can get it to play those games & software!).

MlchaelLAX

Level 4

2,286 points

Jun 30, 2014 9:18 PM in response to branchport

What version of OS X you running the new SheepShaver in; Mavericks?

It does not work for me in Lion, after following your directions. Thanks for those though!

The 2012 build still works for me!

I will research some more and try again soon!

Platypus? Mine is a different icon... Don't know what NewAPP is all about tho...

MlchaelLAX

Level 4

2,286 points

Jun 30, 2014 9:32 PM in response to branchport

OK: I got it to work!

You mean to go down two levels in Classic.app using Show Package Contents to the COI.app level and replace the Contents folder at this level.

branchport Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 1, 2014 7:15 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

That's right, sorry for the confusion! Glad you got it going!

How did you ever get Risk II running in Chubby Bunny, was it an installed game or on a CD?

I tried creating the 1.2GB HD, but still I can't seem to get CD games to work, even if I install them.

This is the platypus:

MlchaelLAX

Level 4

2,286 points

Jul 10, 2014 8:24 PM in response to branchport

Platypus not showing on screen...

As I recall I used the CD to install on a drive that was already created in SheepShaver.

Let me know if you continue to have problems, and I will launch SheepShaver and try to remember how I install it.

Here is some more information from the thread that I believe was the genesis of my attempts to get Risk II to run:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=14927170#post14927170

branchport Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2014 12:43 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

I tried a few different games in COI, only one will actually work, all the rest cause the emulator to freeze when I launch them. An example is Traitors Gate, I can install it fine under the 1.2GB blank HD, but it still won't work.

I also installed BasiliskII, and find that it works a lot faster and smother then COI, but of corse it only works for old, pre-PPC software (still helpful at times!).

A very interesting thread there. I might like to instal "Wine" at some point, that would probably complete this funny collection of emulators: if a program doesn't run under one, it will probably work on the other, or the other!

After all this crazy research it seems it might be easier to install Windows XP on a Mac and run whatever you need to from there. XP covers roughly 15 years worth of software & games, and there are VERY few programs that were only made for Mac OS 9.

MlchaelLAX

Level 4

2,286 points

Jul 12, 2014 5:34 PM in response to branchport

Games are a strange breed of software. For costs reasons many were ported over and of course will operate differently. I am not much of a gamer, so I lack experience in that regard.

Windows XP sounds like a great alternative for you! I have a copy of Windows XP since I purchased Virtual PC for my iMac G4/PowerBook years ago. I was able to "extract" it from the package sold by Connectix and it is that licensed copy that I continue to use, first in Bootcamp and then in Parallels since I purchased my first Intel Mac

How can you FORCE Classic mode to run on an Intel Mac? OS 9 emulation Rosetta Software Design