OS 7.1 will not install on Color Classic ?

Macintosh Color Classic: Technical Specifications

System 7.1 through Mac OS 7.6: Compatibility With Macintosh Computers

System 7.1 will need a System Enabler 401 (http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/System/Older_System/System_Enablers/System_Enabler_401 _1.0.5.sea.bin) when used with a Colo(u)r Classic. No system enabler needed with System 7.5 to 7.6.1.

Starting up from a (bootable) CD in a Macintosh computer with a built-in CD-ROM drive should not be a problem (using the C key, or possibly Command+Option+Shift+Delete).

However, older models that require an external CD-ROM drive may not have the necessary software to detect a CD at all. If so, you may have to boot from a special startup floppy with an appropriate CD-ROM extension instead. For example, a modified Network Access Disk 7.5 should work.

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Utilities/Network_Access_Disk_7.5.sea.bin

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Utilities/Network_Access_Disk_7.5.txt

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Display-Peripheral/CD-ROM/Apple_CD-ROM_5.4.img.bin

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Display-Peripheral/CD-ROM/Apple_CD-ROM_5.4_Info.txt

You try using StuffIt Expander to open the file, and then the Disk Utility or another tool to burn the image. You may need to use the Color Classic or another old Mac to complete one or both steps; mounting and burning it from the Finder requires 9.1 through 9.2.2.

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The idea is to place the system enabler inside a System 7.1 system folder.

If necessary, a Network Access floppy can be used as a plain boot disk (without the need for a system enabler). Unmodified, such a floppy can be very useful for a LocalTalk connection (for example, using a normal MiniDIN-8M to MiniDIN-8M Mac printer cable between the printer ports of two Macintosh computers). That way, you would be able to connect to a file server on a second Mac, thus allowing file transfers to the hard disk in a machine like your Color Classic.

The Network Access disk can also be modified to hold another small file (such as the Apple CD-ROM extension). In order to free space, one would move all unnecessary files (see the text file earlier) from the floppy to the Wastebasket/Trash (do not forget to empty). This would create a startup floppy for special purposes (such as for accessing an external CD-ROM drive).

Alternatively, a modified Network Access floppy (with free space) can be used as a mere carrier for a transfer of a small file (one example would be a system enabler, placed outside the system folder on the floppy in this very context).

Remember that you need to decode/decompress any downloaded files (do this on a pre-1998 Macintosh computer, using a suitable version of StuffIt Expander). Use Disk Copy 4.2 (the Make A Copy button) or 6.3.3 (the Make a Floppy command) for any disk image files.

Try to install 7.5 because it's available as a floppy disk set (7.5.3 didn't and do you need to create the image on the Mac before to install from here).

As it seems that for any reason you cannot boot from CD this can solve the problem. Put the first install disk with Mac turned off and then turn it on to start the installation. System 7.5 doesn't need system enabler so, one problem less...

Disks specific to that model, or a generic 7.5 or 7.6 package.

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Insert it and restart with the C key held down, or select it in the Startup Disk control panel.

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