How can I customise files and folder icons in MacOS?
It is very simple to copy icons from one icon to another. All you need to do is highlight the file with the icon you wish to copy, and type Amiga+i to bring up the Get Info window, then click on the icon in the top left corner, and press Amiga+c keys, to copy the icon. Then bring up the Get Info window on the file, folder, or disk you wish to copy the icon onto. Simply highlight the destination file (or whatever) and bring up it's Get Info window, then click it's icon on the top left and press Amiga+p, to paste the new icon over the destination file's original icon. Don't worry, the destination file's original icon will be kept - if you wish to Clear or Cut the custom icon from file/folder/ disk the original icon will re-appear. Picture 10.1 will explain it a bit better.
The Mac is slowing down considerably, when booting up, accessing menus, and programs take ages to load up - what's causing this, and how can I get it back to it's normal speed?
There are any number of reasons why this phenomenon occurs. However the main reasons are;
1) The PRAM's data (Parameter RAM) is corrupted - zap the PRAM via the usual key combination (press Amiga+Shift+p+r right at beginning of the startup process).
2) The Finder's preference file is corrupted - bin it and restart (you may need to bin some other system related preference files also, eg. the Control Panels' prefs).
3) The System and the Finder are damaged, and needs replacing. Perhaps reinstall the System?
4) Your Mac has an active virus on the hard disk, which is busy causing havoc with your files. Run a anti-virus program on all your disks to eradicate it completely.
5) The hard disk is 99% full, and there's barely enough room to create temporary files, and save your documents. Or the free space on the hard disk is highly fragmented. A full optimisation of the hard disk will solve that problem, or a full backup then a restore.
6) Your Mac emulation does not have enough RAM given to it for to run smoothly.
7) You've switched on virtual memory - this can slow down 680x0 Macs, due to the lack of sufficient speed of the CPU and the size and version of your current system configuration. Switch it off.
8) Finally, if all else fails... reinstall your System Folder again. No doubt your old System has got so bloated with rubbish, and conflicting Extensions, that it has overloaded your computer.
Before you do a reinstall, restart with the Extensions disabled (hold Shift key during bootup), and see if the slow down still occurs. If it doesn't, then you'll either have to have a major sort out of your System Folder (disable some Extensions & Control Panels), and any loose files in the System Folder, or do a clean installation of the MacOS again.
9) The system you have installed is too demanding for your CPU. You're probably better off going back a version, eg. System 7.53/7.55, so that your CPU can handle it better.
Contextual Menus have stopped working in MacOS 8, why?
This can be caused by the Finder preference file being damaged, in which case find the file and put it in the bin, then reboot. Or it could be that the Contextual Menu Extension is damaged, was disabled, or it was deleted, in any case you're going to have to reinstall the Extension again.
How do I turn off the empty trash warning?
Go to the wastebasket/trashcan, highlight it and the press Amiga+i to bring up the Get Info window. At the bottom of the window will be a tick box and a message next to it saying "Warn me when emptying the wastebasket/trashcan". Click on the tick box so that the X does not show anymore, it is now disabled. See picture 10.2.
I recently started to get this message; "Cannot open: too many files are open", and it won't let me open any files... Why is this happening?
You've opened up too many files - 'files' mean: documents and screen-font suitcases. Close down some of the documents that you've kept open, and disable some fonts, via a font manager or take them out of the System Folder's Font folder, then re-launch the program you were using.
Note: you can have a maximum of 346 documents open, and a maximum of 128 font suitcases open. A font suitcase is recognised as a single file - so you could combine some fonts together, by dragging the 'A' (bitmap size) or 'AAA' (Truetype) files out of one suitcase and into another.
Some programs are displaying fonts incorrectly, or on-screen text and menus don't appear to work properly?
You have a font clash. Probably between the fonts in the System Folder and your font manager program (if you have one).
You see, fonts use a (so called) unique number for each font style, so as MacOS can differentiate between them. If two bitmap fonts styles (in the suitcase) have the same ID number, then all hell breaks out. Usually, programs are more susceptible to this kind of problem than MacOS.
To rectify the problem, you need to find which suitcase file is actually causing the clash. Start off by deactivating all fonts that have been opened in your font manager (eg. ATM Deluxe), then quit all your opened applications. Now, take out all fonts from the System Folder's Font folder, except: Geneva, Chicago. Now load up a program to see if the problem has gone. If it has, then one of the fonts you had previously opened is either clashing with another suitcase file or the problem suitcase is corrupted. In which case, you'll have to replace that suitcase, or create a blank suitcase (copy a good working one, and bin it's contents into the Trashcan), and move the files inside the duff suitcase to the good suitcase you just prepared.
For fonts that are clashing, you need a font utility or a commercial font manager program (I know that Suitcase v3 and above, will do it), that can renumber the ID of the clashing suitcase. You may be able to find a shareware utility in the Mac shareware scene.
Why can't I install a System Update, or even optimise my System volume... it complains that there are files in use! What's all this about?
The trouble with Macintosh System software is that it will not allow you to change any fundamental parts of either the System or any files that are on that System volume while they are active. This means that you cannot optimise, defragment [certain files only] or even update your System Folder/hard disk (reformat it) while they are in use. The only way round this, is to bootup from another hard drive, CD or floppy disk, in order for you to carry out whatever it is you wish to do.
What is the minimum System configuration you can have for any Mac?
For System 7.0 to 7.6, all you need is the System Folder, the Finder and the System file. All other Control Panels and Extensions are 'extras' - don't forget items that are loose in the System Folder as well (if you need them), they will also load upon bootup.
While MacOS 8.0 to 8.1, requires the same as System 7.x, however it needs the Appearance Extension, otherwise it will not boot up at all. If you are using HFS+ hard disks, the system also requires the Text Encoding Converter Extension and the Text Encoding folder.
Can I mix different System version components?
Yes and no. You can incorporate individual Extensions eg. a later AppleGuide Extension from MacOS 8 into System 7.55, but not individual Open Transport Extensions. I would advise against mixing the System file and the Finder from different OS versions, as this would cause major System instability. It probably won't boot up, either.
Why has the Mac suddenly decided to rebuild the Desktop File, should I stop it?
No, let it complete the rebuild process, otherwise all the icons on that particular drive will become generic icons. You could call this automatic 'house keeping', sometimes the Desktop File may become unreadable by the Finder, so it rebuilds it again, but only for that affected disk.
Remember all Macintosh formatted disks has it's own Desktop File, so that it can keep a record of what file belongs to which program.
Why do some folders in MacOS 8.x list files in reverse order, ie. Z to A?
All folder windows in MacOS 8 contain an extra gadget on the right hand side of the title bar, it looks like an up-side-down pyramid, made up of horizontal lines, this displays the List view in reverse order. To toggle it back to alphabetical order (top to bottom), just click on this triangle gadget once and it will flip itself back to the proper position, pointing up!
Where can I download free Macintosh System software?
You can download System 7.01 and 7.53, as self mounting disk images (SMIs) from Apple's web site: asu.info.apple.com - Apple's site search engine.
All you have to do is to type "System 7.0" or "System 7.5" in the search field, this should give you the full set of System 7.0/7.53 related downloadable files, including most of the MacOS 7.x updaters. Note that, System 7.53 consists of twenty 1.3mb SMIs. Also, make sure you select the correct language in the pop-up menu (on the search engine page), before you start to download any files, otherwise you'll be using a System catered for the USA (the default language).
The disk images come in two flavours; HQX and BIN. Both can be safely downloaded onto any computer and then transferred to the Mac side without any corruption (use Stuffit Expander to decode them). Also note that these disk images do not need to be copied onto floppy disks.
You can also copy a whole set of SMI files of System 7.53 from Amiga Format magazine's cover CD No39. Look in: Seriously Amiga / Emulation / - I believe it is the International English or British version.
How do I use the System 7.x 'SMI' disk images, supplied on Apple's web site?
SMIs (Self Mounting [disk] Images} are real easy to use, the only thing you need to check, is that the downloaded SMI data files are not corrupted. The SMI application (usually the first disk image) will automatically verify all files (for corrupted files) before it proceeds to mount the 'virtual disk' onto the desktop. All YOU have to do, is to double click the "[name].smi" application, it will do the rest. See picture 10.3, for what you should see when you've copied them to your Mac and when it is mounted.
Once it has mounted the System disk image onto the Mac's Desktop, you can now access this virtual disk as if it was a real disk. Just double click on the System Installer program to begin the installation of System 7.0 or 7.53.
File sizes: All 20 SMI parts = 25mb of HD space. The virtual disk = 41mb of HD space (it is saved onto the same HD as the SMI files). A full System installation = 40-55mb of HD space.
How can I install MacOS in ShapeShifter or Fusion, if I don't have a bootable disk in the first place?
1) First, I suggest you buy a copy of System 7.53, 7.6, 8.0 or 8.1, then you can boot off the CD and install the System. Note: Only Fusion v3.1 and Shapeshifter v3.10 can use System 8.x.
2) You can download a bootable filedisk from: www.blizzard.u-net.com - look in the "Program Archives" link for the Filedisks (for Shapeshifter & Fusion). The System Folder on each Filedisk is compatible with all 68k Amigas, and includes Stuffit Expander, so that you can decode BIN or HQX files. The filedisks are 2 megabytes, uncompressed.
3) Or you could ask a friend for his/her disks, so that you can do a temporary installation, until you can get hold of your own copy, or unarchive those HQX/BIN files, of MacOS.
4) You can download a disk image of System 7.0 or 7.53's Disk Tools (high density floppy disk), from Apple's web site: asu.info.apple.com
5) Any bootable disk would be preferable, such as Norton Utilities v3.5 CD or it's emergency floppy.
6) If you have a PC, then you can create a Mac disk using this disk image creator, called WinImage. Download the PC utility from: www.winimage.com
WinImage is not compatible with Self Mounting Images (.smi files), so download this disk image: Network_Access_Disk_7.5.sea.bin
You'll need Aladdin's Stuffit Expander v5.x for Windows to fully expand the file. See Aladdin's web site to download the Expander.
How come there isn't a manual for MacOS 7.5 to 8.x?
A manual came with MacOS 7.0, all other OSs are in fact updates of this - even MacOS8 could be considered an update of System 7. After all, OS8 shares a lot of its appearance and features with System 7, so therefore it doesn't really need a manual - either way, this is what Apple have done, to the annoyance of it's users. However there is on-line help, in the form of an Apple Guide, look under the '?' menu for Macintosh Guide in MacOS 7.5x, and under the Help menu in MacOS 8.x. Picture 10.4 is a typical example of a AppleGuide window.
Is it possible to 'de-activate' a System Folder, manually?
Yes, just place the Finder program in the Trashcan (you won't be able to bin it). Unfortunately you won't be able to boot-up from that partition anymore, so you'd better make sure you have a bootable disk to hand, just in case it crashes.
This is the manual version of doing a 'Clean Install' (a feature in System 7.6 to 8.1), this can be useful, if you want to keep all your previous 3rd party Extensions while a new System is installed!
AppleTalk can cause problems.
This is a hardware feature in real Macs, and may cause delays a first, especially during startup. Best to switch off AppleTalk as soon as you bootup from a newly installed System. You can do this by calling up the Chooser (in the Apple icon menu) and click on the Off button, under AppleTalk.
Which MacOSs work with ShapeShifter & Fusion?
You have a few choices, but all of them start from System 7 upwards.
* System 7.0
* System 7.01 - to update it, use System 7 Tuner and Sound Manager v3.
* System 7.1
* System 7.1P, 7.1P1, 7.1P2, 7.1P3, 7.1P5, 7.1P6 - for Performas only.
* System 7.11 & 7.11(Pro)
* System 7.12 - for PowerPC Macs only.
* System 7.5, 7.51, 7.52
* System 7.53 - only works with ShapeShifter v3.5 and above.
* System 7.55 - works very well with all 68k processors.
* System 7.6/7.61 - this can be troublesome, otherwise it's alright.
* System 8.0/8.1 - will only work with Fusion 3.1 and ShapeShifter 3.10.
* System 8.5 and above - will only work with PowerPC Macs.
System 7.0 & 7.01, plus all updates; 7.11, 7.51, 7.52, 7.53, 7.55, 7.61 and 8.1 can be downloaded from Apple's web site; asu.info.apple.com - make sure you download the Update in your language.
See the section on 68k Mac ROMs for the entire list of 68k Macintoshs, and supported System versions.
How should I go about installing a new Mac System over my old one?
Installing a MacOS7.6 or 8.x
I recommend you do a 'clean installation' of any radically new MacOS, eg. from Systems 7.0 to 7.5, or 7.6 to 8.0. However, you do not need to perform a clean installation for System patches, ie. System 7.5 to 7.55, all it does is upgrade the System file, Finder and some Extensions.
If you're installing System 7.6 or 8.x, the installer will do all the hard work for you, but only if you select "Custom Install" or "Install new System Folder" (in Options). It simply deactivates the old System, and installs a new System8/7.6 Folder next to it.
Installing MacOS7 to 7.55 next to an old or damaged System Folder
Do not install directly into an old System Folder, I strongly recommend you install it as a completely new System Folder, so that all your 3rd party Extensions and Control Panels do not load up the first time round (some of them may be incompatible with the new OS).
Before you perform installation, you'll have to put the old System Folder into the Trashcan - but do not empty it. Then install the new MacOS onto the same hard disk as the old one, and 'bingo!', you now have a new, and upgraded System. Picture 10.5 is an example of the System 7.5x custom installation window.
Do I need an FPU for all Macintosh programs?
About 70% of 68k Macs have an FPU built-in. Most Mac software will use the FPU in some way, and may cause some programs to crash a lot.
If your Amiga doesn't have an FPU, you can download a freeware Control Panel called SoftwareFPU from the internet, this will emulate an FPU for you.
All Macintosh Systems work with all Macs, right?
Wrong. All badges of Macintoshs are different - ROM versions are different, all Mac motherboards are different, and most Mac 68k processors are different. In order for the System to work on your Mac, you need to install a custom System for this Macintosh, for every version of the MacOS, from System 7.0-8.1.
