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Apple Older Software Downloads

CC_333

Well-known member
Has anybody mirrored all the Mac OS X 10.0.x-10.3.x updates and stuff that were cut off?

It would be good if one can take a Mac OS X 10.0.x-10.3.x system and modify it so that Software Update points to that hypothetical mirror instead of Apple's now (semi) defunct update site.

c

 

StPalligrl

Member
Well I've been searching and searching for a Mac 8.1 boot floppy or disk tools or something to get my old Powerbook 5600 working right again.  I can find OS 8.1 - 8.6 in CD format but not for the floppy images.  I knew if I looked longed enough I would finally find it. 

Here is the link to the ftp site where I found it.  OS 8 isn't the only old OS there  along with other older software for Macs.

  http://ftp.iinet.net.au/pub/macintosh-centro/MacOS/

Honestly you would think Microsoft and Apple and all the other major manufacturers of computer hardware would always keep an archive available for free to the public.  If it was me I would be tickled to think that there were people out there still finding worth in my obsolete products.

Maybe my old vintage Apple/Mac collection will start being worth a lot more now.....;o)

 

waynestewart

Well-known member
The older OSX updates are still there, they're just a little harder to find

http://support.apple.com/downloads/#macos

or a search for say 10.1.5 will find it

Has anybody mirrored all the Mac OS X 10.0.x-10.3.x updates and stuff that were cut off?

It would be good if one can take a Mac OS X 10.0.x-10.3.x system and modify it so that Software Update points to that hypothetical mirror instead of Apple's now (semi) defunct update site.

c
 

danda

Well-known member
Looking at the Internet Archive (archive.org) it appears that the links on the page had been removed as early as August 2013. I have emailed Tim Cook about this and I would encourage all others who can to do the same. If he receives enough emails about this issue then he may put the page back up.

In addition, the Apple Older software downloads page at www.info.apple.com/support/oldersoftwarelist.html seems to have been removed completely. As far as I can remember this page was identical to the other one. I think it has been removed fairly recently as it is still indexed on Google.

 

Sherry Haibara

Well-known member
It's sad to see it go... Well, I'm glad the Internet Archive has a full copy of the website, I'm downloading it right now for future preservation. This stuff is invaluable!

 

max1zzz

Well-known member
One thing to note about almost all the mirrors (Including the internet archive's one) is that they are missing the Mac OS 9 Updates, as you had to go through a additional SLA page. Unfortunately these seem to be broken on apples server as well.

I Did find a few of the updates and they are available from my copy, but most of the language specific ones are missing

 

snuci

Well-known member
One thing to note about almost all the mirrors (Including the internet archive's one) is that they are missing the Mac OS 9 Updates, as you had to go through a additional SLA page. Unfortunately these seem to be broken on apples server as well.

I Did find a few of the updates and they are available from my copy, but most of the language specific ones are missing
What directories would these be in? I have:

 Directory of V:\download.info.apple.com\Apple_Support_Area\Apple_Software_Updat
es\English-North_American\Macintosh\System
 
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          At_Ease
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          CFM-68K
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          ColorSync
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          CPU_Specific_Updates
27/11/2012  07:08 AM             3,418 index.html
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Java
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_7.6.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_8.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_8.5.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_8.6_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_9.0.4_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_9.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_9.2.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_X
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Older_System
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          OpenDoc
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          OpenGL
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Other_System
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          QuickDraw_3D
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          QuickTime
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Speech
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          System_7.5.5_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          System_7.5_Update_2.0
               1 File(s)          3,418 bytes
              22 Dir(s)  2,252,831,940,608 bytes free
 

I've got a couple more directories than you here.
 
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bigmessowires

Well-known member
Well, that stinks. I came here just to ask about the missing "older software" page, hoping it was a temporary problem. I know after 20+ years there wasn't much demand for those files anymore, but would it have killed them to leave the page up? It feels like being disowned by your parents.  :(

 

trigf

Well-known member
I emailed Tim Cook this afternoon, telling him what a fantastic resource it is for us vintage enthusiasts. I asked him to please reconsider shutting down the archive, and I encourage everyone to send an email requesting the same.

 

max1zzz

Well-known member
What directories would these be in? I have:


 Directory of V:\download.info.apple.com\Apple_Support_Area\Apple_Software_Updat
es\English-North_American\Macintosh\System
 
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          At_Ease
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          CFM-68K
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          ColorSync
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          CPU_Specific_Updates
27/11/2012  07:08 AM             3,418 index.html
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Java
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_7.6.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_8.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_8.5.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_8.6_Update
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_9.0.4_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_9.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_9.2.1_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Mac_OS_X
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          Older_System
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          OpenDoc
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          OpenGL
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Other_System
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          QuickDraw_3D
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          QuickTime
28/07/2013  04:56 PM    <DIR>          Speech
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          System_7.5.5_Update
28/07/2013  04:55 PM    <DIR>          System_7.5_Update_2.0
               1 File(s)          3,418 bytes
              22 Dir(s)  2,252,831,940,608 bytes free
 

I've got a couple more directories than you here.
 
Thats interesting, do those directory actually have the updates in or are they empty?

 

snuci

Well-known member
Ah, you're right.  wo directories are empty and I also checked the Internet Archive. I only have:

Mac_OS_9.0.4_Update.smi.bin

 

Sherry Haibara

Well-known member
For those of you who are looking for OS 9.1, 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 updates, you can find them here (and they are available in multiple languages)! 

 
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Elfen

Well-known member
Too bad they do not have it in Klingon. During System 7 days, somebody came out with a Klingon Alphabet font but the characters were lined up with the English alphabet. That sorta defeated a true Klingon based system on System 7.

Edit: Klingon Font not available, damn:

http://www.klingon.org/resources/software_mac.html

 
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CC_333

Well-known member
Since we're going there, has anybody ever come up with a Vulcan font? :)

Anyway, since all this stuff is freeware basically, it would be technically OK for someone to have a public mirror, no?

It would then be guaranteed to not go anywhere as long as that third party mirror exists.

c

 

max1zzz

Well-known member
From what I understand technically apple is the only one allowed to distribute it. However I can't realistically see apple pursuing anyone hosting a mirror of it.

I do have a online mirror it it, the link is a couple of pages back

 

Sherry Haibara

Well-known member
As long as we're talking about official updates that were made available for free by Apple, I don't see any reason why it should be forbidden to host them wherever we want and redistribute them free of charge as long and as much as we want.

Now, when talking about full operating systems on the other hand, that's a different story - we're only allowed to redistribute up to 7.5.5 legally, although I'm pretty sure nobody at Apple would care a single second about following releases too (especially now that they're giving away for free even their latest OS!). 

In my opinion, it's still better to have a full copy of everything, updates and full releases, safely stored, and maybe just avoid redistributing later material out in the wild.

 
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