Best Mac OS version for Color Classic?

[jefframsey]

I have recently acquired 4 free computers - Color Classic, SE, G4 iMac, and an Apple IIe. So far, the iMac, Apple IIe and the Color Classic are working. I had to deep (read DEEEEEEP) clean the CC logic board of leaked cap goo before it would power up, but it is working now. Cap replacement coming soon.

Question is "Which OS version should I run on this CC?" 7.5.5? 7.0.1? 7.1.1? ??? Right now, it only has 6MB RAM, so it's not going to be a great machine for running much. I think I can get two 4MB SIMMS and give it 12MB, correct? Is that the limit?

 

[ArmorAlley]

I'd go with the earliest version of the system software that will support the programs you want to use, which, in this case, is System 7.1 with appropriate Enabler (with System Enabler 401).

I have a fondness for System 7.1 anyway. The enablers are available in the Macintosh Garden, if you don't have the appropriate installer disk-images.

That being said, you can install System 7.5.5 or Mac OS 7.6.1 and whittle down the control panels and extensions. You should have what you want or need.

6MB is not a bad amount for System 7.1.

 

[EvilCapitalist]

First off, congrats on picking up those machines for free!  That's quite a haul, especially since it looks like they're all physically in nice shape.

When you add two 4MB SIMMs to the 4MB it has onboard you think you'll get 12MB but you only get 10MB thanks to silly limitations Apple imposed. 

As far as the OS, I'd stick with 7.1.  While 7.5.x and 7.6 will run on there they're going to be annoyingly slow, more so if you've added additional VRAM to get Thousands of Colors.  Even 7.1 on the machine isn't a great experience.  If you plan on keeping the little guy be on the lookout for an LC520 or LC550 motherboard which will bump you to 25MHz or 33MHz respectively but with the added bonus of a 36MB RAM ceiling and a proper 32 bit bus.  Both let you keep your stock motherboard cover and don't require any fussing with ResEdit to install.

 

[MOS8_030]

Apple Corps and Apple Computer firmly represented in that photo.

 

[Dog Cow]

Here is the Color Classic enabler for System 7.1. But I always found enablers to be an annoying thing and am so glad that System 7.5 abolished them.

 

[mraroid]

I was able to find a 128 mg stick for my CC.  And if missing, you can install the math co processor.  I wanted to install 7.1 but was unable to so.  I think one needs to know the trick to installing it.  I even bought original CC floppy install disks, but I could not make it install.  I am sure I was doing something wrong.   So I installed 7.6.1.  I installed a CF2SCSI adapter card for a hard drive.  I always use the SanDisk branded cards, no others.  I ended up using the SanDisk 16 GB  Extreme Pro CF card (about $35 on Amazon).  I partitioned it into 6 partitions.  This gives me more hard drive space than one could ever hope or. Many folk are now installing  microSD 2 SCSI card adaptors, and I suspect that also work just fine.
 
I installed free FTP software on my 64 bit windows 10 box.  Using the browsers in Windows 10, I go to places (like MacintoshGarden) and down load software into windows 10.  Then, using free FTP software running under 7.6.1, I FTP the software to the CC.
 
If you find a CCII logic board, your CC will run much faster. 
 
My original idea was to run 7.1 on one partition, and then 7.5.5 on another, and then 7.6.1 on a third.  If I was running the CCII logic board in my CC, I would have put 7.1 on one partition and 7.6.1 on another.  But in the middle of all of this, I did the upgrade to 640 X 480.  I now have a LC 575 logic board in my CC.  I upgraded the CPU to a full 68040 and just by accident I found a fan and heat sinc that fit this CPU.  I installed that and took power from the wiring harness for the hard drive (which now is a CF card) to power the small quiet fan on top of the 68040.
 
Some literature I have read says that the full 68040 runs a little hot so that is why I put a heat sinc and fan on top of it.
 
I did find a drop in replacement fan for the CC and installed it.  It moves quite a bit more air then the original, but I could hear the fan.  So I did the CPU thing and re installed the original fan.
 
After the LC 575 upgrade I moved to 8.1 and 7.5.6.  Next time I play with my CC, I will try to install 7.1 yet again.
 
Some folks complain about the small text size (on that lovely Sony CRT monitor) if you do the 640 X 480 mod.  I am sure it is a personal choice, but for me it is a non issue.  That color monitor is awesome. 
 
The CF or micro SD cards draw far less current than a machincal hard drive.  I like that. 
 
Keep us updated.
 
mraroid
 

 

[jefframsey]

I was able to find a 128 mg stick for my CC.  And if missing, you can install the math co processor. 

Do you mean that you could install a 128MB stick of RAM in the Color Classic logic board and it worked? You didn't upgrade the board to the LC 575 first and then install the 128MB RAM?

Also, what MathCo do I need? Is there a PN?

 

[jefframsey]

My hard drive connection is somehow intermittent. I do not yet know if it is capacitor related or power related or ? I have a known-good 4GB drive that I pulled from a working eternal drive enclosure and it will not spin up and be detected by the CC. Now I replaced that drive with the original 80MB drive and it will no longer detect that one either.

Aside from more cleaning, what else can I do? And would bad caps on the LB cause this issue with the drive?

 

[mraroid]

Also, what MathCo do I need? Is there a PN?

The motorola math co processor I have installed is: 

MC68882FN33A

2C12R

QEPQ9708

Note that math co processors are built to run at higher speeds then required in your original CC board.  But they will run just fine.  Just drop them in and boot and you are good to go.

I just did a search on ebay USA.  Gez!  I think I only paid around $8.00 for mine, but the prices seem high.  Here is one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorola-MC68882FN33A-FPU-Math-Coprocessor-Chip-Apple-Mac-Amiga-Vintage/320789692675?epid=1352221187&hash=item4ab08e4103:g:0FMAAOSwBLlU8lqT

I believe (ask folk here that know more about this) that different model numbers of math co processors were made that will drop into the slot on your board.  Again, you can drop in a faster match co processor and it will run just fine.

The price above is way over the top!  Perhaps you can build a search in ebay and find one for less money.

mraroid

 

[mraroid]

Do you mean that you could install a 128MB stick of RAM in the Color Classic logic board and it worked? You didn't upgrade the board to the LC 575 first and then install the 128MB RAM?

What a lot of folks do is swap out the original board in the CC, and plug in a board from the Apple Performa 550. It is drop in replacement.  The 550 board runs a 68030 @33Mhz and you can use the same match co processor in it.
 
I believe the literature says it can only run up to 32MBs of RAM, but this is the board I used the 128MB SIMM in (If I recall correctly).
 
You are not going to get 640 X 480  when you use this board (often referred to at the CC II board).  But your entire machine will run much faster.....
 
The afvantage of this board is that all you do is slide out your old one, and slde in this one...
 
mraroid

 

[mraroid]

Aside from more cleaning, what else can I do? And would bad caps on the LB cause this issue with the drive?

Can you boot from a floppy and see if your tools can see the drive and perhaps format/init  it?

If you boot from a floppy, does your screen look OK and is stable?

mraroid

 

[mraroid]

jefframsey.......




Here is a CC web site tha just went on line about a year or so ago.  Upgrades, manuals, data, links, etc.  I think it is the best place to find CC info:


https://powercc.org/




mraroid

 

[jefframsey]

Can you boot from a floppy and see if your tools can see the drive and perhaps format/init  it?

If you boot from a floppy, does your screen look OK and is stable?

mraroid

No. If I boot from a floppy, I cannot see or init the drive.

And yes, if I boot from floppy, my screen is clear and crisp and stable.

 

[olePigeon]

Bad caps can affect the SCSI BUS.  My IIci would get Sad Macs and BUS errors until I recapped it.  Same with a dying power supply.

 

[jefframsey]

Just ordered my caps. We'll see how the SCSI bus works with fresh caps.

 

[olePigeon]

I'm also a big fan of System 7.1.1 Pro.  It can be very lean and not take up much memory by removing anything you don't need, but you can add as much functionality as System 7.5.  So it's very expandable, too.

 

[jefframsey]

While waiting for my new caps to come in, I decided to try an external scsi drive - it works! It initialized and I successfully installed 7.1 on it! I am now installing update 3.0 and then we’ll see what happens. 

I’m still gonna recap it. The internal drive spins up then down, up then down again, and then the computer gives up on that drive and moves on to the external drive. Does that sound like logic board caps or does it sound more like power supply caps?

 

[EvilCapitalist]

Neither.  While it's an excellent idea to recap the motherboard and the analog board, especially as both are still in working order, the hard drive problem is unrelated.  Quantum drives (which it sounds like is what you have in there) are known for failing because of stiction.

 

[jefframsey]

Neither.  While it's an excellent idea to recap the motherboard and the analog board, especially as both are still in working order, the hard drive problem is unrelated.  Quantum drives (which it sounds like is what you have in there) are known for failing because of stiction.

That makes sense, except I tried this drive like 20 times internally and it would not even spin up. Then I tried this drive in the enclosure and it works every time. Like 5 times in a row so far. Do I just not have the jumpers set correctly? Termination?