Did any Macs require System 7.6.x as a minimum?

[NJRoadfan]

This is purely out of curiosity. I have had quite a few pre-G3 PCI Macs over the years and they all seem to boot up System 7.5.5 despite Apple saying that some later models require 7.6.x. The 8600/300 I have boots 7.5.5 without enablers which, according to the lists below, should be impossible. This era of machines was a bit weird since there were Mac clones out on the market. Once the G3s came out in 1997, Apple jumped to 8.0 finally to exploit a loophole in the clone contracts.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA36684

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA47341

Going by that, I think the only machines that might require 7.6.x as a minimum are the Powerbook 2400 (oddly missing from the list) and 3400. The 1400 shipped with 7.5.5 + Enabler. Having never owned either machine, I can't confirm that. I'll assume the PB3500/Kanga G3 required 8.0 like the desktops.

 

[LCGuy]

The 1400 initially shipped with 7.5.3 + an enabler, up until the 1400c/166 (and possibly the 1400c/133). I got a brand new 1400 back in the day and it came with 7.6.1 preinstalled. The installation CD also came with 7.6 and the 7.6.1 updater. The 1400c/166 definitely will not boot 7.5.3, and from memory I don't think mine will boot 7.5.5 either.

Regarding the Kanga, it actually will run 7.6.1 I believe. The TAM also originally shipped with 7.6.1, and I doubt it will run anything less. The 3400 is based on a whole new architecture, that one definitely needs 7.6.

 

[NJRoadfan]

Architecturally the TAM is a 6500 in a different case. Kinda curious if it will boot 7.5.5 with System Enabler 411. I once had a Kanga G3 in for repair and I recall it running MacOS 8. Too bad I never kept track of that machine, I would have scooped it up when it was retired!

 

[Anonymous Freak]

WGS 7350 requires 7.6.1 or later. (But the Power Macintosh 7300 it is based on will run 7.5.5 just fine.)

And I have confirmed that 7.6.0 does not work properly on it. If you don't have the WGS-specific installer disc, you have to install 7.6.0 then IMMEDIATELY install 7.6.1 before rebooting.

 

[Paralel]

As an aside on this topic, do you think it is possible to run System 7 Pro (7.1.1) on a 190cs with the enabler?

 

[NJRoadfan]

Not likely. The 190 requires 7.5.2 minimum. Not surprising as it came out in 1995.

 

[Macdrone]

I agree about the 190. The form factor is same as the 5300 so its closer to the a PowerPC than the rest of the 1XX series.