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How to install software on Macintosh Plus?

naujoks

Member
I was only able to install version 2.5.2 of Snitch, the .sit files of the other versions wouldn't expand (only the .hqx of 2.5.2 did)
I don't have "dimg" or "ddsk" in the Type/Creator selectors though. The only selections I have are shown in the attached picture.
 

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MacKilRoy

Well-known member
I was only able to install version 2.5.2 of Snitch, the .sit files of the other versions wouldn't expand (only the .hqx of 2.5.2 did)
I don't have "dimg" or "ddsk" in the Type/Creator selectors though. The only selections I have are shown in the attached picture.

Choose “edit type list” and add it. Same with the creator list.
 

olePigeon

Well-known member
@naujoks I've run into this issue with the .sit files. They're becoming corrupted somehow. They expand fine outside of a real Mac, but won't expand on a real one. That's why I encode everything with BinHex.

Attached is a disk image file with Snitch 1.0.1. Copy the .hqx file to your Mac, then drag the file onto Stuffit Expander. It will decode the BinHex file into a properly formatted disk image. Mount the disk image with Disk Copy 6, and copy the Snitch extension into your Extensions folder.

Make sure to remove the other Snitch.
 

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  • Snitch_1.0.1.image.hqx
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Paralel

Well-known member
That's the main reason I BIN all my SIT files. Something strange does seem to happen to SIT files if they are moved around enough and aren't BINed or HQXed properly. I generally suggest BIN over HQX since HQX can really inflate the size.
 

naujoks

Member
I mounted the image and copied the one single file Snitch to Extensions (is it the icon with the hooded guy when loading). Previously I removed Snitch 2.2.
Bringing up the information on a file does not have the Snitch panel though...
 

olePigeon

Well-known member
Here's Snitch 2.0.2 This version also doesn't need a SN. It may fix whatever issues you're having with Snitch 1.0.
 

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  • Snitch_2.0.2.image.hqx
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olePigeon

Well-known member
By the way, just click in the text box. Don't bother with the pull-down menu. You can just change the type and creator by typing it in.
 

olePigeon

Well-known member
And if THAT doesn't work, forget it. Just get ResEdit. I was trying to make it easy for you to modify file types and creators. But ResEdit will do it as well, it's just a bit more involved. Open the file with ResEdit, then Get Info on the file from within ResEdit, then change the type and creator.
 

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  • ResEdit_2.1.3.sea.hqx
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ArmorAlley

Well-known member
@naujoks This isn't an immediate solution but something to get over the coming months: a SCSI CD-ROM drive and the appropriate cable(s).

You will need to read up on the rules of SCSI too (SCSI IDs must be unique, physical SCSI chains must be terminated and so on)
You will also need an optical drive on your PC that can burn CDs.

Once you have your SCSI CD-ROM drive available on your either your Plus or PB180, you can then download disk copy images/ISOs from places like the Macintosh Garden and burn your own mac-readable CD-ROMs (that is, formatted in HFS).

With the help of Basilisk II or Mini vMac, you can burn your own CDs or create ISOs to be burnt onto CD.

I don't think that it has been mentioned yet, but can the PB180 act as a hard disc on the Plus. I've forgotten the name of it (SCSI Mode?) but I used to do back in the mid 1990s with my PB190 and IIcx.

One final point that has worked well for me: if you have the cash, get yourself a Mac Mini G4 and install Mac OS 9.2.2 onto it. This can access the Macintosh Garden easily and it can burn CDs for your other two macs. For Macs with RJ45 slots, you can network them as well. Any of them will do.

If you want more details, ask.
 

olePigeon

Well-known member
@naujoksI don't think that it has been mentioned yet, but can the PB180 act as a hard disc on the Plus. I've forgotten the name of it (SCSI Mode?) but I used to do back in the mid 1990s with my PB190 and IIcx.
That's a good idea. Would be a quick way to get files over to the Plus.

https://support.apple.com/kb/TA21592?locale=en_US

Just set the SCSI ID using the PowerBook (or Portable) control panel. Shut down. Connect a SCSI cable between the PowerBook and the host machine. Turn on the PowerBook (should show a SCSI icon), then turn on the host machine.
 

naujoks

Member
If I got myself a SD cards SCSI drive, would that enable me to install software easily? I imagine I could daisy chain it with my existing Mac HD?
I heard about BlueSCSI. It doesn't seem to be too expensive. Can anyone recommend it?
 

Paralel

Well-known member
...I don't think that it has been mentioned yet, but can the PB180 act as a hard disc on the Plus. I've forgotten the name of it (SCSI Mode?) but I used to do back in the mid 1990s with my PB190 and IIcx...

The full technical name is SCSI Target Disk Mode
 

ArmorAlley

Well-known member
The full technical name is SCSI Target Disk Mode
Exactly. I knew that it was something like that. I believe that a FireWire version works with the G4 Powerbooks too.
It was a very useful way of transfering files and software from one machine to another before I had EtherNet. I could have used Localtalk, I suppose.
 

naujoks

Member
So back to my question of using a SCSI emulator, such a s BlueSCSI.
If I put the .sit and .dsk files on the SD card on it, will I still have the same problems of the Mac not recognising the files or corrupting them?
 

Phipli

Well-known member
So back to my question of using a SCSI emulator, such a s BlueSCSI.
If I put the .sit and .dsk files on the SD card on it, will I still have the same problems of the Mac not recognising the files or corrupting them?
The mac doesn't corrupt files, the PC formatted disk does.
 

Phipli

Well-known member
Ok. So what about the files on an SD card?
With most SD card adapters you mostly don't work on the SD card level, you put disk images on the SD card and the disk images mount as hard disks on the retro Mac.

I believe there is a way of fetching individual files that are dumped on the SD card, but the normal way is to add file into the disk images, with either a dedicated program for adding files to Mac formatted disk images, or using an emulator.

So, you buy a ZuluSCSI (or similar), then you install Mini vMac, create a 2GB disk image, install Mac System 6.0.8 on it for the Plus, or System 7.1 for the PowerBook (or grab premade images), then use the emulator to drag all the files you want into the disk image. The files should be as you downloaded them, don't decompress them in windows explorer.

I'd suggest decompressing the files in Mini vMac because it will be faster than the retro Macs.

Issues you will have :
- Downloads are in lots of formats and you need numerous programs to uncompress them, including...
Stuffit Expander 4.0.x, Stuffit Expander 5.x, Disk Copy 6.x, Shrink Wrap, MacZip and others.
- You need to set the SD card up correctly, regarding file names and settings, the Plus is picky. See the setup guide for whatever you buy.
- You need to power the SD card adapter externally to use it with a Plus. Unlike on most computers - the Plus was the first SCSI Mac and is... a bit weird. It doesn't provide any power through the SCSI port.

I strongly suggest watching some getting started youtube videos or reading step by step instructions. The questions you're asking are covered in guides to get up and running.
 
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