Macintosh LC III - Restored!

[iMac600]

This one should have been relatively easy. I have to admit though, it took a few hours to make it work properly. I liberated this machine ages ago in a non-working state, but only recently did I decide to fish it out and try to make it work.

I started with the obvious visual and cosmetic stuff. The case is in perfect condition, so this wasn't really an issue. After ducking inside the machine, I did a test of the fans, capacitors, checked for corrosion on any contact points... nada. This machine was beautiful. Alright... powered up it works fine, she chimes as per the usual and attempts to boot up. The system froze, although the hard disk continued to work just fine, so I suspected the operating system was at fault.

The problem I face here was the lack of System 7 install discs. So I took the long way, using the Beige G3 as a bridge (having both SCSI and IDE) to copy the System 7.0.1 (the original OS for this machine) from the Macintosh LC III's hard disk drive and reinstall it onto the 40MB SCSI hard disk.

No dice. "This System Software can not run on this Macintosh Model".

A change of plans, so I used System 7.1 from the web this time. Dropped the SCSI hard disk back into the Beige G3 and installed from there before refitting it back into the LC III.

Still no dice, failing with the same error. "This System Software can not run on this Macintosh Model".

Probably what I should have done all along, but after a 5 minute search online I found out I needed System Enabler 003 1.1. Having a nice little collection of these System Enablers handy, I copied it over to the Beige G3 from the Intel iMac, then onto the hard disk of the LC III. While I was there I copied all the games and software from my long dead Macintosh Classic. Third time lucky perhaps...

Yes! Away goes the Macintosh LC III, just as nature intended.

For the first time ever, I was able to see the system specs of this machine. 12MB of physical memory, 40MB Quantum ProDrive LPS, 25MHz Motorola 68030 processor running System 7.1. The display is a 17" VGA BenQ display connected via a VGA adapter.

Preloaded on the hard disk (not counting the software I copied over from the Classic HD) is a copy of Kid Pix, HyperCard and the HyperCard 2.1 Player, Bannermania, Type! and the Macintosh System 7.0.1 installers.

What a beautiful example of early Macintosh LC's. No yellowing, cracking or chipping, plus the hardware is all stock standard and in factory condition. Viva la LC.

You know what this also means crew? I'm back in the 68k Race. Lets rock 'n roll.

 

[Temetka]

Nice work.

Looks good on your desk.

I hated those mice, so uncomfortable. Give me a tear drop mouse any day of the week.

 

[LCGuy]

Good to see another LC back up and going. The case looks to be in very good condition.

 

[equant]

Good work. Must feel nice to use it.

 

[joshc]

I hated those mice, so uncomfortable. Give me a tear drop mouse any day of the week.

My opinion on that is of the complete opposite - the feel of the button on the tear drop mouse is just awful. Each to his own?

 

[LCGuy]

I like them both, personally. As for the "Teardrop" mice (Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II), I find that the older ones have a better click to them...probably because the newer ones have a cheaper button, just a shame about the crappy hollow mouse balls the earlier ones have, just like the original ADB Mouse I - hence why I keep a stock of normal mouse balls sourced from dead PC mice to put in ADB mice that have the hollow black ball - the only mouse of mine that has one of those black balls still is the one that came with my LCIII, and thats in order to keep it as original as possible. :beige: I have to say though...and I know how incredibly geeky this sounds...but an original ADB Mouse I with a proper mouse ball is quite a ride. Anyway, I have to congratulate iMac600 on getting his LCIII up and going - with me having two dead LCs here, its always good to hear of another one being put back into service.