Macintosh Plus odds and ends

[t2jd1967]

A few months ago I got my hands on a Macintosh Plus 1MB with keyboard and mouse. The unit is in working order and I have been able to make some improvements:

- Memory upgrade from 1MB to 4MB
- BlueSCSI II kit for booting off SD card
- Managed to install MacOS 7.5.5 (the Mac came with System 6.0.8)
- Finally got the BlueSCSI II Wifi network adapter to work
- Replaced the "cheese wheel" gear to get the floppy drive ejector to work again (messed it up first time around, but now it is working)
- Made the SCI adapter diode mod to self-power the BlueSCSI module (major effort for me)
- Put a 4.5 Volt battery using a nice adapter that works with 3 x 1.5 Volt LR44 batteries (see link below)

It has been hard work for someone who is not exactly gifted with tooling. Anyway, a few things are left to do that I can't get done without help.

1. The M0100 mouse is working correctly, but the cable receptacle that holds the cable at the mouse end is missing. I have looked allover to find if someone 3D prints these (like the "cheese wheel"), but it is a hard part to find. Any suggestions for a source that does not involve buying a second mouse would be appreciated.
2. The right hand top Torx screw (looking from the rear) won't fasten properly. Nothing major, but any suggestions on how to fix this would be welcome. Again, I am not very good with tooling, but if it doesn't involve machining something I am willing to give it a try.
3. I have a copy of Microsoft 5.1a US English running. The trouble is it does not come with a UK English spell checker. If anyone can help out getting a copy of the UK spelling tools (disk image), that would be wonderful. Just to be sure, I am only looking for the spelling tools disk, nothing else.

Many thanks to whomever replies.

4.5 Volt battery adapter link

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0CGY78LG9?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Edit: grammar.

 

[Phipli]

2. The right hand top Torx screw (looking from the rear) won't fasten properly. Nothing major, but any suggestions on how to fix this would be welcome. Again, I am not very good with tooling, but if it doesn't involve machining something I am willing to give it a try.

This means someone probably over tightened it. Do you have a photo of where it goes into the front bezel? Taken with the case off. There should be plastic tube that the screw go into above the CRT.

3. I have a copy of Microsoft 5.1a US English running. The trouble is it does not come with a UK English spell checker. If anyone can help out getting a copy of the UK spelling tools (disk image), that would be wonderful. Just to be sure, I am only looking for the spelling tools disk, nothing else.

There is probably a copy at my parents (they live hours away), but we generally used ClarisWorks or PageMaker rather than Word.

Managed to install MacOS 7.5.5 (the Mac came with System 6.0.8)

You might find 7.5.5 a little resource hungry on the Plus, you're actually better off running 6.0.8 as it uses much less RAM and is a lot faster. I wouldn't ever install newer than 7.1 on a Plus.

 

[t2jd1967]

This means someone probably over tightened it. Do you have a photo of where it goes into the front bezel? Taken with the case off. There should be plastic tube that the screw go into above the CRT.

I will probably open it again in a few days and take a photo then. The Mac is now sitting all closed up and taking it apart again and again feels like I am increasing the chances of breaking something. It probably isn't, but everything feels rather fragile on the inside.

There is probably a copy at my parents (they live hours away), but we generally used ClarisWorks or PageMaker rather than Word.

If you would come around to it sometime, I am more than happy to pay for the value of the disk plus posting (or for the disk image via file transfer), so that would be tremendous. There is no hurry, but it would be incredible nice to have. As long as it is Word 5.0/5.1/5.1a it should be fine to work with my 5.1a version.

You might find 7.5.5 a little resource hungry on the Plus, you're actually better off running 6.0.8 as it uses much less RAM and is a lot faster. I wouldn't ever install newer than 7.1 on a Plus.

I like having the latest version even though it is a bit slow. The reason I went for MacOS 7 in the first place was for better network support. This of course forced me to upgrade the memory and now I am happy to have done that. There is probably someone who can make the network work with System 6, but I was having a lot of trouble doing it (probably not helped by the fact that it runs off the BlueSCSI adapter), and I also kind of like the look and feel of MacOS 7 a bit better with MultiFinder built in.

Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it.

 

[Phipli]

I like having the latest version even though it is a bit slow.

This isn't always the best logic, I'd recommend dual booting if you want the features of 7. Also, I'd suggest no newer than 7.1 as 7.5.5 just uses too much RAM for a 4MB machine.

If you would come around to it sometime, I am more than happy to pay for the value of the disk plus posting (or for the disk image via file transfer), so that would be tremendous. There is no hurry, but it would be incredible nice to have. As long as it is Word 5.0/5.1/5.1a it should be fine to work with my 5.1a version.

I found a copy of British Word 5.0. I'm copying the files over to my laptop at the moment.

 

[Phipli]

The attached zips contains a disk image that should work straight with your BlueSCSI 2. It has the UK versions of the Word Dictionaries etc from Word 5.0 on it, saved as a self extracting archive. The disk image itself is a 100MB image and has System 7.1 installed on it. It should be bootable (I haven't tested it, I don't have a BlueSCSI). I also put Stuffit Expander 4.5 on it, the patched version of the Apple formatting tool and Kid Pix. Because why not.

 

[cheesestraws]

Everyone needs kid pix in their life, I firmly believe.

 

[Phipli]

Everyone needs kid pix in their life, I firmly believe.

There should be a second checkbox in Compact Pro :

Make Self Extracting
Include Kid Pix 1.2

 

[t2jd1967]

This isn't always the best logic, I'd recommend dual booting if you want the features of 7. Also, I'd suggest no newer than 7.1 as 7.5.5 just uses too much RAM for a 4MB machine.

Thanks for the recommendation, I will definitely try that. I haven't yet figured out how to multi-boot with the BlueSCSI and I am learning as I am going with the Mac Plus and the older system software. I have worked with computers ever since my brother and I bought a ZX81 when it came out (and of course the ZX Spectrum after that) and only switched to Macs in 2011. So this going back in time is also a learning experience. I did write assembly on a Sinclair QL and it is really nice to have a Motorola 68000 machine running again. Still think it is the best 32-bit chip around.

I found a copy of British Word 5.0. I'm copying the files over to my laptop at the moment.

Well, that is absolutely wonderful, I don't know what to say except for a very big thank you. Will let you know how I get on with it.

Edit: spelling.

 

[t2jd1967]

The attached zips contains a disk image that should work straight with your BlueSCSI 2. It has the UK versions of the Word Dictionaries etc from Word 5.0 on it, saved as a self extracting archive. The disk image itself is a 100MB image and has System 7.1 installed on it. It should be bootable (I haven't tested it, I don't have a BlueSCSI). I also put Stuffit Expander 4.5 on it, the patched version of the Apple formatting tool and Kid Pix. Because why not.

I managed to get Basilisk II working on my 14" M2 Pro so will first attempt to load the image there and then transfer it across to the SD card that goes inside the BlueSCSI. I am quite honestly blown away how somebody can make that kind of hardware based on a Pico board. Not being a hardware person myself, this stuff really impresses me.

Many thanks again!

 

[Phipli]

I managed to get Basilisk II working on my 14" M2 Pro so will first attempt to load the image there and then transfer it across to the SD card that goes inside the BlueSCSI. I am quite honestly blown away how somebody can make that kind of hardware based on a Pico board. Not being a hardware person myself, this stuff really impresses me.

Many thanks again!

You don't need to do anything with the emulator? Just unzip the file I sent and copy the hda file straight onto the SD Card? You can mount more than one image at once. Up to 7 if you give them individual SCSI IDs.

 

[LaPorta]

Once you have the two Systems, use System Picker to change between Systems:

System Picker - Macintosh Garden

System Picker allows you to choose which System Folder to boot from, if you have 2 or more System Folders on the Macintosh startup disk. Top DL: System Picker version 1.1a3 from 1997 (from Apple Dev CD, Oct 1998). 2nd DL: System Picker version 1.0b11 from 1991. 3rd DL: System Picker version...

macintoshgarden.org

 

[Phipli]

Once you have the two Systems, use System Picker to change between Systems:

System Picker - Macintosh Garden

System Picker allows you to choose which System Folder to boot from, if you have 2 or more System Folders on the Macintosh startup disk. Top DL: System Picker version 1.1a3 from 1997 (from Apple Dev CD, Oct 1998). 2nd DL: System Picker version 1.0b11 from 1991. 3rd DL: System Picker version...

macintoshgarden.org

It will be two disks (seperate SCSI IDs), so they can just use Startup Disk in Control Panels.

No need for System Picker.

 

[LaPorta]

It will be two disks (seperate SCSI IDs), so they can just use Startup Disk in Control Panels.

No need for System Picker.

I often find that the System 6 panel is finicky. Otherwise, you are right if using separate IDs.

 

[Phipli]

I often find that the System 6 panel is finicky. Otherwise, you are right if using separate IDs.

System 6 doesn't seem to do partitions, but if you're on different IDs I've never had issues.

System Picker on the other hand, disables all the Systems on all connected disks even though it doesn't need to, which can be a pain.

 

[Snial]

I did write assembly on a Sinclair QL and it is really nice to have a Motorola 68000 machine running again. Still think it is the best 32-bit chip around.

Yay, QL user! I've had one too from 1986, though I went Mac in 1993. I did my BSc thesis on my QL, compiled Pascal and Assembler programs using Computer One Pascal (p-code) and Computer One Assembler. 68K is the biz4Eva! I actually really liked their text editor! Eventually I added a dual floppy drive to it which meant I could transfer it all to my Mac when I shifted platforms.

 

[Phipli]

System Picker on the other hand, disables all the Systems on all connected disks even though it doesn't need to, which can be a pain.

Might be just all partitions on the disk actually. I forget, but it is annoying.

 

[t2jd1967]

You don't need to do anything with the emulator? Just unzip the file I sent and copy the hda file straight onto the SD Card? You can mount more than one image at once. Up to 7 if you give them individual SCSI IDs.

Yep, got that done this morning. Due to the way the BlueSCSI handles file names on the SD card the Mac started with 7.1 image. Copied the files across and can happily say it is completely working. You are right about 7.1 being a whole lot quicker and also uses less memory to boot. I will start working on that when I have a little bit more time.

If there is anything I can do in return, perhaps donate to a good cause or charity that you support, I am more than willing to chip in. Many thanks again, I really appreciate it.

 

[t2jd1967]

Might be just all partitions on the disk actually. I forget, but it is annoying.

Somehow the Startup Disk is not supported with BlueSCSI, that goes for both 7.1 and 7.5.5. Perhaps it is something to do with the way BlueSCSI emulates a SCSI drive and Startup Disk not being able to write something to an actual drive. Maybe partitioning would be able to do the trick, I will have a think about it.

Edit: quoting.

 

[Phipli]

Somehow with


Somehow the Startup Disk is not supported with BlueSCSI, that goes for both 7.1 and 7.5.5. Perhaps it is something to do with the way BlueSCSI emulates a SCSI drive and Startup Disk not being able to write something to an actual drive. Maybe partitioning would be able to do the trick, I will have a think about it.

If the disks have seperate SCSI IDs it will work.

What about it isn't working?

 

[t2jd1967]

Yay, QL user! I've had one too from 1986, though I went Mac in 1993. I did my BSc thesis on my QL, compiled Pascal and Assembler programs using Computer One Pascal (p-code) and Computer One Assembler. 68K is the biz4Eva! I actually really liked their text editor! Eventually I added a dual floppy drive to it which meant I could transfer it all to my Mac when I shifted platforms.

Unfortunately I have lost all my work through the mists of time, although I recently found a few microdrives laying around at my brother's. But sadly the QL itself is long gone. Started out with Programming the Z80 (very good introduction) after cutting my teeth with BASIC. I wrote my own editor on the QL, mimicking the behaviour of POP (or SEU) on a System/36. That one was probably done in C, which became my language of choice after assembly.