I've just made my biggest RAM disk ever (1800K) with the most free RAM ever (over 4000K, more than I have installed in the Mac)
! How the heck? Here's how, so you can try it yourself
:
1-Download and extract the RAM disk program listed in my previous post.
2-Download and extract the Connectix RAM Doubler installer (don't install anything yet).
3-Get a blank floppy (you need a 1.4 MB one
).
4-Copy your System and Finder files, putting them in a folder called System Folder, across to the floppy (you should bless the folder at this point).
5-Copy your Finder preferances into the new preferances folder on the floppy (if you don't see the folder, then close and reopen the floppy window).
6-Copy the RamDisk+ extension onto the floppy (this one goes straight in the System Folder, not the extensions folder).
7-Run the RAM Doubler installer, choosing to install onto the floppy (you have to do it like this, otherwise you leave a couple of extra hidden things behind :I ).
8-Now for the tricky part. Try copying your System Enabler onto the floppy. It may go fine first time, but if not, then you'll need to shave something off.
9-If needed, you can try reducing the sizes of your System, Finder, and RAM Doubler files until there's enough free space on the floppy (see below).
10-When there's space, copy your System Enabler across to the floppy (if you haven't done so already).
11-Restart your Mac and boot from the floppy (or, if you're like me, shut the emulator down and boot the real Mac from the floppy
!).
12-You should have a message from RAM Doubler in the "Welcome to Macintosh" box, but it's OK if the RamDisk icon shows that it's disabled.
13-Wait for the machine to finish booting, then set up the RamDisk extension (see below).
14-Reboot and have fun
!
Shaving down your files:
You can reduce the size of the System, Finder, and RAM Doubler files on your floppy by following these simple instructions. To do this, you'll need a resource editor, such as ResEdit, and a bit of know-how. For the System file, you can delete the PAT# resources (I think that's what they're called), the help images (in the PICT resources) if you don't need them, certain strings from the STR# resources (such as the file sharing messages or balloon help strings if you don't need those), and anything else which you dare to touch. The Finder can be done in the same manner. RAM Doubler may be big enough to fit on your floppy, but I got it down quite a bit by reducing the length of the error messages (STR# resources). It is wise to keep them, because you never know what might go wrong, and it's easier to find the fault if you don't get a pile of blank dialog boxes! But they really don't need to say things like "RAM Doubler has failed to load because it appears that you are using to different versions of RAM Doubler. Please reinstall...". Instead, just say "RAM Doubler could not load: you are using to different versions"
. I also once tried removing the PowerPC code resources, but I got an installation error
.
Configuring RamDisk:
There are a couple of different ways to set this up, depending upon your personal tastes, but there are a couple of essential options
. You obviously need to start by choosing to use a RAM Disk and selecting to "copy to RAM Disk" (I don't even know why they give you these options
). Then select your files by clicking on the "Selections..." button, and set the RAM Disk parameters by clicking on the "Settings..." button. I think the boxes actually came up automatically when you choose to use the RAM Disk, so this may not be nessecary. But in any case, you need to choose to copy your entire System Folder, but you may leave out the RamDisk and RAM Doubler extensions (I haven't tried that, but I always delete them afterwards anyway, so I don't see why not
). The settings are mostly a matter of personal choice, but you need to set the RAM Disk size to be big enough to hold all your files, as well as having a bit of free space (however, for some reason, if you only leave a few kilobytes of free space, it just chops it off
!). I set mine to 1800K, so I've got over 400K free, and I'm thinking of increasing it more as well! Chances are, however, that it won't let you set it that big using the slider, so you have to type the number into the box (ignore the stupid error it gives you-there's no problem
). Finally, back on the main screen, remember to say "switch to RAM disk" and "eject floppies" so that your Mac will actually run from the RAM Disk. Finally, you can choose to show the startup icon if you like to "watch the init progression" (Macintosh Bible quote).
