The
following select archives cover early Macs to the current
threshold.
These
archives exist for anyone wanting to refurbish, resurrect
or troubleshoot older machines that are not capable of
running current Systems and software. Some machines will
doubtless be stuck in a time warp under System 7 thru
OS9, others may require Operating Systems on "floppy
disks" (400K, 800K and 1.4MB diskettes), but all were
sturdy, top-quality, state-of-the-art Macs in their day.
Such machines might serve in a dedicated capacity, or may
operate as a novelty of sorts, but none of the machines
appearing here in our archives can be brought up to
current protocols and standards.
The threshold
of computer obsolescence is fuzzy at best. Abandoned
ports, limited memory and drive capacities, aging
processors, limited expansion options all contribute, but
System and software requirements typically drive users to
upgrade.
Current
minimum requirements:
FireWire
ports
CD-RW/DVD-R
G4
or later processor
OS
10.3.9 or later
512MB
RAM or more
80GB
hard drive or larger
Obsolete
system attributes:
Serial
ports (modem and printer)
Diskette,
Zip, CD-ROM (read only)
Cathode
Ray Tube (except eMac)
G3
or earlier processor
OS
10.2 or earlier
Anything
in beige
There is no
magic formula for turning a doorstop into a
fire-breathing web server. Yes, someone did actually put
a MacPlus online once, and there have been reports of
Newtons performing unbelievable feats, but these required
tinkering and expense beyond reason.
Troubleshooting
begins with a thorough examination, taking nothing for
granted.
Sometimes a
solution will appear by simply going through the exam
process, being careful to avoid overlooking the obvious.
Start with simple considerations before moving on to the
more complex - and potentially expensive - possibilities.
Some of the most common complaints can be solved by
changing settings or making minor
adjustments.
The
answers are in there..... a few questions,
too.
External
Links:
Current
hardware specs required to run today's
Operating System (Apple support doc):
Is everything
properly plugged-in and powered? Any loose or damaged
cables?
Have settings
or controls been changed recently? Is your surge
suppressor fully functional?
Try to
isolate and identify the problem. Record any error
messages that appear.
Is the
problem repeatable? What action or event preceded the
problem?
Does it seem
to be related to a specific application or
device?
Before you
call for help: Regardless of where you might turn for
assistance, you will need to:
Collect
relevant information, including model, OS version,
connected devices and software.
Note any
recent changes or events that may have contributed.
Record any error messages.
If you get
date/time errors, the internal PRAM battery probably
needs to be replaced.
Peripheral
devices, PCI cards and USB:
One basic
troubleshooting technique - dealing with startup problems
and freezes - is to shut down the machine, remove all
peripheral devices (including any aftermarket PCI cards),
restart and see if the problem has gone away. If so, shut
down again, connect a device, restart, and repeat the
process until the problem reappears and suspect device is
identified.
It's always
best to shutdown the system before plugging/unplugging
devices, even though they may be "hot-swappable." Having
said that, the first exception to this rule is USB. USB
devices (whether plugged into hubs, PCI cards or directly
into the Mac) sometimes go unrecognized unless the
computer is prodded into looking for them; disconnecting/
reconnecting a USB device will do this, but only while
the machine is running.
Application-specific
settings:
Most
applications have their own set of preferences governing
appearance and function of tools, windows, file formats,
and countless other features. If a specific app is
misbehaving, its prefs settings should be examined
closely and corrected if necessary.
About This
Computer:
The first
item under the Apple menu in the Finder, this is an easy
way to find out which System version you have, how much
RAM is installed, and how much memory is being used (and
assigned to) any apps that are active. When viewed from
within an application, this menu item shows info and
credits belonging to the active application.
Apple
System Profiler:
Also under
the Apple menu, System Profiler tells everything you need
to know about your system, including its serial number,
installed RAM and RAM slots, attached devices and cards,
ports and drives, control panels and extensions, onboard
applications, System version and System
Folders.
Sherlock
and Sherlock 2:
Sherlock is
used to find any file on any volume, including your hard
disk (replacing Find File in older Systems). It will
search by name or by most any attribute you can think of.
Sherlock can also be used to search the internet by
simultaneously employing as many internet search engines
as you'd care to give it. To search your hard drive,
select the hard drive icon in top of Sherlock's window,
then check or uncheck volumes listed to be searched (as
illustrated).
Application
Menu:
Located
in the top-right corner of your screen, on
the extreme right-end of your Menu Bar, the
Application Menu is used to switch between
applications - including the Finder (and
desktop) - by bringing the selected
application to the front and making it
active. Application name in the menubar, and
a checkmark in the menu, both indicate the
currently active application.
Application
Menu shows Finder active and Netscape
open.
The
Application Menu also has a "tear off"
feature:
(OS
8.5 +) Use the mouse to drag straight down
off the menu and it will turn into a portable
palette that can be placed anywhere it might
be convenient. Clicking the size box (arrow,
right-hand illustration) toggles between
icons with names (as shown) and icons only in
palette.
Tear
off Application Menu becomes a portable
palette.
While we're
on the subject...
Many people
think clicking a close box in a window's top-left corner
()
is the same as quitting the application. It isn't. It
merely closes the window, leaving the application active
and running. Why is this important? Because applications
load into RAM (memory) when launched, and quitting unused
applications frees up precious RAM. Instead of clicking
the close box when finished with an application, choose
Quit from the File menu or type Command+Q.
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)
is the same as quitting the application. It isn't. It
merely closes the window, leaving the application active
and running. Why is this important? Because applications
load into RAM (memory) when launched, and quitting unused
applications frees up precious RAM. Instead of clicking
the close box when finished with an application, choose
Quit from the File menu or type Command+Q.