Thread

Create 512k boot diskette? ..available classic

68kMLA Hardware 13 posts May 2, 2008 to May 3, 2008

#1 Fri, 2 May 2008 - 19:02 68kMLA

I have the follwing bits and pieces -- can anyone think of a way to get my 512k booted?

working 512k with no boot diskette
.sit image of system 3.2
blank 800k floppy
Mac Classic (boots from ROM fine into system 7.1)
PC/Windows XP
Macbook Pro/Tiger

Now you'd think with all that technology I'd be able to get the 512K back up and running, wouldn't you? Or wouldn't you? Anyone know how I can create/get a boot disk for it?

thanks all -- Richard.

#2 Fri, 2 May 2008 - 19:27 68kMLA

Use your Classic to unstuff the .sit archive, then copy the unstuffed files to a compatible floppy (format as appropriate for the 512K -- either 400K, or 800K, depending on whether the 512K is stock or upgraded, respectively).

#3 Fri, 2 May 2008 - 19:29 68kMLA

Ah but the .sit file is on my macbook. Unless I get very creastive with netorking, not sure how to get that on to a floppy via the classic...

#4 Fri, 2 May 2008 - 19:43 68kMLA

Purchase an external USB floppy drive for your Macbook Pro. They're pretty cheap and are helpful for transferring data to a non-internet equipped Mac. Then you can use the Classic as tomlee said.

#5 Fri, 2 May 2008 - 19:46 68kMLA

Right! Off to the mac store and I'll report back...

Thanks for the input -- I'm a recent mac convert so working back from macbook/OS X to the 512k...

-- Richard.

#6 Fri, 2 May 2008 - 23:44 68kMLA

Hmph. Not enough memory to run disk copy 4.2 on the Classic, apparently...I wonder why it's in Apple's interest to not just put the old tools and os's up somewhere for unsupported download...

#7 Sat, 3 May 2008 - 00:11 68kMLA

How much memory do you have installed? You might need to run System 6.0.8 on that thing.

#8 Sat, 3 May 2008 - 00:25 68kMLA

How much memory do you have installed? You might need to run System 6.0.8 on that thing.

Try to boot into System 6.0.3 using Apple+Option+X+O at startup. Can't remember if Disk Copy 4.2 requires a minimum System 6.0.8 or not.

#9 Sat, 3 May 2008 - 00:26 68kMLA

2 meg. Following you advice I started the thing up with ctro-cmd-x-o and booted it from ROM into version 6, then diskcopy would start OK! Loads the 3.2 image fine.

Stupidly using an HD disk -- just going to grab a DD disk and try again...

#10 Sat, 3 May 2008 - 00:30 68kMLA

I forgot that it could boot to 6.0.3 from ROM - man that's reason to own a Classic right there! I know it's a stripped down version, but I think it's pretty cool.

#11 Sat, 3 May 2008 - 01:19 68kMLA

I forgot that it could boot to 6.0.3 from ROM - man that's reason to own a Classic right there! I know it's a stripped down version, but I think it's pretty cool.

Can't you startup from ROM and then modify it or load a new RAM disk from the HD (or floppy) then restart from a full System RAM disk too? It's just a fantastic option to have.

Apple really should have included a minimal system disk in every ROM for the specific purpose of running diagnostic and disk utilities by the consumer.

#12 Sat, 3 May 2008 - 03:57 68kMLA

All was going great.

I formatted an HD disk on teh macbook 800K and copied the .image file to it.

Then I covered the HD hole on another HD disk and formatted that 400K on the classic, booted from the ROM.

Then I booted the classic normally, and copied the .image file from teh 800K disk into a folder on teh hard drive.

Last step -- attempt to boot from the rom, use disk copy to copy the 3.2 system to the 400K floppy.

Oh no! the classic will no longer boot from the ROM -- it ignores the key combination, and puts a 'boot disk' icon on the desktop. Click that, and it says it can't open it error -127.

Maybe the system battery?

So close.

#13 Sat, 3 May 2008 - 06:30 68kMLA

Success! The classic hadn;t been used for years, so I left it plugged in for a few hours and it then booted from the ROM. Copied the image, stuck the disk in the 512K and -- after removing the reset plug that was jammed too far into teh side -- it booted :b&w:

Many thanks for the help.

Richard.