Thread

Can I get System 6.8 to work on an LCIII?

68kMLA 68k 14 posts Jul 18, 2008 to Oct 30, 2008

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#1 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 - 06:25 68kMLA

Actually the title says it all. I wuld like to run an LCIII on System 6. Any ieas?

#2 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 - 06:28 68kMLA

6.08 you mean (never heard of 6.8 ).

The answer is no, you need 7.1 with an enabler up to 7.6.1.

#3 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 - 07:55 68kMLA

6.08 you mean (never heard of 6.8 ).

Or perhaps its even 6.0.8

#4 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 - 19:20 68kMLA

I'm curious... I know that the LCIII can't run system 6, but I'm curious as to why 68k macs that can run system 7 can't run system 6. Does it have to do with a hardware limitation (memory management, rom setup) or is it a limitation put in place by Apple that could be reverse engineered?

Sorry if this has been discussed ad-nauseum.

Equant

#5 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 - 19:35 68kMLA

I'm thinking it may be something to do with the 24 bit / 32 bit addressing as it seems that the System 6 compatibility cut-off is around the time when 32 bit "clean" machines were produced.

#6 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 - 20:28 68kMLA

This was also the time the various System Enabler extensions started coming out, the idea being rather than do a new release for every machine, just put all the new drivers and patches in the enablers.

#7 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 - 06:42 68kMLA

Sorry 6.0.8 is correct. I can't see why a 25MHZ 030 LCIII can't run system six when a IIci with the same processor can and a IIfx can too. It has to be a memory (72 pin in the LCIII) thing or an intentional Apple limitation. But it is a shame because an LCIII on system 6 would be very fast.

#8 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 - 07:30 68kMLA

About 10 years ago I played around with a copy of System 6.0.8 on my LCIII. I can't remember what I did exactly, but i hacked the crap out of it in ResEdit. I was only 12 or 13 at the time. I think i copied crap out of a 7.1 install. It almost booted to the Finder before coming up with some error about System 6 not supporting the hardware. I'll have to try again some day - I honestly can't remember what I did.

#9 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 - 19:05 68kMLA

The LC I was System 6 compatible, why not find a way to flash the LC ROM onto an LCIII?

#10 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 - 19:56 68kMLA

I can't see why a 25MHZ 030 LCIII can't run system six when a IIci with the same processor can and a IIfx can too. It has to be a memory (72 pin in the LCIII) thing or an intentional Apple limitation.

Try comparing the motherboards... they're not the same computers at all.

The LC I was System 6 compatible, why not find a way to flash the LC ROM onto an LCIII?

Because then the board will be bricked?

#11 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 - 20:21 68kMLA

Okay then, just use an LC with the 25mhz processor.

#12 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 - 20:42 68kMLA

...the LC didn't have a 25MHz processor.

#13 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 - 21:39 68kMLA

I meant to say "Use an LC with the LCIII's processor."

But wait, I forgot the LC has an '020. Just forget it...

#14 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 - 02:58 68kMLA

The LC II has an 030. However, as some have pointed out, the architecture of the board is far different on the LC III.

An LC III needs an enabler to run, meaning it must use System 7.1 or later. You won't find the code necessary to support the machine in 7.0.1 or any version of 6.

Your best bet for running 25MHz System 6 is to use a Mac IIci. Accelerators for the LC and LC II may work but the drivers may require System 7, so watch out. (Note that the LC can run System 6.0.6, 6.0.7, and 6.0.8 while the LC II can only run 6.0. 8) .