Thread

System 7.1 not installing on Centris 650

68kMLA Software 18 posts Sep 27, 2008 to Oct 2, 2008

#1 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 - 09:30 68kMLA

I'm planning on selling my Centris 650 and to do that, I want to put a fresh install of System 7 on there. However when I put in the Install disk it tells me:

This startup disk will not work on this Macintosh model. Use the latest Installer to update this disk for this model. (System 7.1 does not work on this model; you need a newer version that does.)

However System 7.1 is installed on there now so I don't see how it could say that when it currently is running the exact version on the hard drive. What can I do to remedy this?

#2 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 - 14:15 68kMLA

Copy the System Enabler from the hard disk onto the System 7.1 Setup disk.

#3 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 - 16:17 68kMLA

You know, that is the exact message that my Centris 610 flashed up when it was turned on for the first time in 5 years. But I got OS 7.6 for it, and it installed just fine. To this day, it works perfectly.

Hope you get that OS installed on your 650.

-Apostrophe

#4 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 00:42 68kMLA

Copy the System Enabler from the hard disk onto the System 7.1 Setup disk.

Do I simply copy the floppy to the root of the floppy disk? Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

#5 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 02:11 68kMLA

In your hard drive, open up the system folder and find the system enabler file inside. Copy this file into the system folder on your boot floppy. This should make the boot floppy magically start working.

#6 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 02:50 68kMLA

In your hard drive, open up the system folder and find the system enabler file inside. Copy this file into the system folder on your boot floppy. This should make the boot floppy magically start working.

There doesn't seem to be a System Folder on the boot floppy.

#7 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 03:05 68kMLA

I think this is the file you need. You will have to unarchive it prior to copying it to the system folder of your boot floppy:

http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-North_American/Macintosh/System/Older_System/System_Enablers/System_Enabler_040_1.1.sea.bin

#8 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 04:46 68kMLA

I think this is the file you need. You will have to unarchive it prior to copying it to the system folder of your boot floppy:
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-North_American/Macintosh/System/Older_System/System_Enablers/System_Enabler_040_1.1.sea.bin

I already have the System Enabler. There just doesn't seem to be a System Folder on the Install floppy. I copied the System Enabler to the root of the floppy disk and now it gives me either one of the following two messages:

Sad Mac with the codes:0000000F

00000066

Not enough memory is available while using "System"
To temporarily turn off extensions, restart and hold down the shift key.

Does anyone know how to fix these error messages?

#9 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 04:56 68kMLA

It has been a while since I used System 7.1, but I'm pretty sure that the install floppy has a System Folder. Since it seems semi-bootable maybe the folder got renamed. The System Folder will be the one with the System and Finder files.

#10 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 06:41 68kMLA

No it doesn't have any folders at all. Just three files: System, Installer and Install FDHD. I checked for hidden files/folders but only one showed up and it was a file called Desktop.

#11 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 13:48 68kMLA

It wounds like you have a bad install disk then.

#12 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 - 15:00 68kMLA

Have you got a Run Me First disk from another version of System 7.1 -- for one of the models released after 7.1? If so, swap the system enabler on the Run Me First disk for the Quadra version.

#13 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 - 23:41 68kMLA

Have you got a Run Me First disk from another version of System 7.1 -- for one of the models released after 7.1? If so, swap the system enabler on the Run Me First disk for the Quadra version.

No I don't have any copies of System 7.1 anywhere else.

It wounds like you have a bad install disk then.

I'll try re-imaging the install disks onto another floppy soon then.

#14 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 - 00:58 68kMLA

Do you still want to install 7.1? Version 7.5 and newer got rid of the enablers, so you'll have no problem with those.

#15 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 - 01:44 68kMLA

I can't speak for the original poster, but some of us really, really, really like System 7.1.

#16 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 - 02:24 68kMLA

With Gamba's slim-down procedure, 7.5.3's footprint is very similar to 7.1's, and you don't have to worry about whether you got the right enabler for a particular machine. You're left with about the same functionality as 7.1, a minty fresh feeling in your mouth, and slimmer thighs.

#17 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 - 02:25 68kMLA

It's perfectly possible for a disk to be bootable like this, with the contents of the system folder just poured into the root level of the disk. Technically the root directory is the system folder then. I'm not sure if Apple would have ever made a disk like that but I guess it's possible.

It sounds to me like the disk has been altered from its original state. I think a possible answer would be to find an image of the first disk for system 7.1 and write over your disk with it.

#18 Thu, 2 Oct 2008 - 07:48 68kMLA

Do you still want to install 7.1? Version 7.5 and newer got rid of the enablers, so you'll have no problem with those.

These are actually the disks downloadable from Apple's server and since my Centris doesn't have a CD drive, I have to resort to floppy disk images. System 7.5 images aren't available on the Apple server and I've been highly unsuccessful in trying to get System 7.5.3 files on the Centris.

It's perfectly possible for a disk to be bootable like this, with the contents of the system folder just poured into the root level of the disk. Technically the root directory is the system folder then. I'm not sure if Apple would have ever made a disk like that but I guess it's possible.
It sounds to me like the disk has been altered from its original state. I think a possible answer would be to find an image of the first disk for system 7.1 and write over your disk with it.

As I said earlier in this post, these are the disks straight from Apple's server. Either way, I re-imaged System 7.1 and copied over the System Enabler and it seems to be working now, so thanks for all your help.