There is a class of Macintosh users who for whatever reason find no incentive to move to Mac OS X, or who have files created in legacy applications that do not have a counterpart in the animal kingdom of Apple operating systems. If this describes you, Mac OS System 9 is the last stop on the hierarchy of Arabic operating systems produced by Apple.
But what do you do to keep that system as current as possible? Fortunately, that is a one-time exercise as there are no more updates from Apple for stand-alone users and almost the same number of updates for legacy applications that keep you current with that system.
It is for those of you who wish to stay with Mac OS System 9 that this update guide was created. By installing these components, you gain the most potential from your investment. This article address operating system and applications updates from Apple, utilities updates, and applications updates from third party vendors. Installations are all easy to do and can be downloaded via a dial-up connection.
Start by checking the model Macintosh you are using. For this story, the world of Macintosh computers is divided into machines with a processor that is either pre-G3 or G3/G4.
In the pre-G3 world you have 601 processor [Power Mac or Performa 61/71/8100 series] machines, 603 processor [Power Mac and Performa 5000-series, 6000-series] machines; or 604 processor [Power Mac 73/75/76/85/9500-series] machines. It is possible that you replaced the original processor and installed a G3 processor from a third-party manufacturer. Some third-party processors require an extension to function. Don’t lose that extension if you do any system software updates. It would also be a good idea to check the Web site of the manufacturer to see if there is a newer version of that driver from the one you are now using. Then there is the whole class of G3/G4 processors that will boot directly into Mac OS System 9. With a G-series processor, it is possible for you to install a newer series of updates then is available to the non-G series owner.
If you computer does not have a G3/G4 processor in it, you can install up to Mac OS 9.1. It is the last version that will run on a non G-series Macintosh. You will see an error message appear if you attempt to install a newer version. If you have a G-series processor, you can take your computer to Mac OS 9.2.2. There are some applications that require this version of the operating system.
Apple lists the Macintosh computers that will run Mac OS 9 here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25114
There is a patch produced by Other World Computing called “OS9 Helper” which allows you to install 9.2.1 or 9.2.2 on certain legacy models that will not otherwise accept the update. Go here for details:
http://eshop.macsales.com/OSXCenter/OS9Helper/Framework.cfm?topic=32
The installer for Mac OS 9 is economical. If it does not see something, like a USB connector or a wireless card in your computer, it will not install those items that make such features work. Thus, if you add those components to your computer after completing this update, you will need to do a custom install for those pieces of system software, or you will find that your new add-on does not work.
If you are using an earlier operating system and would like to move to Mac OS 9, it is no longer available for purchase from Apple. You can find it on eBay and sites that sell used Macintosh software. Be sure to ask the vendor for a “universal install” CD. If you are offered something called a “System Software Restore CD,” it is a CD that was created to work with a specific Macintosh model. If the “System Software Restore CD” is not for your model, keep looking.
Once you have installed any version of Mac OS 9, updates are available at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75288
Installation is straightforward for each of the system updates. You update
one step at a time: Mac OS 9.0 to 9.0.4; on to Mac OS 9.1; then to 9.2.1
and finally to 9.2.2.
If you stop at Mac OS 9.1, there are only two updates you need to install:
If you want to keep going beyond 9.1 and have a G-series processor, you will need to install a firmware update if your computer is a Revision A or B iMac, or a Blue and White G3 tower, some iBooks, or the dual FireWire PowerBook [aka Pismo]. You will find a complete list of all firmware updates here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117
Identify your model, download the update and follow Apple’s installation
instructions.
With the firmware updated, Mac OS 9.1 can be taken to Mac OS 9.2.1 and then
to the end of the line Mac OS 9.2.2 that was released on December 5, 2001.
If yes, there is a firmware update for the SuperDrive in that model. It fixes a problem with ejecting audio CDs and makes it possible to use 4x DVD-R or 2x DVD-RW media. The update is here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120170
When you are finished installing the system updates, it is time to install a series of applications updates. Please do them in the order presented in this article. For some updates, you will be asked to go to Versiontracker:
http://www.versiontracker.com/macos/
Apple Modem Updater 2.0
If you connect to the Web via a modem in a PowerBook G3 Series, iMac, Power
Macintosh G3 (Blue and White), and Power Macintosh G4 (PCI and AGP) computers,
you need to install this modem updater. Once installed, you should notice
more reliable connection. Modem throughput will be at least as good and often
better than before the upgrade.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=85018
Carbon Library 1.6
Carbon-based applications are those that can run in either an Arabic or Roman
operating environment. This update improves their performance and reliability
under Mac OS 9 and in some cases must be installed for such an application
to work at all.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120047
QuickTime 6.0.3
QuickTime gives you the ability to import and play back audio and video content
on the Web. Before you install this update, locate the existing copy of QuickTime
in your Applications folder. Drag it to the Trash. Now install 6.0.3. After
you reboot, empty the Trash. Get QT 6.0.3 here:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/quicktime603formac.html
Adobe Acrobat 5.1
Reader is the free viewing application that lets you view, navigate and print
Portable Document Format (PDF) files:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Open the custom install menu. You are to check the boxes for Acrobat Reader and ‘Search’. Now, click on ‘Install’. You are to do a custom install. Open the custom install menu. You are to check the boxes for Acrobat Reader and ‘Search’. Now, click on "Install."
Virex 6.0/6.0.1
If you use Virex, the latest virus definition file for version 6 can be found
at:
http://www.versiontracker.com/
The two newest are Netscape 7.0.2 and Mozilla 1.3.1. Each has an integrated e-mail program. Internet Explorer is the oldest of the four. However, if you need it to access a Web site that insists on IE, install it. It is OK to have more than one browser installed.
Netscape Communicator 7.0.2 can be found on www.versiontracker.com. Need help setting it up? The University of Minnesota is here to assist you:
http://www1.umn.edu/adcs/help/email/Netscape7Mac9.html
For Mozilla 1.3.1:
For Internet Explorer 5.1.7:
http://web.nickshanks.com/browsers/ie/macos9
For iCab 3.0.3:
If you prefer a separate e-mail program, your mainstream options are:
Stuffit Expander 7.0.3 gives you access to virtually any file you download from the Internet or receive in your email. When you are asked for a location to place the Stuffit folder, chose the ‘Utilities’ folder. When you are asked if you want an alias on the desktop, click on ‘OK.’
http://www.stuffit.com/cgi-bin/stuffit_loginpage.cgi?standardmacexp
http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/cert.html
Graphic Converter is your basic image manipulation tool for hundreds of file formats:
http://www.lemkesoft.com/xd/public/content/index._c2lkPWdjLWVu_.html
At this point you need to restart your computer and rebuild its desktop file. Instructions from Apple on how to do it are here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=10182
Instructions from me follow:
With the desktop file rebuilt, it is time to get back to work.
Yes you can get high-speed Internet service and it is easy to do. The piece you need to subscribe to a DSL or cable service is called MacPoET. MacPoET is the software that provides PPP [Point to Point Protocol] over Ethernet [PPPoE] for Mac OS 9. It is not a part of your operation system. MacPOET can be found on early versions of the Verizon DSL and Earthlink installer CDs. Once you install it in your System Folder, you can subscribe to a cable or DSL service like the rest of the Roman side of the Macintosh community.
You will find version 1.2 here:
http://download.mindspring.com/maxdsl/macpoet.html
Want to go wireless? Why not, if you have the right pieces. All Apple portable computers with a PCMCIA slot in the side [Newton and eMate included] are capable of connecting to the Internet via a wireless card. Some models of the iMac will accept an internal wireless card called “Airport”. The software to get started is Airport 1.3.1. It is found here:
Try MacWireless for parts and accessories:
http://www.macwireless.com/html/products/11g_11b_cards/11bPCCard.php
Farallon (Proxim), Asante and ORiNOCO also made wireless cards that fit in the PCMCIA slot. They are available on eBay and on the Web at sites that sell used Macintosh equipment. Apple’s Airport software works very well with the ORiNOCO card.
To learn more about setting up wireless on legacy equipment, go here:
http://www.penmachine.com/techie/airport1400.html
If you decide to try wireless, download and install a utility called Classic Stumbler. It displays information about all the wireless computer networks in range of your wireless equipped Mac:
http://www.alksoft.com/classicstumbler.html
If your computer does not have either USB or FireWire, each can be added via a PCI card, or a PCMCIA card for your PowerBook from Other World Computing (OWC) http://eshop.macsales.com/. As noted above, you will need to install additional software to activate those new capabilities. Go here for those pieces:
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-
North_American/
Flash Player lets you view interactive content such as menus that slide, games or animations. The last version of Flash produced for Mac OS 9 is 7r69. Download Flash Player for all Mac browsers here:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=d9c2fe33
The link you need is found at the bottom of the window. After you uncompress the file, you will have a thing that looks like a piece of a puzzle. That is the Flash plug-in. Open your new browser folder and locate the folder called “Plug-ins”. Drag the plug-in on top of that closed folder.
Shockwave Player allows you to view interactive Web content like games, business presentations, entertainment, and advertisements from your Web browser. If you need it, get it here:
iTunes 1.1 is available from Apple. However, you are no longer allowed to buy music from the online store with this version:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60807
Audion is a free application which plays audio CDs, MP3s, and streaming network audio:
SoundJam MP is the program used as the foundation to create iTunes. It converts music quickly into MP3s from CD, AIFF, QuickTime™, and WAV formats, and allows you to play MP3 streams over the Internet:
http://www.mp3machine.com/software/SoundJam/
Windows Media Player 7.1.2 allows you to play both streaming and downloadable audio and video content in Windows Media Format [files that end in “.wma”]:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx?
displang=en&qstechnology=
Files with the extension “.dat” usually come by e-mail sent with Microsoft Outlook for Windows. Your Macintosh looks to Graphic Converter to open it; but it can’t. You avoid this by asking the sender to e-mail you in plain text or HTML format. Otherwise, Josh Jacob comes to the rescue. Go here:
http://www.joshjacob.com/macdev/tnef/
Download the Mac OS 9 version of TNEF [1.0b2FAT].
MarinerWrite
Version 3.5.1 is available for Mac OS 9 from:
http://www.marinersoftware.com/sitepage.php?page=20
Users describe it as similar to WriteNow.
Microsoft updates at Mactopia
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx
WordPerfect (WP) Updates
If you are caught in the Word 6 dilemma, are a current user of WP, or are
searching for a different document creation tool, then:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/wordperfectmac/
is your resource for all things WordPerfect. If you don’t own it, WP 3.5e is free. WordPerfect 3.5e is not an upgrade of an earlier version; it is a full replacement. Download 3.5e here:
http://acmfiles.csusb.edu/corel/wpmac.html
Additional help configuring the application is found here:
http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/macintosh.html
AppleWorks Updates
If you are using ClarisWorks 5.0v1, update to v3 here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58268
Then go to v4. It fixes some Mac OS 9 issues and changes the name of the program to AppleWorks. It is here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60620
There is no update path from AppleWorks v5 to v6. If you are using AppleWorks 6, be sure to update to 6.2.7, which is the latest and probably last update for this venerable works program. [v6.2.9 is the Mac OS X equivalent]. That update is here:
http://www.apple.com/appleworks/update/
WriteNow 4 Update
Originally written for the 68k processor, the clean code of that program
has enabled it to survive to this day. If you use it and want to update to
version 4.0.2, it is found on Versiontracker. WriteNow Enhancer 2.0 and additional
information on using the program are found here:
http://www.macease.com/writenow-latest_info.html
PrintToPDF
PrintToPDF is a shareware printer driver that creates Adobe Acrobat Reader
(.pdf) files without needing the full Acrobat package. You can create PDF
bookmarks to your section and subsection headings, and URLs will become hot
links. If you use it, pay the shareware fee ($20.00) – a bargain. Get
it here:
http://www.jwwalker.com/pages/pdf.html
The printer driver for many inkjet and laser printers requires an update to work reliably with Mac OS 9. Go to the Web site for your printer and look in the download section. If there is an update for yours, download and install it.
Apple has no plans to fix the code that automatically translates the old Daylight Savings Time formula to the new one mandated by Congress. Find the Date & Time control panel and uncheck “Set Daylight-Savings Time Automatically.” You will have to spring ahead and fall back manually. There is a hack that restores the automatic feature, but explaining how to install it is beyond the scope of this article.
Would you like to watch how much CPU time is being taken by your applications or see where the memory in your computer is being used the way your Roman friends do? Go here:
http://www.pure-mac.com/diagclassic.html#serialcheck
and download Peek-a-Boo 1.6 and Memory Mapper 1.5. Now don’t get carried away at this Web site. There are some things there with which you really don’t want to play.
Go here:
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/
Help yourself to the lost loot of Apple. You will find manuals, software
updates, disability solutions, and lots of miscellaneous goodies to get you
in trouble.
You can also go to Versiontracker,
http://www.versiontracker.com/macos/
and discover that you have not been forgotten. Click on the tabs to select the category of Mac OS-9 applications, utilities or games you would like to browse.
Well actually three. When you are all finished installing updates and stuff:
Enjoy.