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Open Transport 1.2 (from Mac OS 8) runs in Mac OS 7.6.1?

A reader reports that: "I have manually copied OT 1.2 and OT/PPP 1.0.1 to a Mac OS 7.6.1 system. It is working fine. I know this is not supported by Apple but there does not seem to be a technical reason that OT 1.2 cannot be released for Mac OS 7.6.1. This configuration has been working for me for over 2 weeks. No problems and a lot more stable. Not one crash since I installed OT 1.2."

Iomega claims SCSI Probe and HDT can cause problems with Jaz cartridges

A reader in an AOL forum posted a description of problems he was having with Jaz cartridges sometimes not mounting, occasionally making a high-pitched whine as well - suggesting that the disk had gone bad. Iomega offered the following in reply (especially note the advice in the last paragraph):

"Check your drive carefully. Does the green light come on when there is power to the drive? Does the amber light flash 2-4 times when you first put a disk in? Check your connections. Physically disconnect and reconnect your cables. Check your cable ends. Do you have any missing or … Read more

Troubleshooting Mac OS 8 page updated again

The Troubleshooting Mac OS 8 page has had numerous updates since yesterday. Here are some highlights. Check the page for more details: a. New bugs reported: Drag icon crash Find File glitch AppleScript and desktop picture glitch b. Utilities to be updated PopUp Folder and Disk Express c. Mac OS 8 utilities A list of Mac OS 8 specific utilities has been started. d. Mac OS 8 reader reactions The press on Mac OS 8 has been deservedly very positive thus far. But no OS is perfect. Here readers get a chance to gripe about what minor and not-so-minor annoyances … Read more

Apple 5500-6500 Extras Update released; fixes at least some 7.6.1 virtual memory slow down problems

Apple has released a 5500-6500 Extras disk image file (Thanks, Leonard Ornstein). Among other things it contains three bug-fix extensions:

5500/6500 ATA Update 5500/6500 Video Input Update AudioTuneUp (presumably a new version)

Note especially that the ATA Update extension "improves performance when Virtual Memory is turned on in the Memory control panel." This seems to be a fix for the virtual memory slow down problem reported here previously. Check the Read Me file for more details on other fixes.

Power Macintosh 5500/225, 6500/225 and 6500/250 users, running Mac OS 7.6.1, who … Read more

Troubleshooting Mac OS 8: RAM Doubler 2 and floppy disk drive problem

Regarding the report of the Troubleshooting Mac OS 8 page that the floppy disk drive may be disabled after updating to Mac OS 8 - if RAM Doubler 2 is active:

a. This problem was also reported for System 7.6.x about a month ago - right here on MacFixIt. However, based on email messages I have recently received, it seems to be much more widespread in Mac OS 8.

b. Brian Yamanaka writes of one possible reason this problem occurs on some Macs and not others: "On my 8500/180 with Mac OS 8 GM installed, I … Read more

Troubleshooting Mac OS 8: Suitcase 3.0.2 update is released; more on Norton Utilities 3.5.1 and -192 install errors

Based on information from Symantec's John Harrison (as well as several MacFixIt readers), here is some updated information concerning compatibility problems posted on the Troubleshooting Mac OS 8 page:

a. Suitcase 3.0.2 patch available Symantec has posted Suitcase 3.0.2. According to Symantec: "The patch resolves a conflict with Mac OS 8 and AppleShare 3.7 where adding or using fonts on a network volume would return a -50 error. This is the only known compatibility issue with Mac OS 8 and only users accessing fonts via a network volume need download the patch." … Read more

Post-Week-end Web Sites

a. The Fly On the Mac is another Mac news site entry.

b. The MacAuthority Home Page has news and tips on maximizing your Mac.

c. MacOS Rumors now has a new URL: http://www.macosrumors.com/

d. Fight Back for the Mac! is "a web site for Macintosh power-users, designed to allow us to help each other spread the word about the Macintosh's superiority."

e. The MacCPU site has "a piece discussing thevarious aspects of performance especially the advantages of in-line and backside cache.

Vacation News & Update: a reminder

Just a reminder from last Friday's posting...

I have created a Vacation News & Update page covering the most notable MacFixIt-relevant news and information that occurred during my absence. Regular readers of other Mac web sites may already know much of this stuff, but I decided it was still useful to do, if only to have it available in the Archives.

Navigator window disappearing bug: a work-around

Regarding the problem with Navigator windows "disappearing" when you use WindowShade (or possibly Aaron or Kaleidoscope) to collapse them ( as reported last time), several readers offered possible work-arounds. The one that seemed the most reliable to me is as follows:

"You can get the window back if you hide Netscape, either by going to the Finder and selecting "Hide Netscape" or option-clicking on another application. When you return to Navigator, the window will have un-collapsed and, if you have a window enhancer such as Aaron or Kaleidoscope, you can click on the window border and … Read more