System Software for Color Classic and Color Classic II

Scout

New Tinkerer
Apr 13, 2022
19
5
3
CA
I have a Color Classic with a Performa 550 board in it. What would be the best system software for it. I also have the straight up Color Classic board. Same question. I am putting a Blue SCSI in and as it needs so much assembly to get to the HD I would like to have it ready to go before installing. Analog board is good but not recapped yet. Have another analog board I am trying to recap. Using the uncapped board to test and set up to be sure I have a running machine before I go crazy on the AB recap. Thanks in advance for recommendations.
 

JDW

Administrator
Staff member
Founder
Sep 2, 2021
2,104
1,763
113
54
Japan
youtube.com
No question, System 7.1. No question whatsoever. I have an LC575 board in my CC with the means to overclock it to 50MHz, but I still prefer 7.1 over any other compatible OS. Why? Well, speed, quite frankly. I want an OS that lights my pants on fire. :) Besides, you can beef up S7.1 with some 7.5.5 functionality as @eric describes here:

 
  • Like
Reactions: Fizzbinn

Scout

New Tinkerer
Apr 13, 2022
19
5
3
CA
Oh, I never would have thought that but the link to Eric says it all. Thank you so much @JDW. I am playing with two of these and really appreciate your videos. Extremely detailed. But isn't that how we all learn. I have a long way to go and am a newbie but I am finding success. Thanks again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JDW

Scout

New Tinkerer
Apr 13, 2022
19
5
3
CA
I have successfully got my Blue SCSI in the machine. for some reason it does want to boot from 7.1. Message says I need to update the software to a newer version. Did a new install of 7.1 on a mounted HD from the legacy CD. All went well. I did the 3.0 update as well. No luck. I was able to run the image successfully on an LCIII but the Color Classic just is giving me grief. Any ideas? I have had this before and never really have found the solution. Maybe I need to get to 7.1.2 or greater. Not sure. Any thoughts are appreciated otherwise I think I will jump to 7.5.3. I have lots or RAM and the 550 board so it should run well whatever I get to work.
As an aside, what a pretty machine. I have an SE30 running on my desk to play with but I am seriously thinking of replacing it with the CC.
 

Fizzbinn

Tinkerer
Nov 29, 2021
226
228
43
Charlottesville, VA
A plain 7.1 install will work on Macs that came out before it was released but you need machine specific "Enablers" in your System Folder for later Macs. Some good info on this (and Enabler downloads) here:
https://www.savagetaylor.com/2015/1...to-7-5-5-current-versions-and-change-history/

I'm pretty sure you can install machine specific versions of 7.1 via the Legacy CD if you go down that folder hierarchy.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Scout and JDW

Scout

New Tinkerer
Apr 13, 2022
19
5
3
CA
@Fizzbinn Oh, what a great resource. I know there were enablers but I did not know the purpose. You nailed it. I have a 550 board in there and did 7.1 from the Legacy CD for the Color Classic. I have to look but I do not think it offered for the Color Classic II. I have a regular working color classic board. I am going to put that in to test this out. If it works, I will reinstall 7.1 using the LC550 installer. @JDW I knew you knew. I will review the video further. I have watched some of it for the analog board stuff as I have a dead one to fix.
Thank you both for education and direction.
At the end of this project, I hope to have two working Color Classics.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fizzbinn and JDW

Fizzbinn

Tinkerer
Nov 29, 2021
226
228
43
Charlottesville, VA
"System Enabler 403" for the 520 and 550 will work. I believe the Color Classic II logic board is basically the same as the one used in the 550. These sites seems to confirm that:

Half the fun is figuring this stuff out IMHO :)

Good luck!
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: JDW and Scout

Scout

New Tinkerer
Apr 13, 2022
19
5
3
CA
"System Enabler 403" for the 520 and 550 will work. I believe the Color Classic II logic board is basically the same as the one used in the 550. These sites seems to confirm that:

Half the fun is figuring this stuff out IMHO :)

Good luck!
That is why I don't ask a lot of questions here. I really spend a lot of time trying to answer my own questions. But I use this resource a lot and check it almost daily.
Someday I hope I can help people too.
I am an old computer user but a pretty new electronics repair person. About 5 years of getting serious. I have been thrilled to find groups like this. Thank you all. :)
 
  • Love
Reactions: JDW

JDW

Administrator
Staff member
Founder
Sep 2, 2021
2,104
1,763
113
54
Japan
youtube.com
That is why I don't ask a lot of questions here. I really spend a lot of time trying to answer my own questions.
Someday I hope I can help people too.

Asking questions in this forum can be good because a lot of people don't make time to post anything once they've solved their own questions. The ends result is all that research and effort only benefits them. By asking questions, the exploration is made available to everyone.

A lot of folks out there are looking for the bare naked answers rather than the thrill of the hunt. I'm no different. I got into the video creation game because I couldn't find suitable answers out there for a guy like me who loves DETAILS and HAND-HOLDING. I love it when people make step-by-step guides for me, which is why I try to do the same for others in video form.

This isn't at all any kind of chastisment, mind you. I am simply describing the benefits of asking questions here on TinkerDifferent. But if any of you privately have questions and later find the answers on your own but then want to share and help others here on TinkerDifferent, that would be absolutely fantastic. This forum is basically an info sharing resource, after all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scout

Scout

New Tinkerer
Apr 13, 2022
19
5
3
CA
Got the ”Classic II” buttoned up for now. CC with 550 board. The system installer for 7.1 still did not work. Not giving up though. Have 7.6.1 on scsi 0. Have 7.1 with 403 enabler on scsi 4. Also have 7.1.2 with WiFi setup on scsi 1. I figured with the 550 board, plenty of disk space, and 36mb of ram, I will run well. Only scsi 0 boots but all mount. I will put aside to try and get the other recapped AB working as I know I now have a good recapped LB from the original CC.
A question. I follow you all on discord too but I feel I get better feedback to questions on the forum. Is the forum a better place for this kind of help? I appreciate the discord but feel a little lost in the back and forth. All help and feedback is appreciated no matter where the source.
thank you all.
 

JDW

Administrator
Staff member
Founder
Sep 2, 2021
2,104
1,763
113
54
Japan
youtube.com
I feel I get better feedback to questions on the forum. Is the forum a better place for this kind of help?
I'm pretty much never on Discord. I don't hate it, and I like it's there for folks who enjoy it. It just doesn't suit me. Believe me, I've tried. Yes, I did start out in real forums like this one so there is a little bias, I guess, but I find that "Discord" is truly that. A bit more strife there, and I often feel like I'm talking into a fast flowing river that makes my comments get lost in the flow. But on the main forum, I feel right at home.

One thing about forums though, there are times you won't get answers unless you're a bit pushy and persistent. That's how I am. You may need to bump your thread now and then. If I have answers, I'll chime in, but I don't know everything and need to defer to others who are far more knowledgable than me on a given subject.

In other words, yes, I'd encourage you to post more often in the forum. I can then see what you write and help out when I know an answer.

Now as to your downloaded enabler not working, are you 100% sure you downloaded the right one? Can you give me the exact URL to the one you tried?

Separately from that, you said "only SCSI 0 boots," but does that mean you want other SCSI IDs to boot too? I use the newest version of System Picker and it works to choose the System Folder I want regardless of drive and SCSI ID. You could also try the keyboard trick:

CMD-OPT-Shift-DEL-#
(where # = SCSI ID)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scout

Scout

New Tinkerer
Apr 13, 2022
19
5
3
CA
I really appreciate the focus that the forum provides. discord just seems like an entertainment feed. I checked out your playlist and plan to investigate it completely. I think I am a bit old school too. I have many more puzzles to solve You have been more than helpful. I will return.
 
  • Love
Reactions: JDW