Macintosh tips and tricks
~ sorted from practical to silly ~
Systems with Extension Manager installed can run it before extensions begin to load by holding down the space bar as the computer starts up.
System Folders can be blessed manually by removing and reinserting the 'System' file on any volume in which a System Folder is not already active. If one is, remove its System file first.
PowerBook 1400 will not boot from CD using 'C'; instead use Cmd+Opt+Shift+Delete.
IIci and IIsi can run up to 20% faster with 4 x 256k SIMMs in bank A (soldered on IIsi) and disk cache adjusted to consume the remainder of bank A not consumed by the frame buffer.
SCSI based PowerBooks can run in SCSI disk mode even if officially unsupported, or you don't have the correct SCSI cable. Pressing Cmd+Power just after the happy Mac appears will halt the CPU with the SCSI drive spun up. Plugging its SCSI into a second computer and powering it on should let the halted machine's drive mount identically to SCSI disk mode. *Most likely doesn't work on IDE based PowerBooks?
IDE based PowerBooks with built-in SCSI hard drives can use SCSI disk mode as long as the IDE drive is not larger than 4GB. If larger, the controller will translate the data map incorrectly, wreaking havoc on the drive's contents.
Quadra 950 will hang at extension loadtime if RAM disk is enabled and 256MB of RAM is installed. Reduce installed memory, disable RAM disk, or boot from 601 card to resolve.
A Quadra with 601 card installed will play the upgrade card startup chime (same as 5200/6200) when enabled, but the native chime when disabled. However, the native chime will still be slightly more delayed than when the 601 card is removed entirely. Is the ROM meaningfully different when 601 is installed and disabled?
iMacs Rev A, B, and C degauss their displays moments before the startup chime plays. Rev D plays the startup chime and degausses the display several seconds later, in time with the power LED switching from amber to green.
Lombard PowerBooks are the last to silkscreen 'Macintosh PowerBook G3' and use the wavy reflective pattern (also seen on iMacs and PowerMacs surrounding ports) in graphite with black text on their under-case sticker. Pismo PowerBooks, the successor and only other model to share the Lombard's case, are simply silkscreened 'PowerBook.' Their under-case sticker is usually flat black with white text. The SCSI port on the Lombard is replaced by two FireWire 400 ports.
PowerBook Lombard 400MHz, Pismo 400MHz, 500MHz can play DVD video without PCMCIA MPEG card. Lombard 333MHz and all WallStreet models reqired the PCMCIA module installed.
Reply and Orange Micro claimed their cards (Houdini II with extender & Orange386 with ISA accessory bracket, respectively) would require modification of the case cover when installed in Quadra 700, IIcx, and IIci systems. However, when handled very carefully it is possible to insert the unmodified case doors over both of these cards without causing more than momentary stress on the SIMM socket and ISA bracket as the cover becomes fully seated. The warning still seems rational given the likelihood of damage if someone wasn't careful.
Put •Shut Down in the "Shutdown Items" folder within the System folder for an extra dramatic shut down sequence. Put •Shut Down in the "Startup Items" folder within the System folder to annoy the next user.
~ sorted from practical to silly ~
Systems with Extension Manager installed can run it before extensions begin to load by holding down the space bar as the computer starts up.
System Folders can be blessed manually by removing and reinserting the 'System' file on any volume in which a System Folder is not already active. If one is, remove its System file first.
PowerBook 1400 will not boot from CD using 'C'; instead use Cmd+Opt+Shift+Delete.
IIci and IIsi can run up to 20% faster with 4 x 256k SIMMs in bank A (soldered on IIsi) and disk cache adjusted to consume the remainder of bank A not consumed by the frame buffer.
SCSI based PowerBooks can run in SCSI disk mode even if officially unsupported, or you don't have the correct SCSI cable. Pressing Cmd+Power just after the happy Mac appears will halt the CPU with the SCSI drive spun up. Plugging its SCSI into a second computer and powering it on should let the halted machine's drive mount identically to SCSI disk mode. *Most likely doesn't work on IDE based PowerBooks?
IDE based PowerBooks with built-in SCSI hard drives can use SCSI disk mode as long as the IDE drive is not larger than 4GB. If larger, the controller will translate the data map incorrectly, wreaking havoc on the drive's contents.
Quadra 950 will hang at extension loadtime if RAM disk is enabled and 256MB of RAM is installed. Reduce installed memory, disable RAM disk, or boot from 601 card to resolve.
A Quadra with 601 card installed will play the upgrade card startup chime (same as 5200/6200) when enabled, but the native chime when disabled. However, the native chime will still be slightly more delayed than when the 601 card is removed entirely. Is the ROM meaningfully different when 601 is installed and disabled?
iMacs Rev A, B, and C degauss their displays moments before the startup chime plays. Rev D plays the startup chime and degausses the display several seconds later, in time with the power LED switching from amber to green.
Lombard PowerBooks are the last to silkscreen 'Macintosh PowerBook G3' and use the wavy reflective pattern (also seen on iMacs and PowerMacs surrounding ports) in graphite with black text on their under-case sticker. Pismo PowerBooks, the successor and only other model to share the Lombard's case, are simply silkscreened 'PowerBook.' Their under-case sticker is usually flat black with white text. The SCSI port on the Lombard is replaced by two FireWire 400 ports.
PowerBook Lombard 400MHz, Pismo 400MHz, 500MHz can play DVD video without PCMCIA MPEG card. Lombard 333MHz and all WallStreet models reqired the PCMCIA module installed.
Reply and Orange Micro claimed their cards (Houdini II with extender & Orange386 with ISA accessory bracket, respectively) would require modification of the case cover when installed in Quadra 700, IIcx, and IIci systems. However, when handled very carefully it is possible to insert the unmodified case doors over both of these cards without causing more than momentary stress on the SIMM socket and ISA bracket as the cover becomes fully seated. The warning still seems rational given the likelihood of damage if someone wasn't careful.
Put •Shut Down in the "Shutdown Items" folder within the System folder for an extra dramatic shut down sequence. Put •Shut Down in the "Startup Items" folder within the System folder to annoy the next user.
