The

 

The indispensable guide to what's dispensable on your Mac
                                    &
      the most comprehensive guide to inits anywhere!

                    Version 1.2 - Released August 28, 1996

                       Copyright © 1996 D.E. Frakes. All rights reserved.

_________________________________________________________________

ON THIS PAGE:

• Purpose
• Format of this document
• Tips on transferring files/installing a new system
• RAM usage notes
• Notation Legend
• Help!
• Other resources
• Final notes/How to contact me

_________________________________________________________________

PURPOSE:

This document has two purposes:

• To satisfy your curiosity as to what each and every control panel/extension is and does.

• To help Mac users prune our system folders of unnecessary extensions, control panels, etc., in the interests of both RAM consumption and compatibility issues.

• To provide information on the MacOS and System software to help you get to know your Mac better.

The contents of this document relating to specific files include descriptions of items, version numbers, RAM usage figures, incompatability notes, and a few "secret gems" of info that may suprise you. If you don't see something listed here on your own computer, that's good--it probably doesn't belong there anyway. You may see some of these on your computer even though they aren't needed. Many of us have moved files and systems from earlier Macs/PowerMacs and haven't been very systematic about transferring stuff from our older system folder to our new one. Also, the Apple software installers often aren't very good about not installing things that aren't needed. This document will help you figure out what should (and shouldn't) be there.

The info here has been gathered from the following sources: Apple Tech Notes, the manual (imagine that...), opening files with ResEdit, various books, Conflict Catcher 3.0.4, and members of the Macintosh community, too numerous to mention (you know who you are). Please send all comments, questions, ideas, and requests (what is this for?) to Dan Frakes at <frakes@gseis.ucla.edu>.

This document will be updated periodically, and new versions will be available, along with a list of updates/ revisions, from the Mac Pruning Pages web site at <http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/DEF/>. The latest version should also be available at your nearest Info-Mac site and on AOL, although it usually takes a while for new files to be processed through these channels. Questions, comments, etc. should be directed to <frakes@gseis.ucla.edu>. Please be aware that I get over 100 messages per day, many of them related to these two resources. I read every single one; however, there are times when my responses are a bit slower than others.

This document is shareware.
Please see the "Please read this..." chapter for details.

Support shareware... it supports you!

_________________________________________________________________

FORMAT OF THIS DOCUMENT:

The content of this document is broken up into chapters based on file type. The table of contents below and the "Chapters" menu list these types. In version 1.1, I added a very detailed table of contents which can be browsed by clicking on the box in the lower left-hand corner. NOTE: if you can't seem to find an item, make sure you check the "Non-RAM," "Groups" and "Third-Pary" sections. Many items are included there based on their file type, functionality and developer.

You can use the "Find" command under the "File" menu to search the entire document for a file. You can also click on the title graphic on applicable pages to access the "Find" dialog.

Chapter   1: This introduction page
Chapter   2: 7.5.3 Info/Items Eliminated by System 7.5.3
Chapter   3: Groups (files that are used together)
Chapter   4: Non-RAM Inits (items that do not take up System RAM at startup, including shared
                   libraries, documents, components, communication tools, and chooser extensions)
Chapter   5: Control Panels
Chapter   6: Extensions (A-F)
Chapter   7: Extensions (G-Z)
Chapter   8: Third-Party Control Panels
Chapter   9: Third-Party Extensions
Chapter 10: Miscellaneous System Folder Contents
Chapter 11: PRAM... What It Is, How to "Zap" It & What Gets Reset
Chapter 12: Modern Memory Manager Info
Chapter 13: Please read this... registration info
Chapter 14: Update/Revision History

_________________________________________________________________

NOTATION LEGEND:

Throughout this document, various items are preceded by/contain special notations:

• Items updated in System 7.5.3/ System 7.5.2 Update 2/ System 7.5.3 Revision 2 are marked by •••.

• Items which pertain ONLY to PowerMacs are marked by PM.

• RAM consumption figures are noted by [U/R] (see below).

_________________________________________________________________

TIPS ON TRANSFERRING FILES / INSTALLING A NEW SYSTEM:

The best way to transfer files over from an older system to your new system folder is this: Don't! For the most problem-free installation, do a clean install of the latest system for your Mac, install System 7.5 Update 2.0, Install System 7.5.3 Revision 2, then re-install all of your peripheral stuff from the original disks. Then, if you don't have fresh copies, transfer over the random inits you can't live without. Finally, go through this list and remove/disable the stuff that the System installer installs that you don't need. This is the only way you're assured that you haven't taken something out that you need, nor have you put something in that you don't.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the "clean install process," the trick is to hold down Command-Shift-K from the initial installer dialog box. You will be prompted for either a new system folder or a replacement system folder. If you want the complete, thorough, and extremely loooong instructions, refer to Apple's Clean Install Tech Note at <http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/ DEF/extras/cleaninstall.html>. Some people don't believe in doing a clean install unless you have problems. I usually take a more proactive approach, and believe that you avoid problems in the first place by doing a clean install. Your mileage may vary.

PCI Mac owners: It has been suggested on the MacPCI mailing list (and re-suggested over and over) that more conflicts can be avoided by performing a low-level reformat of your hard drive before you settle in. Personally, I do this whenever I get a new drive, whether it be a hard drive, Zip disk, Jaz disk, etc. On an Apple drive, this can be done using the Drive Setup program (the latest version is 1.0.5); for third-party drives, use the latest version of the software that came with the drive.

Finally, it is also a good idea not to transfer over all of your preferences. If at all possible, start anew and set your preferences running off of the new system.

_________________________________________________________________

RAM INFO:

Throughout this document, I have included RAM info to help you reduce the size of your system file's RAM consumption. This info has been gathered from Conflict Catcher. The figures following each item are presented in the form of [U/R]. "U" is the RAM (in K) actually used by the item at startup on my system. "R" is the maximum amount requested by the item. There are actually two types of RAM for startup files to use: "system" memory and "high" memory. Since the implications of the two types of memory are the same for most people, I haven't differentiated between the two. At any given time, depending upon the configuration of your system, the amount used can vary. For example, Adobe Type Manager 3.9 will take up more or less memory depending upon how many fonts you have installed. So... "your mileage my vary" -- although for some items, you'll probably never use the full amount "requested." If an item is followed by "LB," it means that RAM info on this item isn't discernable due to the fact that it loads, and therefore has allocated memory, before memory statistics can be gathered. If an item is followed by "NA," it means that the file does not allocate memory at startup. PLEA FOR HELP: This info is a pain to compile, so your help is appreciated. If any readers can provide help with this info, please email me.

_________________________________________________________________

HELP!

The following are inits that people have requested info about. If you have any info on them (What do they do? What installs them? What happens if they aren't installed? What, if any, conflicts do they cause?), please let me know. Also, if the name of an item indicates part of its functionality, I usually figure that much out on my own ("The QuickTime Conferencing extension is needed to do QuickTime Conferencing"). I'm usually looking for what the item does specifically to your system.

   • File System Manager (v1.2.4)
   • H.261 v1.0f3 (part of QuickTime Conferencing v1.0.2f2)
   • Queue Watcher (v2.0)
   • Apple QD3D Driver[<1]
   • Apple QD3D Plug-In [<1]
   • Apple ADSP Tool (v1.0.1)
   • nuTranslationLib.slb (v1.0.1)
   • nuDragLib.slb (v1.1)
   • IdleTime (v1.1b1) (installed by Frontier)
   • OSA Menu (v1.1a1) (installed by Frontier)
   • Kodak Precision CP (v2.4.1)
   • FIF Component v1.0 (from Iterated Systems Inc.)
   • Desktop Reset v1.2 (from Fifth Generations Systems Inc.)
   • ADBReInit v1.0
   • SOMobjects for MacOS (standard object model?)
   • MS Listener
   • Specific information on what all the Microsoft inits do   
   • At Ease 7.5 Layer Patch
   • Cyberdog extensions
   • OpenDoc extensions
   • QuickDraw GX extensions
   • Apple Remote Access components (see "Groups")
   • AudioTuneup (installed by the Geoport installer)
   • Geoport for Power Macintosh
   • Geoport Serial Driver
   • Geoport Telecom Adapter
   • Geoport Telephone Tool
   • Link Tools Manager
   • QuickTime Conferencing
   • Serial Update 406 (which was eliminated by the 7.5 Update 2.0)
   • Karma Extension (installed by Metrowerks CW9)
   • Menu Manager Update

_________________________________________________________________

RESOURCES:

Some other great resources/info can be found at the following sites; if you are running Netscape, click on the "GO!" button to go to the corresponding URL; otherwise, copy and paste:

   • Apple Compter, Inc.
        <http://www.apple.com/>
   • Apple Support and Information Area
        <http://cgi.info.apple.com/>
   • Apple Tech Info Library (standard web page):   
        <http://til.info.apple.com/til/til.html>
   • Apple Tech Info Library (browsable gopher site):
        <gopher://info.apple.com/11/TIL>
   • Complete Conflict Compendium:
        <http://www.quillserv.com/www/c3/c3.html>
   • Current list of shipping Apple software titles:
        <http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/DEF/extras/appleSW.html>
   • Evangelist Web Site:
        <http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
   • Information Alley Home Page:
        <http://www.wire.net.au/~czar/InfoAlley/infohome.html>
   • Macintosh Resource Page:  
        <http://www.macresource.pair.com/> 
   • Macintosh Software Update Report (a commercial service):  
        <http://www.webcom.com/level6/>
   • MacInTouch - by Ric Ford:
        <http://www.macintouch.com/>
   • Mark Sproul's Info Pages:
        <http://msproul.rutgers.edu/>
   • New Apple Software Updates:
        <http://www.support.apple.com:80/pub/NEWFILES.html>
   • Open Transport 101 - from MacUser:
        <http://www.zdnet.com/macuser/mu_0796/handson/hotech.html>
   • PCI Power Macintosh Software Conflicts:
        <http://www.manual.com/conflicts/>
   • Power Macintosh PCI Home Page:
        <http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/rajiv/PCI/>
   • PowerPC Faq Page:
        <http://www.mot.com/SPS/PowerPC/library/ppc_faq/ppc_faq.html>
   • PowerPC News:
        <http://power.globalnews.com/>
   • Sad Macs Home Page - by Ted Landau:
        <http://www.oakland.edu/~landau/sadmacs/>
   • System 7.5.x Software Components Versions (Apple Tech Note):
        <http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/DEF/extras/versions.html>

_________________________________________________________________

FINAL NOTES AND HOW TO CONTACT ME:

Please email me with requests; I'll see what I can do. I'd also like to point out that if you want to make this whole issue simpler and easier, I would highly recommend purchasing a commercial startup manager, such as Now Startup Manager or Casady & Greene's Conflict Catcher. There is also a shareware startup manager, ExAminer, which is quite a step up from Apple's Extensions Manager. These, like Apple's Extensions Manager, allow you to "turn off" inits without actually "trashing" them (so they're always there if you ever need them), and they also allow you to set up different "sets" of inits which you can load in different circumstances. I personally would recommend Conflict Catcher. Not only does it allow you to see and manage the loading of all the files in your system folder (including fonts, Apple Menu items, invisible files, etc.), but it also gives complete descriptions of many and useful information such as RAM consumption. It's conflict-solving abilities are unmatched (no, I don't work for them...).

Casady & Greene (Conflict Catcher):
          <http://www.casadyg.com/>
Now Software (Now Utilities, including Now Startup Manager):
         <http://www.Nowsoft.com/>
ExAminer:
         <http://members.aol.com/mweasner/examiner.html>

_________________________________________________________________

Dan Frakes

The Pruning Page & Home of The InformInit:
          <http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/DEF/>

Comments, questions, ideas to:
<frakes@gseis.ucla.edu (preferred)>
<frakes@kagi.com>
<frakes@ucla.edu (forwarded)>
<frakes@AmbrosiaSW.com (forwarded)>
<frakes@imsa.edu (forwarded)>
<macdef@aol.com>