If you’re curious about the contents of the Extensions folder, this document provides a brief description of each extension. You can use these descriptions to help determine which extensions you may need and which ones you may not need.
What is an extension?
An extension is a small file that changes how your computer operates. Unlike a control panel, you typically do not have any direct interaction with an extension. An extension makes the appropriate changes when you start your computer and remains active until you shut down your computer.
Depending on the type of computer you have, the contents of your Extensions folder may vary. You might have extensions that were added by third-party applications, and you don’t need to have all the extensions described below. You can use the Extensions Manager control panel to turn off any extension you don’t need.
9500 Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using features specific to the Power Macintosh 9500 to the onscreen help provided in Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
A/ROSE: Allows communication between your computer’s main logic board and NuBus cards that run the Apple Real-Time Operating System. Examples of such NuBus cards include the Apple Token Ring 4.16 NB card and the Apple Serial NB card.
About Apple Guide: Provides information about how to use Apple’s onscreen help system. You can access About Apple Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
AppleCD Audio Player Guide: Provides step-by-step instructions for using the AppleCD Audio Player. You can access the AppleCD Audio Player Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu, after you install and open AppleCD Audio Player.
Apple CD-ROM: Enables your computer to use an Apple CD-ROM drive.
Apple Color Printer: Enables your computer to print documents on an Apple Color Printer.
Apple Color SW Pro CMM: Contains color-matching information used by ColorSync 2.0 to maintain consistent color between documents.
Apple Guide: Adds Apple Guide functionality to your computer. Apple Guide is Apple’s integrated onscreen help system.
Apple Photo Access: Part of the CD-ROM software for viewing Kodak PhotoCDs.
AppleScriptLib: Provides native support for AppleScript on PowerPC-based computers.
AppleScript: Enables automation of repetitive tasks in applications that support it.
AppleShare: Gives you access to shared disks on the network.
AppleTalk ImageWriter: Enables your computer to print documents on a networked ImageWriter II.
AppleVision Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions to Macintosh Guide about how to use AppleVision displays with your computer. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
Assistant Toolbox: This is the base extension for AutoRemounter. AutoRemounter works on Macintosh PowerBook computers and allows file synchronization, battery management, and easy mobile computing. It also provides support for a persistent RAM disk and deferred printing. This extension may conflict with the LaserWriter Select 310 printer software to block printing. A solution is to turn off background printing in the Chooser.
Audio CD Access: Lets you play audio CDs on your internal or external CD-ROM drive. Requires the AppleCD Audio Player or equivalent application to control the audio CD.
AV Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions to Macintosh Guide about how to use AV monitors with your computer. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
AV Setup: Used to control AppleVision displays.
Caps Lock: Provides a visual indication of the state of the Caps Lock key on a Macintosh PowerBook. When Caps Lock is turned on, an “up” arrow appears in the menu bar next to the Guide (question mark) menu. (Not needed on Macintosh PowerBook 500 series computers.)
Clipping Extension: Lets you use the drag-and-drop feature to create clipping files on your desktop.
Color Picker: Presents a standard interface for color selection. Applications can use this tool to let you choose colors.
Color SW 2000 Series CMM: Color-matching information used by ColorSync 2.0 to maintain consistent color between documents printed on a Color StyleWriter 2000 series printer and other color devices.
Color SW 2400: Enables your computer to print documents on a Color StyleWriter 2200 or Color StyleWriter 2400.
Color SW Pro: Enables your computer to print documents on a Color StyleWriter Pro.
ColorSync: Matches colors on your display with the closest matching colors on your printers, scanners, and other devices.
EM Extension: Works with the Extensions Manager control panel, which lets you specify which extensions are turned on when you start your computer.
Energy Saver Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using Energy Saver to the onscreen help provided in Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
Ethernet (Built-In): Used by Open Transport to allow access to the built-in Ethernet port on your computer.
EtherTalk Phase 2: Lets you connect your computer to an Ethernet network.
File Sharing Extension: Enables your computer to share files and folders with other computers on your network.
Find File Extension: Lets you search for files and view the results in a single window. If you turn off this extension and choose Find from the File menu, you’ll get the System 7.1 Find dialog box instead of the Find File window.
Finder Help: Provides Balloon Help support for the Finder.
Finder Scripting Extension: Allows you to use AppleScript to automate tasks in the Finder.
Foreign File Access: Enables your computer to work with CD-ROM discs whose contents don’t use the standard Mac OS file system (for example, ISO 9660 or High Sierra formats).
Graphics Accelerator: Provides video acceleration for the PCI video card.
High Sierra File Access: Part of the CD-ROM software that lets you view CDs with High Sierra file systems.
IIci/IIsi Monitors: Describes the capabilities of the built-in video card for the Macintosh IIci and IIsi. If you remove this file, your computer can still use the video card and you can still select the number of colors displayed on your monitor, but monitor options (such as gamma settings) may not be available.
ImageWriter: Enables your computer to print documents on an ImageWriter or ImageWriter II connected to a serial port.
ImageWriter LQ: Enables your computer to print documents on an ImageWriter LQ connected to a serial port.
ISO 9660 File Access: Part of the CD-ROM software that lets you view CDs with ISO 9660 file systems.
LaserWriter: (version 7.2) Enables your computer to print documents on a PostScript printer connected to an AppleTalk network.
LaserWriter 300: Enables your computer to print documents on a Personal LaserWriter 300, LaserWriter Select 300, or a Personal LaserWriter LS.
LaserWriter 8: (version 8.x) A PostScript level II print driver that enables your computer to print documents on a PostScript printer connected to an AppleTalk network.
LaserWriter IISC: Enables your computer to print documents on a LaserWriter IISC connected to a SCSI port. Replaced by Personal LaserWriter SC.
LW Select 310: Enables your computer to print documents on a LaserWriter Select 310.
MacinTalk Pro: Lets your computer read text documents in human-like voices. Older computers (with 68030 or 020 processors) should use MacinTalk 3 instead.
MacinTalk 3: Lets your computer read text documents in human-like voices. Used by MacinTalk version 3. Computers with 68040 or PowerPC processors should use MacinTalk Pro instead.
Macintosh Guide: Contains step-by-step instructions for working in the Finder. You access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
MacTCP Token Ring Extension: Enables you to connect to a Token Ring network using TCP/IP protocol.
Mailbox Extension: Supports your PowerTalk mailbox. Enables the Mailbox icon to appear on your desktop.
Monitors & Sound Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using the Monitors & Sound control panel to Macintosh Guide. You access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
My Speech Macros: Supports the Speech Macro Editor.
Network Extension: Lets you set Personal File Sharing from the Finder.
Network Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using your computer’s network to Macintosh Guide. You access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
ObjectSupportLib: A library developers use to support AppleScript on PowerPC-based computers.
Open Transport Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using Open Transport to Macintosh Guide. You access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
Open Tpt AppleTalk Library: Used by Open Transport for the AppleTalk communication protocol.
Open Tpt Internet Library: Used by Open Transport for the TCP/IP communication protocol.
Open Transport Library: Used by Open Transport.
OpenTptAppleTalkLib: Used by Open Transport for AppleTalk communication protocol.
OpenTptInternetLib: Used by Open Transport. for the TCP/IP communication protocol.
OpenTransportLib: Used by Open Transport.
PB 500 Upgrade Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using features specific to the PowerBook 500 to Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
PB 190 Upgrade Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using features specific to the PowerBook 190 to Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
PB 2300 Upgrade Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using features specific to the PowerBook 2300 to Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
PB 5300 Upgrade Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using features specific to the PowerBook 5300 to Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
Personal LaserWriter SC: Enables your computer to print documents on a Personal LaserWriter SC or a LaserWriter IISC.
Portable StyleWriter: Enables your computer to print documents on a Portable StyleWriter.
PowerBook Guide Additions: Adds PowerBook-specific topics to Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
PowerBook Monitors Extension: Describes the PowerBook built-in display. If you remove this file, your computer can still use the PowerBook video card and you can still select the number of colors your screen can display, but certain options (such as gamma settings) may not be available.
PowerPC Monitors Extension: Supports the AudioVision 14 monitor.
PowerTalk Extension: Supports PowerTalk services. Includes information used by the PowerTalk key chain.
PowerTalk Guide: Provides step-by-step instructions for using PowerTalk. You can access the PowerTalk Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu, after you install PowerTalk.
PowerTalk Manager: Manages your PowerTalk mailbox and services.
Printer Descriptions: Contains descriptions for all printers that use the LaserWriter 8 printer software.
Printer Share: Provides the ability to share non-network printers (for example, the StyleWriter II) across a network.
PrintMonitor: Controls the printing process when background printing is activated.
Quadra AV Monitors Extension: Describes the capabilities of the built-in video card for the Macintosh Quadra and Centris AV computers. If you remove this file, your computer can still use the video card and you can still select the number of colors displayed on your monitor, but monitor options (such as gamma settings) may not be available.
Quadra Monitors Extension: Describes the capabilities of the built-in video card for the Macintosh Quadra and Macintosh Centris computers. If you remove this file, your computer can still use the video card and you can still select the number of colors displayed on your monitor, but monitor options (such as gamma settings) may not be available.
QuickTime: Provides built-in multimedia support for applications.
QuickTime PowerPlug: Provides native support of QuickTime for PowerPC-based computers when used in combination with QuickTime 2.0. This extension must be used in addition to QuickTime 2.0.
QuickTime Musical Instruments: Supports 30 Roland Standard MIDI sound samples that can be accessed by QuickTime applications with no additional MIDI equipment.
Scripting Additions: Extends the AppleScript language with special features, such as finding the date or time of day. With scripting additions installed, AppleScript acts as if these features are part of the language. Scripting additions are required only when a script uses them.
Serial (Built-In): Used by Open Transport to allow access to the built-in serial port on your computer.
Shared Library Manager: Provides native support for Open Transport.
Shortcuts: Explains common keyboard equivalents and other shortcuts to use in the Finder. You can access Shortcuts in the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
SimpleText Guide: Provides step-by-step instructions for using SimpleText. You can access the SimpleText Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu, after you open SimpleText.
Speech Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using speech recognition to the onscreen help provided in Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
Speech Recognition: Provides support for speech recognition.
SR Monitor: Used to monitor and interpret speech.
StyleWriter II: Enables your computer to print documents on a StyleWriter II. Replaced by StyleWriter 1200.
StyleWriter 1200: Enables your computer to print documents on a StyleWriter, StyleWriter II, or StyleWriter 1200.
SystemAV: Used for audio-video input.
System Speech Rules: Supports voices and speech dialects.
TokenTalk Phase 2: Used by the Apple Token Ring card.
TokenTalk Prep: Supports TokenTalk Phase II.
Tutorial Items: Provides instructions for learning basic skills on your computer. You can access the tutorial from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
Video Guide Additions: Adds step-by-step instructions for using video to the onscreen help provided in Macintosh Guide. You can access Macintosh Guide from the Guide (question mark) menu when the Finder is active.
Video Startup: Used by the Apple Video Player.
WorldScript Power Adapter: Supports language kit software on PowerPC-based computers.
Apple, the Apple logo, AppleScript, AppleShare, AppleTalk, ColorSync, EtherTalk, ImageWriter, LaserWriter, Macintosh, Macintosh Centris, Macintosh Quadra, MacTCP, PowerBook, Power Macintosh, PowerTalk, QuickTime, StyleWriter, TokenTalk and WorldScript are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. A/ROSE, Finder, Mac, and MacinTalk are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. NuBus is a trademark of Texas Instruments. PostScript is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated or its subsididaries, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, used under license therefrom.
