• What is the latest version of the System software? / How do I get the latest version?
• About System 7.5 Update 2.0
• Items eliminated by System 7.5.3/System 7.5 Update 2.0
• System 7.5 Update 2.0: Late Breaking Tips from Apple
• Differences between System 7.5.3 (pre-installed) and System 7.5.3 (System 7.5 Update 2.0)
• System 7.5.3 Revision 2
• System 7.5.3 Revision 2.1
• System 7.5.3 Revision 2.2
• Notes
WHAT IS THE LATEST VERSION OF THE SYSTEM SOFTWARE?
HOW DO I GET THE LATEST VERSION?
The most recent version of the System software is "System 7.5.5." There are two "official" paths to get to this version:
• On computers running System 7.5, 7.5.1, or 7.5.2: Install "System 7.5.2 Update 2.0" then install "System 7.5.5 Update."
• On computers which came with System 7.5.3 pre-installed, install only the "System 7.5.5 Update." NOTE: if you go to "About this Macintosh..." under the Apple menu, and it says that you have "System Software 7.5.5," the version of the System software you have pre-installed on your computer is already updated to the latest version.
This chapter deals with updating your System to version 7.5.3. The next chapter deals with updating your System to version 7.5.5. If you already have System 7.5.3 installed, or have already installed System 7.5.3 Revision 2, you can skip this chapter and move on to the next one.
ABOUT SYSTEM 7.5 UPDATE 2.0:
This update works on all computers capable of running system software versions 7.5, 7.5.1, and/or 7.5.2. Computers that did not previously need an enabler to work with system software versions 7.5 and 7.5.1 still need the System 7.5 Update file since it contains most of the fixes delivered in this update.
The file called "System 7.5.2 Update" replaces the enabler file on all computers capable of running system software version 7.5.2.
This update includes all of the fixes included with the previously released 7.5.2 Printing Update, the PowerBook 5300 System Software Update, and the PowerBook 2300c Update. You do not need these updates if you install System 7.5 Update 2.0. If you previously installed any of these updates, you should install System 7.5 Update 2.0, since it contains additional fixes.
After you install the update, the About This Macintosh window says "System Software 7.5.3." The window also says "System 7.5 Update 2.0," to indicate the source of the system software.
ITEMS ELIMINATED BY SYSTEM 7.5.3/SYSTEM 7.5 UPDATE 2.0:
The Update automatically deletes the files listed below unless you renamed any of them, in which case, you should remove the files:
The following files are now merged into the System 7.5 Update enabler or the System file. The update deletes the old (stand-alone) versions of these files:
• 040 VM Enabler
• 601 Processor Card Enabler
• 630 SCSI Update
• 7.5.2 Printing Fix
• CFM Updater
• Color Classic Update
• Display Enabler 2.0 (however, AppleVision Software 1.0.2 installs Display Enabler 2.0.2 and Apple recommends this version if you have the AppleVision 1710AV or AudioVision 14" Display)
• EM Sound Update
• MathLib
• Mount IDE Drive
• Network Software Installer (v1.5.1 and later)
• PowerBook 150 Update
• PowerBook 2300c Update
• PowerBook 5300 Enabler
• PowerBook 5300/190 Enabler
• PowerBook 5300/2300/190 Enabler
• PowerPC Enabler
• SCSI Manager
• SCSI Manager 4.3 (a renamed version of SCSI Manager)
• Serial Update 406
• Serial DMA
• Sound Manager
• System Enabler 406
• System Enabler 701
• ThreadsLib
• Workgroup Server Enabler
The following files have been merged into or been replaced by various other pieces of the system. The update deletes the old (stand-alone) versions of the following files:
• Sound & Displays (replaced by Monitors & Sound)
• Apple Multimedia Tuner (rolled into QuickTime 2.1)
• LaserWriter 8.0 (replaced by LaserWriter 8)
• PowerPC Finder Update (renamed in System 7.5 Update 1.0 and merged into the Finder)
• Finder Update (rolled into the Finder)
SYSTEM 7.5 UPDATE 2.0: LATE BREAKING TIPS:
If you have been having trouble using the System 7.5.2 Update 2, the following is taken directly from an Apple document which was the result of customer feedback:
"Since releasing Update 2.0, Apple has been monitoring our customers’ experience with installing and using it. After receiving a significant amount of feedback on this software release, there is some helpful information that we can provide to ensure that the transition to the new version of System 7.5 goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Read the “Installing This Update” Read Me. It is very important that you follow the directions in this read me when you install Update 2.0.
2. Use Disk First Aid
Make sure you use the Disk First Aid program to test and, if necessary, repair the disk on which you’re going to install the update. On the CD, Disk First Aid can be found by using the path:
System 7.5 Update 2.0
Installation
System 7.5 Update 2.0
System 7.5 Update 2.0 - 1
Utilities Δí
Disk First Aid
On the floppy disks, Disk First Aid can be found on System 7.5 Update 2.0 - 1, in the Utilities folder. For instructions on using Disk First Aid, see the manual that came with your computer.
3. Update your hard disk driver. Make sure you update your hard disk driver to the latest version available. If you are using an Apple driver, both Apple HDSC Setup and Drive Setup are available with Update 2.0. Most 68K computers (the 68K computers that are exceptions are listed below) should use HDSC Setup. All PowerPC computers, and the following 68K computers that have IDE hard disks should use Drive Setup:
Macintosh LC 580
Macintosh LC 630
Macintosh LC 630 DOS
Macintosh Quadra 630 series computers
Macintosh Performa 580 series computers
Macintosh Performa 630 and 640 series computers
PowerBook 150 series computers*
PowerBook 190 series computers
Also, if you have a 68K computer and have installed a PowerPC Upgrade Card, you should use Drive Setup.
*Special note about the PowerBook 150 series computers: you do not need to update the driver on your computer (as described in the user’s manual) with Drive Setup. (The driver on your computer is contained in it’s ROM.)
On the CD, Apple HDSC Setup can be found by using the path:
System 7.5 Update 2.0
Installation
System 7.5 Update 2.0
System 7.5 Update 2.0 - 1
Utilities Δí
Apple HD SC Setup
On the floppy disks, Apple HDSC Setup can be found on System 7.5 Update 2.0 -1, in the Utilities folder.
To use Drive Setup 1.0.4, from either the CD or the floppies, you must first custom install it. This can be done by opening the System 7.5 Update 2.0 Installer, and selecting Custom Install in the upper pop-up menu. Then open the triangle next to “Applications,” and select "Drive Setup.”
4. Use the Extensions Manager control panel to turn off all non-Apple extensions before installing the update.
To do this, select “System 7.5 Only” if your current system software is 7.5 or 7.5.1, or “System 7.5.2” if your current system software is 7.5.2, then restart your computer. After the update is installed you can then go back and again use the Extensions Manager control panel to turn your extensions back on. See the “Installing This Update” Read Me for complete steps and information.
5. Do not rename or move files around within your System Folder before installing Update 2.0. The Installer makes some assumptions that certain files will be in certain places. If these files are moved or renamed, files that are installed could be placed in the wrong place, or not installed at all.
If you believe you have moved or renamed files, and are not sure how to move or rename them so that Update 2.0 will install correctly, then you should perform a clean install of the system software on your computer. For instructions on how to perform a clean install, see the manual that came with your computer.
6. If you have an AppleVision Display and you have problems after installing the Update 2.0, you should install AppleVision Fix 1.0. This software fixes such problems as:
• When you press the buttons on the front of the display, you see a message that says “No AppleVision Display is connected.”
• You have a Power Macintosh 7200 and can’t find the Monitors & Sound control panel in the Control Panels folder.
• The Monitors & Sound control panel does not have Geometry, Color, and Monitor Sound buttons. (Note: The Monitor Sound button appears only if you have an AV monitor.)
• You can’t change the resolution of the AppleVision Display or you can’t open the AppleVision Setup control panel.
• Macintosh Guide does not contain information on the AppleVision Software or Display.
AppleVision Fix 1.0 can be found on the following on-line services:
• AppleLink
• America Online
• CompuServe
• Internet: gopher.info.apple.com
• Internet: ftp.info.apple.com
• Internet: ftp.support.apple.com
The path to use is: Apple SW Updates: US: Macintosh: System: System 7.5 Update 2.0: AppleVision Fix 1.0.
7. System 7.5 Update 2.0 will require more RAM, especially on PowerPC-based systems. The increased amount of RAM which System 7.5 Update 2.0 requires will vary greatly depending on which Macintosh system you are updating, and what your system configuration is.
According to tests run by Apple, the RAM reserved for system software for many 680x0-based Macintosh systems will increase less than 100K as compared to System 7.5.1, while the RAM reserved for system software for many Power Macintosh systems will increase 300K-850K as compared to 7.5.1. The results you will see may vary.
8. Use the following tips for these specific situations:
• Using Connectix RAM Doubler on a PowerBook. There is an incompatibility between System Software 7.5.3 and Connectix RAM Doubler and PowerBook computers. On PowerBook computers running System 7.5.3 and RAM Doubler, if you put the PowerBook to sleep and then wake it up, the machine may crash with a Type 8 error. Apple is currently working on this problem, and will have a solution available in the near future. In the meantime, there are two ways to work around this problem. First, the problem will not occur if MacsBug is installed. The MacsBug software can be found on the same on-line services listed above. The path to use is: Apple SW Updates: US: Macintosh: Utilities: MacsBug 6.5.3. Secondly, the problem will not occur if RAM Doubler is turned off.
• Using PCI PowerPC Computers with Ethernet. PowerPC-based computers with PCI slots might have a different physical Ethernet address after you install Update 2.0. The update fixes a bug that caused an incorrect physical Ethernet address to be used in environments where TCP/IP addresses are obtained using BootP, DHCP, or RARP. To see the new Ethernet address after you install the update, open the File menu in the AppleTalk or TCP/IP control panel and choose Get Info. If you install the update and are no longer able to use your TCP/IP-based applications, contact your network system administrator. If you have access to the Internet, detailed information regarding this issue can be found in the article “System 7.5.3 and Physical Ethernet Address Change” in the Technical Information Library. The Apple Technical Information Library (TIL) is available on the Internet at <http://www.info.apple.com/til.html/>.
Apple will continue to monitor any other feedback that we receive from customers using System 7.5 Update 2.0 and provide more information as appropriate."
SIDE NOTE: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SYSTEM 7.5.3 (DIRECT) AND SYSTEM 7.5.3 (SYSTEM 7.5 UPDATE 2.0):
NOTE: The following section is a comparison between PRE-Revision 2 system software. This is only important to people who haven't updated or will not be updating to System 7.5.3 Revision 2 and/or System 7.5.5. If you have, or intend to, you should skip directly to System 7.5.3 Revision 2, below.
There are some differences between the System 7.5.3 that is pre-installed on some Macs and comes on the accompanying Installer CD, and the System 7.5.3 that is obtained through updating an earlier version of System 7.5 with System 7.5 Update 2. This version of 7.5.3 is not the "Unity" System 7.5.3 that you can order from Apple. It is the version that came pre-installed on early PCI PowerMacs. The following information is taken from an Apple release:
"There are a few differences between System 7.5.3 as it appears on Enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh computers (Power Macintosh 7200/120, 7600/120, 8500/132, 8500/150, and 9500/150) versus existing Macintosh computers upgraded to System 7.5.3. The files that are different are listed below:
A - System 7.5.3 on Enhanced PCI Power Macintosh computers
B - System 7.5 Update 2.0
System 7.5 Update 2.0 is focused on fixing issues with computers that came out prior to the Enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh computers. Bug fixes included in System 7.5 Update 2.0 that may be of benefit to enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh users are listed below:
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 fixes a memory leak in Standard File, which causes 512 bytes of memory to be orphaned in the application heap, each time a file is opened.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 fixes an obscure bug in the Power Manager which causes a system freeze under the following scenario:
- AppleTalk is off
- Open the AppleTalk or TCP/IP control panels, which turns on AppleTalk
This bug is easily avoidable by turning on AppleTalk from the Chooser before opening the AppleTalk or TCP/IP control panels.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 fixes an obscure bug where the system may freeze during startup. It only occurs if there is insufficient memory available during startup. Possible scenarios are: majority of memory is used by a RAM Disk, majority of memory is used by the Disk Cache, and/or many memory intensive third party extensions are installed.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 fixes a bug in the Display Manager. This bug appears when a system with menus that are too large to appear on the screen. For example, using a 640 x 480 screen on a Macintosh with many items in the Apple Menu Items folder could cause this bug to appear.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 fixes a bug in how the Display Manager saves the preferences file. When this bug occurs, the Macintosh desktop may not appear at startup.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 fixes a bug in the Notification Manager. Without this fix, the wrong flashing icon could appear in the Application menu. In addition, this fixes issues with the clock and battery level
indicators not being re-drawn correctly when an alert sound is played.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 makes the default recording mode on all PCI-based Power Macintosh computers to be the same as other Macintosh computers.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 includes Apple Video Player 1.4, which fixes a system freezing issue on computers with MPEG cards.
• System 7.5 Update 2.0 includes Apple Menu Options 1.1.2, which has shown to improve compatibility with some third party software."
END "SIDE NOTE"
SYSTEM 7.5.3 REVISION 2:
THE FOLLOWING INFO IS FROM THE "READ ME" FILE THAT ACCOMPANIES 7.5.3 REVISION 2:
"Apple is recommending that only customers with specific system software and Macintosh computers update their systems with System 7.5.3 Revision 2. There is no benefit for other customers. The only systems which will benefit from System 7.5.3 Revision 2 are as follows:
• All PowerBook systems using Connectix RAM Doubler™
• All PowerBook 5300 and PowerBook Duo 2300 systems
• All PowerBook 200 or 500 Series systems which have been upgraded with the Macintosh PowerBook Processor Card Upgrade Kit with PowerPC (or upgraded with similar third party products).
• All Macintosh 7200, 7500, 7600, 8500, and 9500 systems
When you install System 7.5.3 Revision 2, you get the following enhancements:
• Better reliability for PowerBooks using RAM Doubler
If you have a PowerBook using system software 7.5.3, and use RAM Doubler (version 1.6.1 or earlier), you may have experienced a problem when waking your PowerBook from sleep. This software fixes this problem.
• Overall performance enhancements for PowerBook 2300 computers and PowerBook 500 or Duo series computers with the PowerPC Upgrade Card installed.
• Improved reliability when using PC-formatted floppy disks with PowerBook 500 series or Duo series computers with the PowerPC Upgrade Card installed.
If you have a PowerBook 500 series or Duo series computer with the PowerPC Upgrade Card installed, PC-formatted floppy disks that were formatted on your computer may be unreadable in DOS or Windows computers. This software fixes this problem.
• Improved reliability on PCI-based computers (Macintosh 7200, 7500, 7600, 8500, and 9500 computers) and PowerBook 5300 computers, PowerBook 2300 computers, and PowerBook 500 or Duo series computers with the PowerPC Upgrade Card installed.
• Improved reliability when copying files to a 1 gigabyte hard disk.
If you have a PCI-based computer with a 1 gigabyte drive, this software helps avoid problems when copying files to the hard disk.
• Improved reliability when using the Startup Disk control panel.
In rare instances, when you turn on a PCI-based Power Macintosh computer it may not start up from the disk selected in the Startup Disk control panel. This software fixes this problem."
SYSTEM 7.5.3 REVISION 2.1:
System 7.5.3 Revision 2.1 is a very specific update which is only intended for Performa 6400/180 and 6400/200 computers. It is also pre-installed on newer 6400s. Note that if you have System 7.5.5 installed, it includes all of the fixes in Revision 2.1.
The following fixes were included in 7.5.3 Revision 2.1:
• The LocalTalk DMA 1.0.1 extension, which fixes a bug when transferring files over LocalTalk.
• An updated video driver which fixes a bug with "remaining screen bitmap artifacts" if using an Apple 15-inch display and the computer is put to sleep.
SYSTEM 7.5.3 REVISION 2.2:
System 7.5.3 Revision 2.2 is a very specific version of the System software which comes pre-installed on the Performa 6360, the PowerMac 9500/200, and some 9500/180s. Note that if you have System 7.5.5 installed, it includes all of the fixes in Revision 2.2.
NOTES:
According to Apple, by installing System 7.5.3 Revision 2 on an "Enhanced PCI-based Power Macintosh computer," you should be updated to the same state as those who have used System 7.5 Update 2.0, then 7.5.3 Revision 2. However, when you do this you do not get the updated control panels and extensions listed in the table above under "System 7.5 Update 2.0." So it would seem that on "Enhanced PCI-based Power Macs," 7.5.3 Revision 2 only updates the System file and System Enabler. Thus I would recommend installing System 7.5 Update 2.0 before installing System 7.5.3 Revision 2.
On that same note, there was an updated Open Transport DRVR resource that was added in System 7.5 Update 2.0. Apple forgot to include this resource in 7.5.3 Revision 2, so if you do not use Update 2.0 first, you will not have the latest Open Transport Drivers.
To add even more confusion, the very latest Macs have the very latest system software pre-installed. The easiest way to figure out what system software you have is to go to "About this Macintosh…” under the Apple menu.
Finally, none of the above three paragraphs really matters if you are planning on installing System 7.5.5 Update, which contains all of the fixes from System 7.5.3 Revision 2, as well as the extra fixes that Apple forgot to include with System 7.5.3 Revision 2. For information on that updater, see the next chapter.
