This patch cannot work properly while virus detection software is running. Please make sure that you have disabled any virus detectors before applying the patch.
This patch application was made with ResCompare, a free resource comparison and patch generation utility. ResCompare can be FTP’ed from most Macintosh archive sites. Send e-mail inquiries regarding ResCompare to Michael_Hecht@mac.sas.com.
Contents
• What it does
• How to install it
• Acknowledgements
• D.I.Y.
• Version history
So, what’s this do??
This patch takes the System 7.5 Update file and replaces the MacOS™ startup screens with slightly different versions. What’s different about them? Well, just recently I got given a batch of stickers that say “Get a life, get a Mac”, which I thought would make a neat addition to the new MacOS™ startup screen. So, I grabbed the original PICTs out of the Update and hacked them around a bit. All the original elements are still there (which should keep the Apple legal folks happy :), albeit slightly rearranged, and I’ve scanned in the sticker and pasted it in. Now my Mac really makes a statement when it boots! :)
Note: this patcher requires System 7.5.1 or later. It cannot do anything with earlier versions, because the resources it patches don’t exist in earlier versions of the system software. Sorry. (System 7.5.1 = System 7.5 + System 7.5 Update 1.0)
Cool! How do I install it?
Take a copy of the Update, put it somewhere other than in the current System Folder and apply the patch to that. This may sound totally paranoid, but I got rather weird behaviour when I (a) tried to patch directly off the original file, and (b) tried to patch a copy that was in the same System Folder as the original (see the version history for details). I finally got it to work by sticking the copy in a different folder. The patcher creates a new version of the file in any case. Your mileage may vary, but I’ve generally found that paranoia is a good attitude to have when you’re messing with stuff like this :)
Anyway, once you have your patched version, rename it to “System 7.5 Update” (see below), take the original Update out of the System Folder (and put it somewhere safe just in case…), and put the patched version into the System Folder. Reboot and enjoy. If everything falls apart, it should just be a matter of switching the Updates back the way they were — you did keep the original, didn’t you? :)
You may have a problem renaming the copy — sometimes the name comes out locked, I don't know why. The way to fix it is to get an application that can change file attributes, like File Buddy (highly recommended!) or ResEdit. Unlock the filename, change it, lock it again and save the changes, and Bjorn-Stronginthearm’s your uncle.
A final note: your Update file should end up somewhat larger than it was before, because the original pictures are compressed, and the modified ones aren’t.
This patch was created by Nigel Stanger. It is completely and utterly free, and no-one may charge anything whatsoever for it, apart from normal download costs. If you want to distribute it in a software collection, please contact me for permission. All distributions of the patch must include this documentation (I should be fairly safe on that front, since I included it in the patch application as well… did I say I was paranoid?)
If you like it, send me some email: <stanger@rivendell.otago.ac.nz>. And yes, I am a native New Zealander. I lecture in the Information Science at the University of Otago when I’m not doing mindless things like this ;)
As usual, you use this patch at your own risk, and I cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to your system by applying this patch. If you’re careful, you should have no problems. If you’re not, it might decide to crap all over your System. Caveat emptor. Fnord.
Apple, MacOS™ and the MacOS™ logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
Thanks to whoever created the sticker, Neville Lee for sending me a bunch of ’em and MicroFrontier for Color-It!
I want to roll my own — what do I do?
The startup logos are stored in PICT resources ID -16506 thru -16501 in the System 7.5 Update file. If you want to mangle your own pictures, that’s where to start. All you need then is enough knowledge of ResEdit to be able to copy and paste resources, and a colour painting program. I used Color-It! by MicroFrontier, sort of a poor man’s PhotoShop, but any 8-bit colour painting program is fine. The PICTs are:
–16506 8-bit colour for 640x480 upwards
-16505 4-bit grayscale (I think), large
–16504 black & white, large
–16503 8-bit colour, small screens (probably 512x384 and smaller)
–16502 grayscale, small
–16501 B&W, small
The only warning I have is that you should probably leave the blank gray area at the bottom as is, because that’s where the startup progress bar gets drawn. It could get a little messy if you fiddle with it. Up to you.
Again, you should work on a copy of the original file, or you might blow your system out through the ADB port and all over the wall (blech).
Have fun!
Version history
Version 1.0 (10 April 1995)
• Initial release.
Version 1.0.1 (17 April 1995)
• No changes to the actual patch, but some changes to the documentation. I discovered that if you tried to patch off the original file, or tried to patch a copy in the same System Folder as the original, weirdo things happened. Specifically, the patcher seemed to fill up the disk, then barfed because there was no disk space left. After quitting, the disk space wasn't reclaimed until I rebooted. When I followed Nigel’s Paranoid Installation Procedure™ (as outlined above :), everything worked fine. I have no idea what was going on, so all I can say is do it my way and it’ll definitely work!
