> That could very helpful given my recent experience with OS 9.1's outdated
> Startup Control Panel. If it's not too much trouble could you repost...
>From a message I posted back in June 2002, shown below is a list of unique
items in my update log (in the Software Update control panel). To
reiterate, since I always used the Software Update CP to make updates to my
Mac OS installation, this list should be a complete list of
Apple-recommended updates to Mac OS 9.1. By "unique items," I mean that I
did not repeat items that appeared more than once on the list (because there
was more than one update). Only the last version number is shown.
AppleScript Update (version 1.8.3, 6/25/02)
CarbonLib (version 1.6, 6/22/02)
Mac OS Runtime for Java (version 2.2.5, 6/10/01)
Disk First Aid 8.6.1 (version 1.0, 5/26/01)
Open Transport 2.7.6 (version 2.7.6, 5/14/01)
Multiple Users (version 1.4.1, 4/29/01) <- disabled on my 8100
Startup Disk (version 9.2.1, 3/25/01)
URL Access (version 2.3, 2/21/01)
There have been no newer updates coming over the Software Update control
panel since I posted the above list. QuickTime is not included because it
has its own update method (there have been several updates).
> On a related matter, I seem to remember a discussion that resulted in a list
> of all the OS 9.2 pieces/parts that will run on these old NuBus Macs.
I was involved in the discussion as well. Here is what I finally settled on
as the pieces of 9.2.x that I use with my own Mac OS 9.1 system.
Note: This info is for Nubus PowerMacs. If you have a PCI PowerMac,
http://www.os9forever.com/ shows how and get 9.2.x running "for real." That
method does not work on Nubus PowerMacs (at least not yet).
First of all, the "Finder" file itself (the one at the main level of the
System Folder). The version number is 9.2.1. The reason I tried this is
because I read on the os9forever.com that Finder in 9.2 is "faster." I
don't know if it's faster in practical use, but in all the years I have used
it with 9.1, I've had no problems. So I just kept it in there, because it
may well be more efficient and stable, and it has done no harm. Also,
"About This Computer" window says "Mac OS 9.2"... :)
Another 9.1 component that caused crashes for me was the control strip
module for sound volume. Every time I used it, my system would freeze. The
file name is "Sound Volume" (in the Control Strip Modules folder within the
System Folder). The one I use now is version 2.0.5 from Mac OS 9.2.1.
I also replace my Monitors control panel with the one from 9.2.1 (version
8.6.3). I don't recall why I did so, but I saw in Extensions manager that
it was from 9.2.1.
One other area I tried updating was Open Transport (a set of extensions).
This update worked fairly well, but appeared to cause some instability. It
may have been worked better if I have updated some other components along
with OT, but that would have taken too much time to figure out. I put back
version 2.7.6.
If you have an extra drive volume, here's a "fun experiment" at the other
extreme, the "ultimate swap out." I took a 9.2.2 System Folder from a
supported Mac (a Pismo PowerBook G3) and copied it to the second drive on my
8100/G3. After downgrading just two files to 9.1, the all-important
"System" file and (for some reason) the Apple Menu Options control panel, it
booted to the desktop without complaint. After disabling all the usual
unnecessary extensions and control panels using Extensions Manager, it was
fast and seemed stable. But that was a bit too extreme for my day-to-day
use. So the bottom line is, MOST of the components of Mac OS 9.2.x seem to
work fine with Mac OS 9.1. Apple probably could have made it work
"officially" without too much additional effort and testing.
But I think 9.1 is an excellent release of the Mac OS. The BEST thing you
can do to improve performance and stability of Mac OS 9.1 is to disable all
those extension and control panels that are unnecessary (such as anything
for USB, Firewire, and printers you don't have) or are otherwise "useless"
(such as OpenGL, Multiple Users, Voice Verification, and Speech
Recognition). There are so many OS components that can be disabled without
loss of significant functionality. There are a lot of online resources on
this topic. I think we've discussed it here as well.
- Ken
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