walter_J64bit Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 (edited) I've just got a Specter GCR It didn't come with the MAC OS but it come with the ROMS. I'm new to the MAC world so I'm going to need some help! Thanks! OK, the only disk drive's I have is the internal drive in my STE and other disk drive is in my dell laptop, how do I get the MAC OS on to real floppy disk's ? Thanks! Oh I my SatanDisk installed too, if that helps any. Edited February 11, 2019 by walter_J64bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zogging Hell Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 This is the hard part, getting System 6 on the ST in the first place. I had to use an old mac to make the disks (one which was still new enough to get on the net or had a way like a CD drive to interface with a newer model that could, but old enough to have a compatible disk drive. The cheapest old macs for this are the early power pc ones prior to the original iMac. The iMac is the cut off point really, as at that point apple killed the floppy drive and like with the ST the USB replacements can't write the disks do to the non standard format. You really want to use a hard disk if you want to do anything productive, the Mac is really unpleasant to use with just floppies, it really is - copy small part of file - ask for system disk - insert original disk - insert system disk and so on... I think you should be able to get the disk images on Winworld (ironically) So if you can't find a old mac then I seem to recall there were a few websites who would offer to write some disks for you (I would do it myself if you were on my side of the pond). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Now you're playing with power : ) I've put up the Spectre manual here if you need it: https://www.scribd.com/document/21013692/Spectre-GCR-Manual 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 This is the hard part, getting System 6 on the ST in the first place. I had to use an old mac to make the disks (one which was still new enough to get on the net or had a way like a CD drive to interface with a newer model that could, but old enough to have a compatible disk drive. The cheapest old macs for this are the early power pc ones prior to the original iMac. The iMac is the cut off point really, as at that point apple killed the floppy drive and like with the ST the USB replacements can't write the disks do to the non standard format. You really want to use a hard disk if you want to do anything productive, the Mac is really unpleasant to use with just floppies, it really is - copy small part of file - ask for system disk - insert original disk - insert system disk and so on... I think you should be able to get the disk images on Winworld (ironically) So if you can't find a old mac then I seem to recall there were a few websites who would offer to write some disks for you (I would do it myself if you were on my side of the pond). I've seen the disk images you are talking abut but I'm sure what app to use. I'll check out the websites as a last resource. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zogging Hell Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 I've seen the disk images you are talking abut but I'm sure what app to use. I'll check out the websites as a last resource. Thanks. It's been a while but I think the Mac can handle them natively with a program called 'disk copy' (depending on the image) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 The big piece missing with Spectre is a way to move binary files from the ST to the "Mac" side of thing. There is a utility provided but it totally screw up binary file transfers. It would be great is there was a program that allowed us to download .sit files on the pc - put them on ST disks and transfer them to the Mac partition on the ST hard drive. There is no way to do this that I know of. You need to have an old Mac that can write to the floppy and with Spectre GCR or a Discovery cart move it to the "ST Mac" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 It would be great is there was a program that allowed us to download .sit files on the pc - put them on ST disks and transfer them to the Mac partition on the ST hard drive. There is no way to do this that I know of. It's the same problem with getting files to any generic old Mac. This can be worked around with conversions to/from MacBinary and HQX (BinHex 4) formats, this way the data and resource forks are encapsulated. You of course need an appropriate (and version compatible) decoder on the Mac side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 It's been a while but I think the Mac can handle them natively with a program called 'disk copy' (depending on the image) You got the link to the websites who write the OS disks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zogging Hell Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 You got the link to the websites who write the OS disks? These people do it apparently, I've never used them so can't comment on the service https://rescuemyclassicmac.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 His prices aren't bad. :thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 (edited) As others have said, you'll need a set of System 6.0.x system disks made on a real Macintosh. In the early 90's, I remember buying a set from an Apple dealer for $50! You should be able to get a set for less. You may try buying a set of disks from a local Apple User Group. The Spectre GCR emulates a Mac Plus, and a good source of info is https://www.emaculation.com/doku.php/mini_vmac_setup This link describes setting up the Mac Plus/II emulator Mini vMac under Windows. You should also get Stuffit Expander 4.0.1 on a Mac disk, so you'll have a method of expanding Mac programs with Spectre GCR. Hopefully SatanDisk users can chime in if this works with Spectre GCR On the author's Mini vMac website, he has a list of Disk Conversion services at https://www.gryphel.com/c/convert/index.html I see there's one in NC Edited February 12, 2019 by Forrest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter44102 Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Well worst case you can go to Ebay. This guy has the 4 disks for 16 dollars including shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Macintosh-System-6-full-install/192796548747?hash=item2ce391de8b:g:elEAAOSwq2JbkBrs:rk:4:pf:1&frcectupt=true 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Hopefully SatanDisk users can chime in if this works with Spectre GCR It does, I have a HUGE 16MB card that's a Mac hard drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted February 14, 2019 Author Share Posted February 14, 2019 Well worst case you can go to Ebay. This guy has the 4 disks for 16 dollars including shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Macintosh-System-6-full-install/192796548747?hash=item2ce391de8b:g:elEAAOSwq2JbkBrs:rk:4:pf:1&frcectupt=true I'm a hipster now? I've just order for the OS from this guy. :thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+eebuckeye Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 I have a Specter but have not used it yet. Seems like you have to install the OS to a hard drive? I have a Ultra Satan but not sure how to get it to work with Specter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Seems like you have to install the OS to a hard drive? I have a Ultra Satan but not sure how to get it to work with Specter. You don't need to but you'll be in a world of hurt (as Zogging Hell alluded to), if you don't. The original manual I scanned and linked above covers HD installation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) OK, I've got a Discovery cart so I can use that to make back up's of MAC disks with it? That one app I haven't used yet with my Discovery cart. I'm going to reset my SH205/Megafile 20 with new partitions or just delete all on files partition D: so I can use Spectre GCR, anyway I've missed placed my drivers for my SatanDisk from ParanoidLittleMam. Edited February 15, 2019 by walter_J64bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 (edited) Update, I'm waiting for my OS to come in. Now my internal drive in my STE has stopped working but I do have a 1.44 drive that I can change the drive ID number to 0 so that's installed. Right now I learning more about the Spectre GCR w/o an OS now I know how setup the my Spectre GCR to work with my SatanDisk and I think, I know how to use my Discovery cart to copy MAC/Magic Scan disk but with out my OS I cant tell just yet. Edited February 21, 2019 by walter_J64bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMaddog Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 (edited) Now you're playing with power : ) ...Power Without The Price Seriously, that's a very sweet setup to have back in the day. Edited February 22, 2019 by MrMaddog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 (edited) I've got the OS in but the guy that sold them didn't packing the disk's to great and they don't work. He didn't use a box to send me the disk's he'd just used plastic rap and a cheap bubble package. Now I'll have to PM him to see if I can get replacements disks. Edited March 8, 2019 by walter_J64bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 walter, You said your internal floppy drive isn't working, so how did you try to read the Mac 800K disks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 walter, You said your internal floppy drive isn't working, so how did you try to read the Mac 800K disks? I have a replacement drive now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 That's a Mac system error. Did you see this error during the System 6 installation or afterwards? What version of System 6 did you install? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 The good news is there's a lot of stuff that is working properly on your system for you to see a Mac system error. Your ST didn't crash, Spectre software didn't crash and the Spectre GCR was able to read the Mac disks. I'm a longtime Mac user and don't recall what a MBDF error is, but it doesn't appear to be a disk error. I scanned the GCR manual linked above and on page 66 is a section stating 'Things you definitely should not ever do'. Among them is to NOT shutdown or restart from the Finder. The manual states using shutdown or restart from the Finder will not update the disk directory. This will likely corrupt the Mac System installation. I recommend reinstalling the Mac System again the proper way outlined in the manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_J64bit Posted March 9, 2019 Author Share Posted March 9, 2019 I cant get to the desktop to start the System 6 installation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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