Macintosh Quadra 700

Specification

• CPU:Daystar Digital PowerPro 601/100MHz
• HD:2GB; RAM:68MB; V-RAM:2MB
• VideoCard:Sonnet Sonata Pro
• Keyboard:PFU HappyHackingKeyboard
• Pointing Device:Kensinton TurboMouse
• OS:MacOS 8.5 Japanese Edition

My main machine is Qudra 700 powered by Daystar Power Pro 601/100MHz. It works on Mac OS 8.5 (Japanese edition). Apple Computer, Inc. does not support Mac OS 8.5 on any 68k based Macinotsh. But PPC upgraded 68k systems can boot Mac OS 8.5 by means of changing a resource of System file. The way to boot up Mac OS 8.5 on Quadra 700 is shown in the following.

1. Change the Gestalt ID of your machine to correspond to a Mac OS 8.5 bootable Macintosh with Nubus (ex. PowerMac 8100/100) using control panel / extention "Wish I were...".
2. Boot up your Macintosh from an external start up drive.
3. Install Mac OS 8.5 into an internal HD.
4. Open the System file of Mac OS 8.5 with ResEdit.
5. Look for '0037 0016' string in the 'gusd 1' resouce and change it to '0074 0016'. '0037' means Gestalt ID of Power Mac 8100/100 and '0074' means Power Quadra 700.
6. Now you can boot up Mac OS 8.5 on your Quadra 700 w/ PPC card!

The resolution of the display can not be changed on Mac OS 8.5. The cause of this symptoms is not clear yet. I avoided this probrem using Nubus video card, Sonnet Sonata Pro.

Caution!

This method is at your own risk. I claim no responsibility for data loss or other problems caused by applying this method. Of cource, Apple Computer, Inc. will not support the modified system. And Remember that your license of Mac OS 8.5 is only for one Macintosh.

Mac OS 8.5.1

Apple Computer, Inc. released an updater of Japanese edition of Mac OS 8.5.1 in December, 1998. Mac OS 8.5.1 on 68k based Macintosh is also unsupported. But I could install Mac OS 8.5.1 into my Quadra 700 using the updater without any ResEdit tricks.

PrestoPPC

In Mac Expo in San Francisco in January, 1999, Sonnet Technology, Inc. announced they purchased the rights to the DayStar Digital upgrade card product line and they would provide the card renamed the PrestoPPC. The upgrade card is same performance as the DayStar Digital PowerPro 601/100MHz. Furthermore the upgrade includes Mac OS 8.5 Enabler developed by Sonnet Technology. They support officially Mac OS 8.5 on PowerPC upgraded Macintosh Quadra/Centris! The PrestoPPC will be provided for $399 and the Mac OS 8.5 Enabler will be also provided for existing Daystar Digital PowerPro 601 users for $49.95. You can download more detail information from the site of Sonnet Technology.

Mac OS 8.6

I heard PPC upgraded Quadra could work on Mac OS 8.6 with some ResEdit operations. But I have never try that yet. The limitation of maximum memory (68MB) is very severe for Mac OS 8.6.

References

• The Macintosh News Network Oct 20, 1998
• Macintosh Zakka Nakaya Shouten (This is Japanese page. If you can boot up Mac OS 8.5, your web browser must show proper Kanji letters!)
• Running Mac OS 8 by Bob Rabun.

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