For anyone still actively using Mac OS 9 on vintage systems, here is a list of all the latest essential software needed; especially if you're accessing the web. These are the last software versions available and will not be updated any further. Microsoft Virtual PC 6 may not take kindly to having Connectix Virtual PC 5.0.4 installed on the same machine and running at the same time. Norton Utilities 6.0 No! Norton Utilities lost its lustre with Mac OS 8.1. Ever since then, its Disk Doctor and Speed Tools/Disk have caused more headaches in hard drive issues than the combined effects of dropped hard drives, magnets, and power surges.

If you use these utilities on any system newer than Mac OS 8.0, beware, it is Russian Roulette how long your machine will stay safe. Backup your data frequently before using any of these utilities.

Apple SCSI Card Patch - Apple Atto SCSI Card Hack If you have a SCSI card, sure, but not everyone running 9 uses SCSI. Remember, the first non-SCSI Mac was an 8.1 machine, the original iMac G3/233. Motorola MathLib Update Never had this, never needed it. DivX Doctor 2.2 DivX has created issues for some people using some Quicktime software. Iomega Tools IomegaWare English 8.6 - 9.x If using a zip drive, be careful with this, as sometimes it actually fails to work properly.

Essentials Software For Mac

OpenDoc Only needed if you are going to use Cyberdog. XPostFacto 4 - Mac OS X Boot Only needed if you are going to install an unsupported version of Mac OS X. Has nothing to do with Mac OS 9.smi files are disk images for specific software installers. On their own, they do you no good. If the installer has a document inside them, be sure to drag it to the appropriate place if it isn't itself an installer application. Message was edited by: a brody. Yes well its a list of software that Mac OS 9 users will find useful, you don't need to have it all installed at once.

Everyone's needs are different so Im sure you will find a few apps listed which you don't need or never have used. Its useful to know which versions are the latest and each user will be running different hardware.

Mac OS 9 can be ran on systems like the Beige Power Macintosh G3 and Blue and White G3 so mentioning the SCSI software is useful. The last educational institution I worked for had a large number of Graphite G4's installed with ATTO SCSI cards as a CTO option running Mac OS 9. Whatever the user needs Im sure they will find something here. Motorola Math Library for Power Macs - a shared library for Power Macs running System 7.5 or later that accelerates Mac OS math functions. The library is built using the math library from the Motorola C/C Software Development Kit, and users claim it can provide as much as a 25 percent speed increase on floating point math operations, which could greatly benefit some applications. The last supported version of Virtual PC was version 6 so I've added it to the list but Im not recommending users should install both version 5 and 6 together.

Im just pointing out that version 5.0.4 was the latest update for that version if you are still using it. I've never had any issues with Norton on my Mac, only when used with Windows, but as you said it's hit and miss so Im sure people will have their own success stories and disasters about this package. XPostFacto is on the list as it is a system 8-9 extension and will allow capable Macs to upgrade from Mac OS X Jaguar to Panther and in some cases Tiger. Not strictly an app I agree but useful for dual boot systems and great for extending the life of a vintage Mac with Panther or Tiger running on it.

A brody wrote: No! Norton Utilities lost its lustre with Mac OS 8.1. Ever since then, its Disk Doctor and Speed Tools/Disk have caused more headaches in hard drive issues than the combined effects of dropped hard drives, magnets, and power surges. If you use these utilities on any system newer than Mac OS 8.0, beware, it is Russian Roulette how long your machine will stay safe. Backup your data frequently before using any of these utilities.

Software Essentials Plus For Mac

I always booted straightaway into Norton Utilities 4.0 and never had a problem with it running DiskDoctor and SpeedDisk. I NEVER used it any other way, and used the 'obsolete' Norton that HAD to be booted from the CD to make it run. I still use it on the beige on the OS9 partition, even though Tiger is on the first partition and I run that with XPF. Of course, all bets are off if I ever use it ON that Tiger drive - hence DiskWarrior to fix that.

The version of Norton that came with System Works is rubbish, DiskLight, FileSaver, CrashGuard. All junk and crash-a-rama as well with 9.2.2 though that last version probably was the only thing that would boot a proper G4. If you've a beige G3, upgraded or not, Norton 4's fine as long as you install nothing and run from the CD ONLY. +.Don't Forget:.+ ^^ Clasilla ^^ ^^ A-Dock ^^ ^^ iText ^^ Clasilla is an updated Mozilla type of Browser. = It is a work in progress but still has newer Java Script.

And if people don't feel like loading Style Sheets (or if they are afraid of them) there is a Use Styles: None option. That second one is a Dock for 9.2.2!!!! = And It Is Spring Loaded!!!!!!! = iText Saving Files In Rich Text Format documents!!!!!! = This is important if you want to edit documents in both 9.2.2 And OS X.

I have more than one computer and I like to save all my files on portable storage devices so it is nice to be able to edit RTF documents on any computer. There is lots of other software. I am still organizing like billions of files (or at least trying to) so I don't know what else to recommend. Edit: That is strange. I tried to put a happy asian emoticon (Karet, Underscore, Karet) before and after each software name and it underlined it. =S Message was edited by: In-Correct Message was edited by: In-Correct.

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