Macintosh PowerBook 500 series computers that are configured with less than 12 MB of RAM ship with a System 7.5 Installation folder pre-loaded on the hard drive. In the accessory kit which comes with these computers you will find a set of System 7.1.1 floppy disks.
System 7.1.1 is the version of the system software installed on Macintosh PowerBook computers with less than 12 MB of RAM. To make 7.5 installation disks from the System 7.5 Installation folder on the hard drive follow these steps:
Step 1
Locate the Install Disk 1 folder. Copy the contents of that folder to a disk with the same name as the folder.
Step 2
Rename Installer on Disk 1 to "Finder". This will allow the disk to be a startup disk.
Step 3
Repeat Step 1 for each of the following:
Install Disk 1
Extensions (folder)
Finder (previously named Installer)
Preferences (folder)
System
System 7.5 Installation
Install Disk 2
Installation Tome 2
System Morsels
Install Disk 3
Installation Tome 3
Install Disk 4
Installation Tome 4
Install Disk 5
Installation Tome 5
Install Disk 6
Installation Tome 6
Install Disk 7
Installation Tome 7
Creating a Disk Tools Disk
1. Unlock and initialize a floppy disk. Name it Disk Tools.
2. Make a folder on the Disk Tools called "System Folder" and put the system and finder in it. (Otherwise you get 7 other items created beside the HD SC Setup and Disk First Aid)
3. Drag the system file from the Install Disk 1 folder to the newly initialized Disk Tools disk. The pathway on the PowerBook hard drive is: System 7.5>Installation>System Install>Install Disk 1.
4. Drag Apple HD SC Setup and Disk First Aid to the Disk Tools disk. The pathway on the PowerBook hard drive is: System 7.5>Installation/Disk Tools.
5. Drag the Finder from the System Folder to the disk (Finder is version 7.1.3).
6. Drag the Disk Tools disk to the Trash to eject it.
7. Restart from the Special menu and immediately insert the Disk Tools disk. The PowerBook will start up from the disk.
8. You should get a message asking if you want to rebuild the desktop. Click yes.
9. Shut down from the Special menu. The Disk Tools disk will eject.
10. Lock the disk.
Note: An alternate way to make a System 7.5 Disk Tools disk is to use a disk duplication application, such as Apple Disk Copy, to make a duplicate of the 7.1.1 Disk Tools. Then on the copied Disk Tools disk throw away the Disk First Aid and HD SC Setup applications and replace them with the ones in the Disk Tools folder on the PowerBook hard drive.