AICK 1.0, Apple Internet Dialer, & Open Transport 1.1 (5/96)

After installing System 7.5 Update 2.0 on both my PowerBook 280c and PCI-based Power Macintosh computers, I started receiving this error message, "MacTCP does not work with Open Transport. You must use Open Transport TCP. Remove the MacTCP control panel.", when using the Apple Internet Dialer v1.0. Here is what happened with both computers.

PowerBook 280c
--------------
I used the Network Software Selector to switch to Open Transport 1.1 networking software. After restarting, I checked the TCP/IP control panel settings which looked fine. I then launched the Apple Internet Dialer 1.0 and the error message appeared.

I looked for MacTCP in the control panel, but it was not there. I opened the Extensions Manager control panel for MacTCP, but it was not listed. I switched back to classic networking and the Apple Internet Dialer worked properly without an error message.

PCI-based Power Macintosh
-------------------------
After launching the Apple Internet Dialer I got the error message. I again looked for MacTCP in the control panel, but it was not there. I opened the Extensions Manager control panel for MacTCP, but it was not listed. I tried to find MacTCP with Find File, but it was not found.

Questions
---------
1) How can I get rid of this error message, and use the Internet Dialer
with Open Transport 1.1?

2) Is there a compatibility issue between the Apple Internet Connection
Kit's (AICK) Internet Dialer and Open Transport 1.1?
There is no compatibility issue between the Apple Internet Dialer and Open Transport 1.1. The issue is the way the Internet Dialer looks for the MacTCP control panel. The dialer looks for a file, with MacTCP's type, creator, and name "MacTCP" to be present in the Control Panels folder.

Below is a description of what happens:

* On 680x0 processor based computers (like your PowerBook) and PowerPC processor based with NuBus computers (like Power Macintosh 6100, 7100, 8100), the Network Software Selector makes the MacTCP control panel invisible in the Control Panels folder, resulting in the Internet Dialer finding MacTCP and reports the error.

* On PowerPC processor based with PCI computers (like Power Macintosh 7200, 7500, 8500, 9500), the System 7.5 Update 2.0 installer places an invisible copy of the MacTCP control panel in the Control Panels folder. The Internet Dialer finds MacTCP and reports the error.

NOTE: You cannot use the Network Software Selector to switch to Classic AppleTalk on PCI-based Power Macintosh computers.


Workaround
==========

680x0-based, and PowerPC and NuBus-based Computers
--------------------------------------------------
Follow the steps below:

1) With classic networking enabled, open the Control Panels folder.

2) Create a folder. You may, for example, name it Classic MacTCP. (It does
not matter where the new folder is located on your hard disk.)

3) Move MacTCP out of the Control Panels Folder and into the folder you
just created above.

4) Use Network Software Selector to switch to Open Transport 1.1.

5) Restart. The Dialer should now work as expected.


PowerPC and PCI-based Computers
-------------------------------
The invisible MacTCP file can be removed from the Control Panels folder by either making MacTCP visible with ResEdit or other third-party utility and throwing MacTCP into the trash, or by using the steps below.

1) Click and drag the Control Panels folder to the desktop.

2) Restart. (A new Control Panels folder will be created in the System
Folder.)

3) Move the contents of the Control Panels folder located on the desktop,
to the new Control Panels folder located in the System Folder. The
invisible files will remain in the Control Panels folder on the
desktop.

4) Put the Control Panels folder located on the desktop in the trash, and
empty the trash.

5) Restart. The Dialer should now work as expected.

NOTE: You may have to create a new Control Panels alias in the Apple Menu Items folder if it does not function properly.


This article was published in the Information Alley on 07 May 1996.


Article Change History:
07 May 1996 - Added PCI-based Power Macintosh information.
15 Apr 1996 - Added Information Alley information.



Published Date: Feb 18, 2012