Mac OS 8.1: Late Breaking Tips

This article includes information that was not part of the documentation for Mac OS 8.1.
Sharing CD-ROM Discs on PCI-based Computers Using the Apple CD-ROM Driver

Sharing a CD-ROM disc from a PCI-based computer with Mac OS 8.1 may result in files being copied incompletely onto another disk.

Refer to Knowledge Base article article 22158: "Mac OS 8.1: Sharing CDs on PCI-based Mac Using the Apple CD-ROM Driver."


Certain Mac OS 8.1 Extensions Appear Damaged

Some utility application programs may say that system extensions installed by Mac OS 8.1 are damaged. They are not damaged, and function normally. If you downloaded the Mac OS 8.1 Update before 1998-02-27, it is not necessary to download Mac OS 8.1 Update a second time to replace these system extensions.

Refer to Knowledge Base article article 22142: "Flash: Certain Mac OS 8.1 Extensions Appear Corrupted or Damaged."


PC Exchange 2.2 and 1 GB or Large Volume Support

The Read Me file from Mac OS 8.1 says that PC Exchange 2.2 works with disks larger than 1 GB. PC Exchange 2.2 can work with disks larger than 1 GB, however they must be formatted with the FAT32 format.

Refer to Knowledge Base article article 30423: "PC Exchange 2.2: 1 GB or Large Volume Support."


Password Security

Mac OS 8.1 does not install the Password Security control panel on PowerBook 2400 or 3400 computers unless an earlier version is installed in the Control Panels folder. Install an earlier version from the Mac OS 7.6.1 CD, and then install Mac OS 8.1. You can download the North American English version of Password Security control panel 1.0.6 from the Apple Software Updates Web site at http://www.apple.com/swupdates.

Note: When using a Mac OS Extended format disk as your startup disk, the Password Security control panel will not function properly. Do not use the Password Security control panel if you plan to start up from a Mac OS Extended format disk.

Refer to Knowledge Base article articles:

26056: "Password Security 1.0.6 for PB 2400 or 3400."
30371: "Mac OS 8.1: Extended Volume Format and Password Security."


If You Need To Make AppleTalk Inactive

The printer port is the default AppleTalk connection on a Macintosh computer. To use the printer port for a serial device instead of for networking, you must make AppleTalk inactive. There are two ways to accomplish this.

The first is to move AppleTalk to another port such as Ethernet (if you are connected to an Ethernet network). The second method is to turn AppleTalk off.

During the migration from Classic Networking to Open Transport, older components of the networking software were not upgraded to fully support Open Transport, including the Chooser and the AppleTalk Switch portion of the control strip. If AppleTalk is made inactive using either the Chooser, or the control strip, then only classic AppleTalk components are made inactive. Open Transport AppleTalk components remain active. When you attempt to use the printer port for a serial device the following error messages (or similar messages) may result:
Follow these steps to make AppleTalk inactive with Open Transport:
Location Manager 2.0.1 can also conveniently turn AppleTalk on and off. For more information, please refer to the Read Me included with Location Manager 2.0.1.

Refer to Knowledge Base article article 24346: "Mac OS: "Port In Use" Error"


Desktop Rebuilding When Installing on Another Volume

If you install Mac OS 8.1 Update on a disk that does not contain system software, MacLinkPlus forces the Finder to rebuild the Desktop file immediately after the installation.


Hard Disk Utilities and Mac OS Extended Format

Some third party utilities may not be compatible with hard disks that use the Mac OS Extended format, sometimes called HFS Plus. Consult the utility's documentation or contact its publisher for compatibility information with Mac OS Extended format disks.

Use Disk First Aid 8.1, which is included with Mac OS 8.1, to verify or repair Mac OS Extended format disks.

Disk First Aid 8.2 can also repair Mac OS Extended format disks that have been damaged by utilities that are not compatible with Mac OS Extended format.

Refer to Knowledge Base article article 30567: "Disk First Aid 8.2: Read Me"


Using PlainTalk With a Macintosh That Has a GeoPort

Using PlainTalk with a Macintosh computer that has a GeoPort may cause the computer to stop responding. This issue was addressed in a later version of the Mac OS.


Making a Mac OS Extended Format Disk a Startup Disk

To learn how to do this, refer to Knowledge Base article article 30339: "Mac OS 8.1: Creating a Mac OS Extended Format Startup Disk".

Important: Do not use a Mac OS Extended format disk as your startup disk unless you have Mac OS 8.1 or later on CD-ROM
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012