System 7: System 7.0-7.1.2 Preferences, Defaults & Location

This article describes the default preference settings of System 7.0 through System 7.1.2.

You can customize your Macintosh in a variety of ways to suit your own personal style. For example, you can change ways in which information is displayed, the sounds your system makes, and how it handles file management. Your Macintosh uses a variety of Preferences files to maintain your custom settings.

There are several preference settings under System 7. System-wide preferences, such as mouse-tracking speed, are set via Control Panels, but are stored in Parameter RAM (PRAM). Preferences specific to the Finder are also set via Control Panels, but are stored in a file called Finder Preferences located in the Preferences folder, in the System Folder.

Here is some information on where each preference is stored, along with instructions for resetting both system-wide and Finder preferences.
System Preferences

This table lists system-wide preferences that may affect all applications:

NOTE: Items marked with an asterisk (*) (the last items in the table) apply to the PowerBook.


   PREFERENCE                  LOCATION                  DEFAULT
-------------------   ---------------------------  ----------------------
32-bit addressing     Memory Control Panel         24-bit addressing

Disk cache size       Memory Control Panel         6K

Brightness settings   Brightness Control Panel     Mid-range on the slider

Highlight color       Color Control Panel          Black

Cursor blink rate     General Control Panel        Middle setting

Menu blink count      General Control Panel        3 times

Date, time, and       General Control Panel        None
displayed format      and Alarm DA

Keyboard repeat rate  Keyboard Control Panel       For repeat: One away
and repeat delay                                       from Fast
                                                  For delay: One away
                                                      from Long

Monitor settings and  Monitors Control Panel       Primary monitor only;
location of extra                                  set to Black & White
monitors

Mouse tracking and    Mouse Control Panel          For tracking: Very Slow
double-click speeds                                For double-click:
                                                     Middle setting

Beep sound            Sound Control Panel          Simple beep, though it
                                                  is not highlighted

Startup disk choice   Startup Disk Control Panel   None set, uses standard
                                                  volume search method

Cache settings
(68040 Macintosh)     Cache Switch Control Panel   Faster (Caches Enabled)

Minutes before        PowerBook Control Panel      8 Minutes
system sleep*

Minutes before        PowerBook Control Panel      4 Minutes
hard disk sleep*  

Macintosh PowerBook   PowerBook Control Panel      Rest (While in the
rest*                                              PowerBook Portable
                                                  Control Panel, hold
                                                  down the Option key
                                                  and click Minutes Before
                                                  System Sleep.)

Stay awake when       PowerBook Control Panel      Unselected
plugged in*

Modem selection       PowerBook Setup Control      Internal modem
                     Panel

Wake on ring          PowerBook Setup Control      Unselected (See Portable
                     Panel                        Control Panel for
                                                  internal modem.)

Except for Date and Time and the default application font all system-wide preferences may be reset by resetting PRAM.

* To reset PRAM under System 7, hold down the Command-Option-p-r keys during start up (Make sure the Caps Lock key is up!). The Macintosh restarts shortly after displaying the "Welcome to Macintosh" screen, which indicates that PRAM has been reset.


Finder Preferences

   PREFERENCE                  LOCATION                  DEFAULT
-------------------   ---------------------------  ----------------------
Font used for         Views Control Panel          Geneva 9
Finder view

Icon alignment        Views Control Panel          Straight grid - "Always
settings for Finder                                snap to grid" deselected

Icon list view        Views Control Panel          Smallest icon; display
settings for Finder                                sizes, kinds, labels,
                                                  and dates; deselect
                                                  "Calculate Folder Sizes"
                                                  and "Show Disk Info in
                                                  Header"

Trash Can warning     Setting in Get Info          Warn before emptying
dialog                for the Trash Can


With the exception of virtual memory, these parameters may be reset by deleting the Finder Preferences file, which is located in the Preferences folder inside the System Folder. System 7 does not allow this file to be modified so if it is on the start-up disk, you need to disable it instead. To do this, drag the Finder Preferences file out of the Preferences folder and restart the Macintosh. System 7 creates a new Finder Preferences with default values automatically. You may then delete the old Finder Preferences file.


NOTE: The Virtual Memory, File Sharing, and Window Color settings are stored with their respective Control Panel files and cannot be reset using these methods. Virtual Memory and File Sharing can be temporarily disabled, however, by pressing the Shift Key while starting the Macintosh. Hold the key down until "Extensions Of" appears in the "Welcome to Macintosh" screen.


This article was published in the "Information Alley":
Volume 1, Issue 3
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012