Macintosh: Using System 7 on HD and Earlier Version on Floppy

I upgraded my Macintosh hard drive to system software version 7.0, but I
have some programs that are not version 7.0 compatible that I'd still like
to use. Can I start up my Macintosh from a floppy startup disk that is
running system software earlier than version 7.0 and use those programs?

Yes. You can start up from a system software version 6.0.X startup floppy
disk, provided that the Macintosh doesn't require version 7.0.1 or later to
run. The Macintosh Classic II, Macintosh PowerBook series, and Macintosh
Quadra series do not support system software version 6.0.X.

Note
----
Version 6.0.X does not recognize the version 7.0 desktop file. When you
first start up from the version 6.0.X floppy disk, a dialog will appear
reporting that the version 7.0 hard drive is damaged and asking if you want
to repair it. (Your hard drive is not damaged.) Click the "OK" button, to
create the version 6.0.X desktop file.

The next time you start up from the version 7.0 hard drive, the system
software will update the version 7.0 desktop file for any changes that were
made during the version 6.0.X operation.


Published Date: Feb 18, 2012