Feedback: Mac Daniel #41

What's the Best System Version?

Chik writes: I had no problems installing Mac OS 8.5 on a Power Mac 6200. No hard drive corruption, etc. It was a clean clean install.

But it is so much slower than OS 8.1 that I can't recommend anyone use it. I had to disable much of the OS to get it to speed up e.g. AppleScript, file sharing, etc.

Also have Speed Doubler 8.x.

BV writes: Regarding problems in reformatting to HFS+: I wasn't going to do it because I didn't think it was worth backing up and initializing my hard drive to save the space.

Surfing through Macworld I found a mention of an application called Plus Maker from Alsoft ($19.95; www.alsoft.com). I downloaded it and near-instantaneously reformatted the hard drive on my PowerMac 6500/250 (OS 8.1) without initializing, without backing up (I'm a home user -- what have I got to back up a 4GB hard drive with?), without losing data or any (more) stability problems than I had before. And, I saved over 1GB of space on my drive.

If this sounds like an ad, I could damn sure write them a genuine, uncompensated (schmuck that I am) endorsement.

Thanks for what you're doing; I just bought Vimage's PF G3/240-225 upgrade card on your say-so, since I'm apparently running the same system you are.

Mac Daniel responds: We used Plus Maker on all of our Mac OS 8.1 systems to convert the drives to HFS+. It was a bit risky, but only because at that time neither Norton nor any other hard drive utility could work on HFS+ drives. Mine was the only drive to have problems, which may have been due to file corruption or third-party software. As of last week, I am successfully using HFS+ on my hard drive at work.

Recent Mac Daniel & Friends columns

Surfing With Low RAM Macs, Manuel Mejia, 11/9/1999
6100 value, Voodoo3, Charlie Ruggiero, 11/4/1999
Getting an old Mac running, Julie Fugett, 10/26/1999
What can I do with a Mac Plus, SE, or Classic?, Manuel Mejia, 10/22/1999
Mac On? Mac Off?, Charlie Ruggiero, 10/20/1999
Mac Connectivity, Julie Fugett, 10/14/1999
Improving the LC 475, Dan Knight, 6/28/1999
Used 7500 or G3?, Dan Knight, 6/21/1999
more on the Mac Daniel index

Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the index to see if we've already addressed your problem recently -- and look in the archive if it's not in the recent columns. If not, visit our staff page for the names of several people who may be able to help you.

Dan Knight, webmaster, Low End Mac

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Feedback: Mac Daniel #41

What's the Best System Version?

Recent Mac Daniel & Friends columns