Run Classic apps on Intel Macs with SheepShaver

February 10, 2006 at 6:06 pm Mike 6 comments

As most of you are probably aware, Classic isn’t supported on Intel Macs. However, if you really need to run some old software, SheepShaver may be a solution.

First, download the experimental version of SheepShaver here. Both a precompiled application and source are available. You’ll also need a Mac ROM and a bootable MacOS 8.5, 8.6, 9.0, or 9.1 CD. MacOS 9.2 will NOT boot.

You can obtain a usable ROM image from the Mac OS ROM Update. You’ll also need TomeViewer to extract the ROM file. However, TomeViewer runs under classic, so you’ll need access to a Mac capable of running classic.

You’ll also need to create a disk image with the dd command:


dd if=/dev/zero of=name_of_your_hard_disk_image bs=1024k count=size_in_megabytes

You’ll need a bootable CD. I used a PowerMac G4 Software Restore CD, which was the oldest one I could find.

Finally, you’ll need a configuration file. Using your favorite text editor, create a file named .sheepshaver_prefs in your home folder with the following contents:


extfs /
windowmodes 0
screenmodes 0
seriala /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Modem
serialb /dev/null
bootdrive 0
bootdriver 0
ramsize 67108864
windowmodes 7
frameskip 8
gfxaccel true
nocdrom false
nonet false
nosound false
nogui false
noclipconversion false
ignoresegv false
pollmedia true
jit true
jit68k false
keyboardtype 5
keycodes false
mousewheelmode 1
mousewheellines 3
dsp /dev/dsp
mixer /dev/mixer
ignoresegv false
idlewait true
rom /Users/mike/SS/MacOSROM
extfs /Users/mike/SS/Shared
disk /Users/mike/SS/diskimage
ether slirp

Make sure you use the appropriate paths for the ROM file, disk image, and an optional folder to be shared.

Make sure the CD is in the drive and start SheepShaver. If you’re lucky, it will boot from the CD. As soon as it finishes booting, it will put up an unreadable disk dialog and prompt you to format the disk. Go ahead – that’s the disk image file you created and you’ll see the dialog will give the size of the image file.

Once the disk image is formated, you can install MacOS from the CD on it. Have fun!

I found that it runs at roughly the speed of my old Blue & White G3/350 on my 17″ iMac with 1.5GB of RAM.

Uncategorized Intel

Comments

Written by mike about 2010 years ago.

You enter that command in the terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app). It simply creates an empty file of that size. When you install OS 9, it will get formatted as a drive.
Written by mike about 2010 years ago.

dd if=/dev/zero of=name_of_your_hard_disk_image bs=1024k count=size_in_megabytes

That will simply create an file the size of your disk image with the contents all zeros. When you boot sheepshaver from the installer CD, it will format that as a valid drive using disk utility.
Written by frankenhooter about 2010 years ago.

I understand that I’m to input this somewhere but I don’t understand where.

What program are you using to create a disk image? What is the process?
Written by frankenhooter about 2010 years ago.

I’m having a small bit of difficulty following these instructions.

How do I create a disk image with a dd command? I understand that you can create disk images using Disk Utility but I don’t understand what a dd command is nor how to create it. Got everything else pretty well set to go.

I’ve an iMac/DV from which I intend to upgrade to my newly-purchased Intel based macMini but would enjoy having access to a number of older applications as well.

Was confused at first on how to use TomeViewer but figured it out on a “How to…” site for it.

Thanks
Written by MacUser about 2010 years ago.

Hello,

The posting of the “How To..” above did help. At first I could not open the Rom (an original one from a system install CD) I replaced the ROM from one of an original OS8.5 installer CD and this one is accepted. Then I got errors complaining about the DiskImage, after recreating the DiskImage with the command line (as stated in the posting) I am getting closer, but I keep problems.

For a moment the screen flash black and then the app quits.

EDIT
—–
After I replaced the ROm of OS8.5 by the one that is in the Rom Updater 1.0 I now can run SS. I have troubles to get networking but I am sure that I can slove that issue.

Regards Wim.
Written by dhazeghi about 2010 years ago.

Glad to see you got SheepShaver working.

I believe that 9.1 doesn’t work with it either. I find it to be about 30-50% as fast native for most things (although disk I/O can be quite good). How’s stability?

Also regarding ROM files, I’ve had good luck with ROMs from older Macs (8500, etc.). Of course not everyone has a spare one lying around…

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