"The Adventures of MrsLop in Mac G3 land"

[bobw]

Myrna

Try this.

Disconnect which ever Ethernet cable you have plugged into the back of the machine.

Plug the Ethernet cable from the Farallon adapter into that Ethernet port.

Plug the phonenet adapter (round plug) into the printer.
Boot into OS 9 and see if the printer is reconigized.

[MrsLop]

Evening bobw,

Well, there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is, I finally got a light on the Farallon Hub and on the Adapter. The bad news is, that OS 9.2.2 doesn't have my printer in the Printer Utility or anything that I could recognize. I set a LaserWriter 8 Generic up, however, since I had no option for the Personal LaserWriter 320, it would not allow me to use Auto Setup, as I had available in OS 8.6. Also, this was a used drive that was networked as a LAN, AppleTalk was Ethernet and I don't know how to change this, though I looked through the usual drop down menus. I wanted to simply change it to a local talk printer (sigh). I am really trying to learn two systems at once and I am abysmal at this. It makes sense that the modem won't come on now. When I am on OS 9.2.2, I can't get online. If both OS'eS systems are Ethernet for AppleTalk, and the printer and hub get plugged in, and there's no internal modem, then the Printer is Ethernet and nothing else. So, I can't use the Internet, as I can't get online with the present setup.

I'm sure that there's an answer to this.

Also, the little adapter going from the Farallon to the printer (when I pulled the plug after not being able to get the printer to work), was smelling like it was having a meltdown. It was very hot to the touch. Just as well that I pulled the plug when I did.

Blessings and Prayers,
Myrna

[kbeartx]

I don't wanna rain on this fine parade, but I feel obliged to point out that when I finally took the plunge and began using Jaguar full-time on my souped-up beige G3, I discovered that OS-X would not see the Serial ports, so I could not connect any serial printers!

I realize that y'all are dealing w/ a different machine and Panther, not Jag, but I wonder if this limitation might be what you're bumping up against?

[krissel]

Actually OSX does technically recognize serial ports as I have a serial dialup modem that runs fine from my 9600 in Panther. However Apple decided not to enable the printer protocol for serial ports.

I do know the G3 was able to go online in 9 via ethernet and my router so that is not the problem. I think the suggestion to do all the configuring from the OS 9 side and then enable sharing from there to allow X to see the printer is correct.
AppleTalk should be set to Ethernet as that is the only way to access anything from the G3. You won't be able to get online til the hub is a part of the equation.

Now it may be that a router is going to be necessary after all to be able to maintain the connection to the internet at the same time as using the printer. I know you need a router not a hub to share the net with two computers but I don't have any experience with hubs in this situation.

Anyone use only a hub with a printer, Mac and cable modem?

Myrna, you may have to temporarily reconnect the old Mac to print Tom's work. While you are there, look in the System Folder on that machine and see if there are any other Laserwriter extensions that you could copy to a zip and then put into the G3's 9 extension folders (reboot into 9 after you do that). These must be in the 9 folder: Control panels: AppleTalk, File Sharing Extensions: AppleShare, Apple Enet (if you're using the built-in Ethernet port), File Sharing Extension and Laserwriter 8 and/or others.   BTW you aren't trying to set this up under Classic are you? Make sure you boot by restarting into one of the 9 installs so you are completely in the OS 9 environment.

If you are able to see the printer in 9 and enable sharing, then when you go back to X, open the Printer Setup Utility again, Printers, Add Printer but this time when you go to click on the "Printers" in the Menu, hold down the Option key and choose "Advanced" in the top popup. In the "Device" popup look way up/down the list for the Laserwriter.

Folks, what about the possibility of her using the old 4400 as a print server? Or would that be ridiculous?
More effort that it's worth?

[Epaminondas]

QUOTE

FWIW, the B/W in question is a Rev. 2 and is already running 10.3.9 with 9.2.2 as Classic and also on a separate partition.
(10.3.9 on 20G partition, 9.2.2 on 10G---of course a bit less for each due to formatting oddities)

This is helpful.

What is the hard drive set-up?  SCSI or IDE? If IDE, where is the drive(s) physically located in the B&W? Specific drive controllers and drives?


Myrna - the Rev. 2 450 MHz B&W was top of the line in its time. Most of the B&W bugs - except RAM pickinesses - were worked out by the time it came along.  You have a good machine, there.

I have one. 256MB RAM.  MacOS 9.2.2.  SCSI drives X 3.

It was a whizzer in its time.

Haven't used it in a while.

Why?

My October 2002 $200 1.0 GHz Celeron Walmart Linux box runs rings around it.

Any cheapo Intel box produced since 2002 running any OS will run rings around it.

However - if you are comitted to the Macintosh platform, the B&W should still be able to do the job.

____________________________________

A few tidbits about RAM in the B&Ws.

10ns RAM and/or 3-3-3 RAM may work fine in the B&Ws running MacOSX until stressed.  People may report glitches perhaps a few times a week when running non-spec RAM that may be cleared up by running spec RAM (2-2-2 8ns).

As to adding more RAM - the MacGurus RAM is the only RAM out there that I would feel comfortable with.  A few bucks more, but they really, really, really know their stuff.

Unfortuately, adding RAM to a B&W is not as simple as simply adding spec RAM to a B&W:

If you currently have 10ns RAM and you add 8ns RAM, the Grackle memory controller may not be able to handle it. Reports are anything from instability to not booting.  Cure in that circumstance is to remove either the old or the new RAM.

So - before you buy any new RAM for this machine, it may be useful for you to determine what you have already so you will know what you may be up against and be able to plan accordingly.

Two (possibly three) methods to do this:

(1) Run DIMM first Aid 1.2 on your B&W under MacOS9.x.x:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/5714

DIMM first Aid 1.2 reviews - note the review about the one bad memory module out of four on a B&W:
http://www.macupdate.com/reviews.php?id=5714

Typical usage of DIMM First Aid 1.2 on a B&W:
http://www.macgurus.com/forums/showthread....=DIMM+Aid+B%26W

Or

(2) Pull your RAM (using antistatic precautions) and with some good light and a magnifying glass, copy every number and letter off of both sides of the RAM.  Then go web searching for exactly what kind of RAM you have.  If the web search is not fruitful, someone here or someone as www.macgurus.com can probably help you if you post the numbers.

Or

(3) You might want to try MemTest 4.1.4 on the B&W running MacOSX:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14004

I use MemTest on Linux - I understand that the MacOSX version is a port from the Linux version. It is a RAM stress test that you run overnight. I have never used it on MacOSX, however (I do not run MacOSX). MemTest is a different sort of animal from DIMM First Aid - but the two different programs may prove to be complementary for you.

_________________________________________

QUOTE

Folks, what about the possibility of her using the old 4400 as a print server?

That was my thought. Exactly.

Plan C.

Plan A is to let others handle the printer issue until they finally get it working.  This remains Plan A.  Hope springs eternal.

Plan B is to hope that someone might provide a compatible USB printer.

Plan C - is using the old Mac as a print server.

Note - back in the day when I was using Apple equipment and Apple was upgrading from one system to another and intentionally obsoleteing all my old equipment and software every few years so that I would have to continually buy new equipment and new software, one way to keep the old stuff accessible was to keep the old stuff networked to the new, and just run the old stuff off the older networked machine(s).

That got to be a bit Rube Goldberg at times and I got tired of it.  But if you are on the cheap - it works when ya need it to work.

Inelegant, though.

Most inelegant.

Which kinda defeated the whole Apple experience.


Ultimate cure for this sort of silliness for me has been to switch over to Linux - where no one intentionally obsoletes old equipment or software and you just do not run into this sort of problem.

With Linux - you buy a printer and you use that printer as long as that printer still functions.

Plus - the software is free and all software upgrades are free.

None of these silly (and expensive) Apple forced upgrade treadmill games of no longer supporting older ports or older printers.

Try that kind of garbage in Linux and you would be quickly escorted out of the room - or completely ignored.
______________________________________________

QUOTE

Anyone use only a hub with a printer, Mac and cable modem?

I've done it with a router with a printer, Mac and cable modem.  Shared with my Linux box.

But the router had a print server on board and the printer had to be a Postscript printer for it to work with the Mac.

Hmmm . . .

Best go back to Plan A.

Plans B and C held in reserve.


Regards,

Epaminondas

[MrsLop]

Good Morning Epaminondas,

My Personal LaserWriter 320 is a PostScript Rev.Level2.
According to the information that I have gotten from other TSer's about their LaserWriter Printers, mine has a potential life of 80,000 or more copies left.  

I am on the separate partition running OS 9.2.2, that krissel installed.
She also installed OS 10.3.9 and Classic 9.2.2

I installed AppleWorks 6.1.2 for my husband to do his publishing and school related work on - in the separate partition.

I was able to get the IE 5.1.7 up and here on the board.

If I need to get a router, well, at least my husband can get his work done.

I know someone who is a recent graduate of a computer school and he swears by Linux. I have not seen the operating system and I don't know anything about it from personal experience. I have noticed that some sites are accomodating the Linux.

Thanks again for the links and I will check them out. My son called me from the Apple Store yesterday, where the Mac Tech person there said that the PC100 memory that he has is compatible with my B&W. I told him not to get too excited about the potential recycling in my machine, having read your previous post about the pickiness of the B&W concerning RAM.

Concerning this B&W, it cooks compared to what I had.

 My grown children and family own Windows machines and I have to say that they have blazing speed on their machines. Due to wider availabilty of products for Windows based machines, they have no problems finding stuff like scanners and printers etc... The only problems that they encounter is the operating systems fail.....LOL. For the third time in 6 months, my son's PC has had to go in for repairs.

I am having fun with the new(er) Mac.

The only problem that I have right now is getting the printer issue resolved.

Perhaps, someone will have some answers for me later....

'Bye for now.

Blessings and Prayers,
Myrna

[chriskleeman]

Here's a unique idea... If this mess can't be resolved for some reason, I'll send you the Powerbase, network it with a crossover cable, and use it for a print server... Unless we figure out another way!!!

Chris K  

[MrsLop]

Evening Chris,

Well, I had an interesting day. Tom was trying to remove the air conditioner from the window in the bedroom and it fell out of the second story window. Fortunately, the Azalea Shrubs below cushioned the fall. Unfortunately, Tom hurt his rib cage carrying it up two flight of stairs. Curiosity got the best of me and I plugged it in to see if it would still work - and it did. I told Tom that he was very blessed, after all he could have fallen out of the window with the airconditioner. What are the chances of this happening and having the air still work? We both laughted a lot. Tom's eldest son, TJ, showed up this PM to help remove the living room air conditioner. He has to climb up a ladder to do this, every year.

I am still coughing a lot and everything aches, but I'm alright. The doctor couldn't see me until Monday of next week. I can bear with it until then.

Thank you for coming up with this idea of networking the Power Base. Originally, this whole thing started due to the grinding noises coming from the hard drive on the 4400. I think that its' days are numbered, so the idea of using it as a printer server concerned me quite a bit. I'd really rather not go there with the 4400. I am not very well informed about networking and all that it entails. This is probably a question for Kris. She isn't available today but will probably check in on the board much later on this evening.

It would probably be best to email her and see what she thinks. The only other thing I can do is to try to use a router. I don't know what kind will work with this system and the possible addition of my son's PC. He brought it over yesterday. It is huge. I think he said that it is a server based type PC. He had this custom built by a friend who is a recent graduate of a tech school. It's about a year old. I really tried to find out more about routers by doing a search on TS. I am just so tired that nothing is really registering in my brain right now. I am just literally bone weary.

Picture me at 4'11'', crawling around on my knees, trying to get myself into a space about 15" wide, to reach the back of the computer desk, and fishing my hand around to free up a tangle of wires. Picture me doing this about six times and you will have a good idea of why I am so achey today. With no lighting in that area at all, I was literally working in the dark down there. With Tom counted as one of the walking wounded, I had no choice but to do it again by myself. Anyway, at least I tried and tried and tried....I think I'd better take the night off and maybe even tomorrow too. I need to get some

Have a great evening.

Love, Blessings and Prayers,
Myrna

[Paddy]

I've got an easier solution...I have an unused, brand-new, not needed, HP Deskjet 5740 that came as a "freebie" with my G5 - Myrna, you're welcome to it!

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1679733,00.asp for a nice review.

Also have an extra Linksys router if you'd like that too.

[Epaminondas]

A few Laserwriter 320 Mac OSX troubleshooting links that might prove useful:

http://macosx.com/tech-support/laserwriter...iger/11341.html

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25587

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106707

[MrsLop]

Bless You Paddy ,

Poor Tom, I just wanted to do something nice for him. He has been going into school at 5:30AM just to use the school printer.

I have tried everything that I could think of to try and get my Personal  LaserWriter 320 connected, but the old port type just won't work with this beautiful new system. I have worked so hard and with nothing to show for my efforts but aches and pains.

Tom was so deflated with no printer up and running for him to use.

So,   I accept your kind and generous offer of the HP and Linksys.

I still don't know much about these things like setting up a network and routersand such. Cox is no help as they would prefer that I pay to have them come in and set up the home networking. They are getting to be greedy and every little extra thing they do costs.

  glad that you posted this evening. I can finally get a good night's sleep.

Love, Blessings and Prayers,
Myrna

[chriskleeman]

Ok, I'll tell you what... Paddy, that would probably be fantastic! And Myrna, if you continue to have any problems after Paddy sends that stuff to you, I will drive down to your place in Rhode Island after next week and try to helpyou get everything up and running for you if we can't make it work long distance.

Connecting a router shouldn't cause any problems for you. Does Cox have a tech support line?

I think we can probably get it worked out somehow without you having to pay them another dime.

Be well,

Chris K

[krissel]

Wow, I'm getting choked up at all the generosity flowing here.  What each of us is willing to do to help another is something else...

Many additional thanks to E and Paddy for their contributions and Chris for his generous offer.

Sounds like all problems will be solved shortly.


Oh, BTW, Myrna you didn't have to install AppleWorks in the separate partition. You can use the Appleworks that is installed on the X partition. If I remember correctly I put an alias to AW in the drop down Apple Menu (under the colored apple in the upper left corner while in 9).  That alias refers to the AW in the X drive. Drag down to it and let go and it should open the program. I remember doing it but I can't remember if after all the changes I made with the drives whether that version of the Apple Menu was the one that I left for you. Anyway, take a look when you are in 9 and see if it is there. Hmm, now I can't remember if it is also in the 9 I put in for Classic....no I don't think I did it for that one, just the separate 9 system.    
But no harm done if you have two installs of AW, at least you have the space on the drive.

Now, I can sleep tonight, too.

[MrsLop]

Good Morning All,

I went to the Cox Communications Tech Support page for home networking and found out that the reason that I had a dead connection attempting to hook up the Farallon Hub to the Cox High Speed Internet  connection was because Cox insists that you order (and pay for) multiple connection access using a hub. . Greedy Cox!

Of course, they also offer to come out to your home to do the installs of anything electronic or computer related devices - for a price!

If I only use a router and/or Airport with the modem, I don't get charged anything extra.

Ergo, if there is a workaround for this, I have no idea what it might be. Between Apple and Cox I seem to be  .

Hopefully, I can get the HP 5740 connected and working. Cox also has a listing of unsupported printers and they don't seem to like HP very much, as many of the printers listed were HP printers. Although the 5740 was not on the list.

That's the situation as of today.

Love, Blessings and Prayers,
Myrna

[MrsLop]

Chris,

You are a real angel of mercy!   I just don't know what to say in the face of such selfless giving. I hope that I can get this HP connected with some help from TS; but it's nice to know that I can depend on you in case of an emergency. If I do, I insist that you bring your guitar, too! What can I say, except Thank You for caring.

Kris,

You and Chris, have been the best of friends to me. I can only imagine the money, hours and days of work that you have already spent working on this project behind the scenes. Kris, the time we spent on the phone was really important. I feel so especially blessed to have you both in my life.

Paddy,

Right from my earliest beginnings on TS, when I thought that everything would explode or self destruct if I did the wrong thing, you have been there, as well. Your generosity is heartwarming and very much appreciated.

Bernie,
You began this adventureous journey for me, by sending me my first Mac. I remember the continued posts between kelly about what Mac to send MrsLop.

The list of all those members on the TS forum, who supported me during my Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments, while struggling to learn how to use a Mac and right up until today, is very long. I never used a computer before coming to this board on a WebTV keyboard.

Compassion is something that I never expected to see at work on a Tech board. Nor did I expect such generosity. I am very blessed to have you all in my life. Thank you all for your many kindnesses, time, talent and gifts. Thank you for caring and being willing to share. Thanks for all your support. Thanks for putting up with my impatience, my ignorance of all things Mac. You have taken me from a totally ignorant to somewhat more intelligent Mac user and for this you should all be proud of yourselves.

Love, Blessings and Prayers,
  Myrna aka MrsLop