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[[mini_vmac_setup]]
Trace: » Mini vMac » Setting up System 6.0.8 on Mini vMac for Windows

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−Table of Contents

- Setting up System 6.0.8 on Mini vMac for Windows
  - Introduction
  - Getting Started
  - Booting your Mac
  - Installing System 6
  - Installing Stuffit Expander 4.0.1
  - Conclusion

# Setting up System 6.0.8 on Mini vMac for Windows

(Last updated around October 20, 2010)

## Introduction

Mini vMac emulates an old Mac Plus on modern systems, including Windows. Setting it up is very easy.

Before getting started, there are a few files that you will need to download:

- Mini vMac for Windows. At the time of writing, the current version was 3.1.3.
- You will need a valid ROM file (with the file name vMac.ROM) from a Mac Plus. You can get this from your old Macintosh computer as described here, or you can skulk around on the internet and download one illegally.
- HFVExplorer, a utility that allows you to read your Macintosh disk images in Windows.
- Stuffit for Windows Edition 9. There is a newer version of Stuffit for Windows available, but it is bloated and ugly. Install this program before you begin.
- A copy of System 6, which is now available as a free download from Apple. Look for SSW_6.0.8-1.4MB_Disk1of2.sea.bin and SSW_6.0.8-1.4MB_Disk2of2.sea.bin in that big list.
- A collection of blank disk images available from the main Mini vMac page.
- Stuffit Expander 4.0.1 for Macintosh is an important tool.

## Getting Started

Download the files above. Install Stuffit for Windows. Extract mini vMac. You will notice that it consists of just one executable file. Place your ROM file in the same directory as the mini vMac executable. The ROM file should be named “vMac.ROM.”

Since you have installed Stuffit for Windows, you can deal with the System 6 files from within Windows. If you did a default install of Stuffit, just right click on “SSW_6.0.8-1.4MB_Disk1of2.sea.bin” and select “Stuffit Archive” and then “Expand Here.” This will produce a file called “SSW 6.0.8-1.4MB Disk1of2.sea.” Now right click on that file and expand it. This will produce a file called “System Startup.” Repeat this procedure on “SSW_6.0.8-1.4MB_Disk1of2.sea.bin” to produce a file called “System Additions.”

## Booting your Mac

Run the vMac Executable. Your Mac should start up and display a blinking question mark displayed against a floppy disk. Drag “System Startup” onto the Mini vMac screen. This should boot the System 6 install disk (see Figure One). Shut down your Macintosh when you are finished exploring (“special” –> “shutdown”).

Figure one: Mini vMac booting the System 6 install disk

## Installing System 6

Extract the archive containing blank disk images that you downloaded at the start of this guide. Look for and extract the file HFS24M.dsk.

Run the Mini vMac executable and once again drag “System Startup” into the vMac screen. Also drag “HFS24M.dsk” onto the screen. This disk should show up in the Mac OS as a disk called “untitled.”

Inside of the Mac OS double click on “System Startup” and then on “Installer” to begin installing the Mac OS. Click “OK” on the first prompt and then “Install” to install System 6 onto “untitled.” When asked for “System Additions” just drag that file from Windows on to the Mini vMac screen as you have done with the other disk images. You will be asked for “System Startup” one more time before installation finishes - just drag the file from Windows to Mini vMac again.

Figure two: About to Install System 6 on Mini vMac

Now you've got a disk image containing System 6 that Mini vMac can boot and that contains plenty of free space for applications. Now you can run the Mini vMac executable and when you see the blinking question mark, you can just drag HFS24M.dsk onto the screen to boot it. But before we finish, there is one more thing we should do…

## Installing Stuffit Expander 4.0.1

Now we are going to install Stuffit Expander, since you will need this application to install stuff on your emulated Mac. We will also learn about HFV Explorer, a tool that will come in handy in the future.

Shut down Mini vMac. Run HFV Explorer by double clicking on the executable. Click “File” —> “Open Volume.” Browse to the HFS24M.dsk and open it. The disk image should show up at the top of the left hand column, still with the name “untitled.” Now browse your system with HFVExplorer and find the Stuffit Expander 4.0.1 file that you downloaded earlier. Drag it over to the Macintosh disk image. Just click “OK” at the prompt. This will copy Stuffit into your disk image, letting you use it within Mini vMac. Shut down HFV Explorer.

Figure three: Adding a file to a disk image using HFVExplorer

Run Mini vMac again, booting the HFS24M.dsk. Open the disk and double click on “Stuffit Expander 401 Installer” to install the application. Follow the screen prompts to install the application.

In the future, when you want to install some application in System 6 you should use HFVExplorer to add it to the disk image (just as you did with Stuffit above) and then use Stuffit to expand it.

Figure four: Finished! System 6 and Stuffit Expander are Installed.

## Conclusion

We're all done! For more help guides and a large list of software applications that work within Mini vMac check out the Official Page. For more help, you should check out my Macintosh Emulation Forum. Big thanks to Paul Pratt for developing Mini vMac and writing Mini vMac's official documentation, from which this guide is adapted. When you are finished playing with vMac, consider setting up Basilisk II, a slightly more robust Macintosh emulator.

I've created some disk images containing lots of old shareware and freeware titles. Find those over at System 6 Hell.

mini_vmac_setup.txt · Last modified: 2010/10/20 01:18 by clockwise