What OSs (operating systems) can I run on my card?

I suggest running Windows 95 (version OSR2). I'm also in the process of testing different OSs that are not supported...
• Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22
• Windows 3.1
• Windows for Workgroups 3.11
• Windows 95 (not compatible with WindowNT or OS/2)
• Windows 98, 98se
• maybe Windows XP (it looks like it will install, but it appears to need too much HD space)

Where can I download the drivers and software?

• PC Setup 1.6.4
  • Disk 1 + Readme
  • Disk 2
• APPLEVDO.INF
  • APPLEVDO.INF + Readme
• And now that PC Setup 2.1.7f is FREE, you should download it from here AFTER you have installed PC Setup 1.6.4. You have to download the software here because the web site is discontinued -_-
• Disk image of a generic boot disk with CD-ROM support. You can use this to boot into DOS, have the DOS tools handy, AND have CD-ROM support. No serious PC user should be without one. So download it!
• I have a limited supply of Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 reasonably priced. Email me if you're interested. Try eBay, too...

I don't have the special monitor cable needed, now what?

• You can try buying a cable on eBay, or you can make your own cable. Here's another link that shows how to wire your own cable. Don't ask me for help in making the cable, because I didn't write the article below:

Video Loopback Cable pinout/wiring list
By Don Bruder - email Don - August 28, 2003

This document is applicable to the Apple "12-inch PCI PC compatibility Card" ("PCCC" from here on out) and *POSSIBLY* one or more of the Orange Micro "OrangePC", "Orange386", and similar cards. It may also apply to the 7-inch PCI PC Compatibility Card from Apple, but this has not been verified. This document has been confirmed accurate for the Video Loopback Cable supplied by Apple Computer with the PCCC card, which is, according to some sources, electrically identical to the cables shipped by Orange Micro with their cards. However, this document and the information it contains HAVE NOT been verified against an actual cable shipped with an Orange Micro product, so you should be aware that any use of the information contained herein for those cards is strictly at your own risk, and may do all kinds of weird things, including (but not limited to) blowing up your computer, card, or both...

This document DOES NOT apply to the older "Apple DOS Compatibility Card" (AKA "Houdini" and "Houdini II") products. Those cards use a completely different, four-ended cable that is not compatible with the cable described by this document. Attempting to use any of this information with those cards is not only at your own risk, but downright stupid, since you've just been told that it won't work! Any consequences of such an attempt are strictly your own to deal with and/or repair.

A big "THANK YOU!" to "Mike", whose post to the DOS Support For Macintosh forum, titled "Pinouts", supplied information vital to the creation of this document. The article "Mike" wrote is located at:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=30406&messageid=1048491026

Special thanks also go out to Oliver Schubert for his assistance in verifying this document's accuracy against a real cable. For a self-proclaimed rookie at electronics, it seems to me that you did just fine, Oli!

All trade names, brands, marks and indicia are the property of their respective owners. Use of these names, brands, etc. in this document is solely for purposes of identification, and implies neither endorsement nor condemnation of the named product or company by the author and/or contributors, nor approval of the author's/contributors' efforts/results by the owner(s) of the names, brands, or marks mentioned.

And now, on with our show...
Click here to download the zipped text version.

Can I upgrade the RAM on the card?

Yes, visit ramseeker to find the cheapest RAM on the web.

• 100MHz 7 inch card: 64MB (no soldered DRAM)
• 100MHz 12 inch card: 72MB (8MB of soldered DRAM)
• 166MHz P 12 inch card: 80MB (16MB of soldered DRAM)
• PR 166 12 inch card: 80MB (16MB of soldered DRAM)

What type of RAM should I use?

• The original 100MHz PC compatibility cards use JEDEC standard 168 pin DIMM DRAM cards. The DIMMs should be 64 bit wide, 168 pin fast paged mode (FPM) with a 70ns access time or faster. DIMMs built with extended data out (EDO) DRAMs are not supported. The 100MHz 12 inch and 7 inch PC compatibility cards support only symmetrical DIMMs with a 2K refresh rate. DIMMs incorporating 4K refresh parts are not supported on the 7 inch PC compatibility card.
• The 166MHz P and PR 166 PC compatibility cards use 168 pin, 60ns or faster, fast page mode, 64 bit wide, 5 V DRAM DIMMs. Those 64MB DIMMs no one wants anymore that fit in the 7200 and compatible series Macs!

Can I upgrade the processor on my card?

• Yes. The processor is soldered onto the 12 inch 166MHz P card. So unless you have a pacestation and know what you're doing, it's impossible. But you can email Mad Dog if you would like a socket soldered onto your card, which would allow you to play around with different processors. Visit his web site for a detailed explanation. If speed is that important, then you should buy an Orange PC Card.

What is a container?

• It's a single file on your Mac's HD that holds all of your PC files. The same as a PC HD formatted in DOS.

Can I use a DOS formatted HD instead of containers?

• Yeah, but to save yourself a lot of trouble and to keep things simple, use containers. It's not recommended by Apple anyways...

Can I use Softwindows or SoftPC containers with my card?

• Yes, but you can't boot from them if you installed an OS. You can only assign it as your D drive, to read the files. You can however create a container larger than 1GB using Virtual PC 1.0, and assign it as your C drive, instead of making a container with PC Setup! Then just treat it as a PC Setup container. If you don't have a copy, you can download it here. Enter the serial number, and create a container 2GB in size (that is the max). You won't be able to do anything else, so shut down the application. Also, if you have used a software PC emulator, then you should be familiar with what you have to do, and vise-versa. Most PC emulators are built and programmed alike.

I'm ready to install my card. What do I do?

• You can download the service manuals below, which will explain how to open and work inside your particular Mac.

  Another web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~strahm_s/manuals.html

• G3 AIO
• G3 Desktop
• G3 Minitower
• 9500 Series
• 8600, 9600 Series
• 8500 Series
• 7300, 7500, 7600 Series
• 7200 Series
• 5400, 6400 Series
• 4400 Series, 4400/200, 7220/200

Here are some key combinations that you need to know while in the PC environment:

• eject a floopy disk:
  command-e
• eject a CD:
  command-y
• right mouse click:
  command-mouse click
• cold reboot:
  control-alt-command-del
• warm reboot:
  control-alt-del

My card is installed, now what?

• Now begins the fun part. Keep in mind your final goal is to install PC Setup 2.1.7f (*1). First you have to install PC Setup 1.6.4. If you have OS 8.1 and below, you shouldn't have any problems. Despite what Apple states, you can install PC Setup 1.6.4 in Mac OS 9.x (*2 and *3), 8.6.x, and 8.5.x.
  • *1-I was unable to install PC Setup 2.1.7f on a 7200/75. Tech support couldn't help, so if anyone has it installed on their 7200/75, please contact me.
  • *2-I discovered that the extension "USB Support" installed by Mac OS 9.x, which adds support for PCI USB cards, conflicts with the PC Setup 1.6.4 control panel. The Mac will freeze if a USB device is connected during the startup sequence. If all USB devices are unplugged, then the OS loads just fine. Then you can plug them back in, but the USB devices are unstable (they may or may not work, plus it causes the PC environment to become unstable as well). But if you disable the extension, the system works fine, but then the USB card can't be used. And PC Setup 2.1.7f acts the same way (and they said it was compatible with OS 9.x). So the solution is to create two extension sets: one for the PC card, and the other for the USB card. Note, Macs with built in USB ports do not have this problem, only PCI USB cards...
• Open the PC Setup 1.6.4 control panel. Set the preferences. Make the C container (*3) as big as you can or assign the container you made in Virtual PC as your C drive. You also need to make a D container (optional, this feature may or may not work from time to time for no apparent reason). You will use the C container to install your applications and OS. The D container is to place files that you will need to use. Sharing between the PC and Mac is very slow, and you can't run programs that reside on the Mac side from within the PC environment. I've had problems with the CD drive as well, having to copy a CD's contents to the D container in order to install the software. If you wish to copy files to the PC side, shut down the PC card. Use Disk Copy to open the D container (do NOT double click the container, or it won't open correctly). Now copy the files to the PC side. Eject the mounted container, and start the PC card again. You can now access the files...
  • *3-You can't create containers in OS 9.x., but I have a simple solution (it's because you can't boot from a floppy disk, otherwise you could)! I have hacked the disk tools for OS 8.1 and installed the PC Setup 1.6.4 control panel. So all you have to do is download the correct disk image, mount it using Disk Copy, drag the image to your HD, and set the startup disk control panel to boot to that system folder. You will get a message during the startup sequence about it being only for disk tools, ignore it and click OK. Now find the PC Setup 1.6.4 control panel and open it. Create the container (the initializing box on the bottom should be greyed out, but don't check it if it isn't).
    • download the floppy disk for PPC Macs supported by OS 8.1
    • download the floppy disk for all other Macs supported by OS 8.1

    Then you can either install Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 if you have a floopy set (which will guide you through the whole process), or you can use the generic boot disk that I have provided for download. Below is an outline of the steps you need to follow:

    1. Download the generic boot disk.
    2. Unstuff the zipped disk image using Stuffit Expander, and make a floppy using Disk Copy from Apple.
    3. Boot from the floppy, and choose the second option, disabling CD-ROM support (it might cause your PC to freeze).
    4. Type fdisk at the DOS command prompt. Type N and press enter when it asks if you want to enable large disk support. Delete all partitions (option 4 will display all the partions installed on your container). Then create a primary DOS partition, and don't use the FAT 32 format if it asks you, because you won't be able to mount the container in the Mac OS.
    5. Now you need to restart the PC, and boot from the floopy again.
    6. Type format c: /s at the DOS command prompt and follow the directions.
    7. When you are back at the command prompt, type copy d:mscdex.exe c:
    8. Now remove the boot floopy and restart your PC. Answer the questions, and you should now be at the DOS command prompt on your c drive...
    9. For the D container, make it the C drive, and follow the direction above starting at step 3-5. At step 6, type format c: and go to step 8 (it should say that it can't boot and request a floppy disk). Shut down the PC card using the control panel. Now you will need to designate the correct containers in the control panel before you proceed with installing any OS...
• Having a set of Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 floppies comes in handy right about now, because it will setup and install DOS for you Boot from the first disk and follow the directions. If you don't have them, buy it from me...
• After DOS is installed, you need to install the DOS drivers of PC Setup 1.6.4. Use Disk Copy to make a floppy from the second disk image of PC Setup 1.6.4. Now insert the floppy and install the software in DOS by typing a:setup.exe, and follow the directions.
• Now you're ready to install Windows 95 (OSR2). Insert the CD, type e: at the DOS command prompt and press enter, type setup.exe, and then follow the directions. Be sure to check the box when it asks if you have a sound card installed. Depending on how fast your CD-ROM drive is, it'll take a few hours to install. I usually go do something else, and check on it periodically to make sure it hasn't stopped to ask a question.
• If you are installing Windows 3.1 or 95, then you might be intereasted in the CD Apple included with the PC cards that has the PC software and drivers for these two OSs. I can burn you a CD-R and mail it to you for US $5. Please contact me beforehand to get more details. The CD is not needed for DOS or Windows 98...
• If you are having problems with your display in the PC environment, then you should install APPLEVDO.INF. Follow the directions that accompany it.
• You can follow the outlined steps above to install just about any OS, just follow the directions...
• Now you're ready to install PC Setup 2.1.7f. Unfortunately, their web site no longer exists, but no worries. I have everything here that you need! Below is the information for PC Setup 2.1.7f...

How do I network the Mac and PC side at the same time?

I copied this information from http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/os/macos/connectivity/ethernet/2534:

A PC Compatibility Card (Pentium version) can be installed into both a Power Mac 7600 and a Power Mac 8500 and successfully networked and run on both the Mac side and the Windows 95 side. Here is what to do:

• 1. First, install the PC compatibility card following the included instructions. This included installing DOS, and installing the Support Software from the diskette Apple included by running a:\setup from DOS.
• 2. Next, install Windows 95, and install the Windows Support Software on that same Apple diskette, by running a:\setup from inside Windows 95.
• 3. Create a directory called C:\NWCLIENT, and copy a standard PC ODI diskette over into that directory. ( delete the 3COM device drivers). Modify the following files to include the indicated statements:

  CONFIG.SYS
  LASTDRIVE=Z
  
  AUTOEXEC.BAT
  PATH=C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\NWCLIENT
  LSL
  C:\APPLE\MACODI
  C:\WINDOWS\ODIHLP.EXE
  
  NET.CFG
  LINK DRIVER MACODI
  FRAME ETHERNET_II

• Notice that the "VLM" statement in the autoexec.bat file was not included.
• 4. Once this is done, configure Windows95 to use the "Existing ODI Driver" as its Network Adapter, and configure Windows95 as usual for IPX and TCP/IP networking.