Getting my Mac on - or off; Computer question

BattleRifleG3 · 01-17-2006, 01:59 AM

Hey, quick question (if that is possible for me):

I have a 1987 Macintosh computer, the kind with the small screen integrated with the computer, which I used during my childhood to make designs and write... stuff. I never use it anymore and I'd sure like to access my older works on my current computers, all of which are PCs.

I was wondering if you folks who know could tell me what the most effective and easy way would be to transfer these files? They are all either MS Word files or monochrome bitmaps.

Thanks guys!

Rufus Rhastus J · 01-17-2006, 07:25 AM

Sorry, I would like to help but, alas, I am computer stupid.

Chris · 01-17-2006, 08:54 AM

Well...I am pretty sure the Macs take 5 1/2 drives...you need to located one for your PC and one for your Mac. I am not sure where to get these from.

Move them over...and there is still a chance that they could be corrupted.

BattleRifleG3 · 01-17-2006, 11:19 AM

There is a 3.5" floppy drive on the mac and on all my PCs, including my laptop. But I didn't think that the files could be transferred so easily. I thought that the Mac disk format and the PC disk format were different. On a more modern Mac I used to work with (in 2000), it had the specific option of writing a file in a PC format.

Gunnie Ed · 01-17-2006, 02:22 PM

the easiest way?

text:
step 1: turn on both computers.

step 2: open text editor on the new computer.

step 3: type your works on your current computer as you read them on your old computer.

bitmaps:

Step 1: get a sketchbook and pencil.

step 2: proceed to copy bitmap files.

step 3: scan drawings onto PC.

Ctwo · 01-17-2006, 05:22 PM

OK, I asked my Mack Guru...

"On a 1987 Macintosh computer, the kind with the small screen integrated with the computer, what's the most effective and easy way to transfer old MS Word or monochrome bitmap files to a PC? The Mac has a 3.5" floppy, but what about disk/file compatibility?"

I always like to poke fun at Macs...

...And he said:

"It's Mac not Mack. No Apple Computers have 3.5" floppys.
Back in the 90s floppy disks were either PC formatted or Mac formatted.
The Mac had software preloaded on it to read a PC formatted disk. But the PC had no such software.
In otherwords the Mac was cross compatible but not the PC. The PC didn't have to be. The Mac had to to survive."

To which I respond:

"OK, but it didn't. So can we save the files?"

And he says:

"What the !!!! is wrong with this guy that he has files on a 20 year old system...:flame: :flame: :flame: :flame: :flame: :smash: "

So maybe you will have better luck later.

BattleRifleG3 · 01-18-2006, 12:19 AM

I seriously remember writing files in PC format using a Mac. It required a certain conscious selection each time and this was a newer Mac. My thought was that using a newer Mac as an intermediary would be the way to go, but I don't know how.

Mooseman684 · 01-19-2006, 01:12 AM

As an old Mac man before I went PC, i believe you can convert the mac stuff to ADOBE acrobat into .PDF format and then it should be readable by a PC which also reads .PDF with Adobe.You would be limited to 1.4 megs on floppy, but you could do a website Upload of all the files and then Download to PC from the website.

7mmag6 · 01-19-2006, 01:42 AM

yep moose mans right. That must be version 5.0 or so on the toaster mac. In them days there was no conversion between mac and pcs unless you had a power mac that ran both systems. convert to pdf if you can im not sure that old mac will even do that, or ms word for macintosh, sheesh a really old version good luck with that

BattleRifleG3 · 01-19-2006, 11:46 AM

Sounds like an intermediary computer will be necessary. I'd really rather not convert to PDF though, wouldn't it be possible to keep them as .doc and .bmp files?

01-17-2006, 01:59 AM	#1
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Getting my Mac on - or off; Computer question Hey, quick question (if that is possible for me): I have a 1987 Macintosh computer, the kind with the small screen integrated with the computer, which I used during my childhood to make designs and write... stuff. I never use it anymore and I'd sure like to access my older works on my current computers, all of which are PCs. I was wondering if you folks who know could tell me what the most effective and easy way would be to transfer these files? They are all either MS Word files or monochrome bitmaps. Thanks guys! __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

01-17-2006, 07:25 AM	#2
Rufus Rhastus J Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America Posts: 6,339 Images: 1	Sorry, I would like to help but, alas, I am computer stupid. __________________ "They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf

01-17-2006, 11:19 AM	#4
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	There is a 3.5" floppy drive on the mac and on all my PCs, including my laptop. But I didn't think that the files could be transferred so easily. I thought that the Mac disk format and the PC disk format were different. On a more modern Mac I used to work with (in 2000), it had the specific option of writing a file in a PC format. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

01-17-2006, 02:22 PM	#5
Gunnie Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: three clicks left of center. Posts: 808	the easiest way? text: step 1: turn on both computers. step 2: open text editor on the new computer. step 3: type your works on your current computer as you read them on your old computer. bitmaps: Step 1: get a sketchbook and pencil. step 2: proceed to copy bitmap files. step 3: scan drawings onto PC. __________________ http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95.../warinmine.gif

01-17-2006, 05:22 PM	#6
Ctwo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 344	Mack Question OK, I asked my Mack Guru... "On a 1987 Macintosh computer, the kind with the small screen integrated with the computer, what's the most effective and easy way to transfer old MS Word or monochrome bitmap files to a PC? The Mac has a 3.5" floppy, but what about disk/file compatibility?" I always like to poke fun at Macs... ...And he said: "It's Mac not Mack. No Apple Computers have 3.5" floppys. Back in the 90s floppy disks were either PC formatted or Mac formatted. The Mac had software preloaded on it to read a PC formatted disk. But the PC had no such software. In otherwords the Mac was cross compatible but not the PC. The PC didn't have to be. The Mac had to to survive." To which I respond: "OK, but it didn't. So can we save the files?" And he says: "What the !!!! is wrong with this guy that he has files on a 20 year old system...:flame: :flame: :flame: :flame: :flame: :smash: " So maybe you will have better luck later.

01-17-2006, 08:54 AM	#3
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,171 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	Well...I am pretty sure the Macs take 5 1/2 drives...you need to located one for your PC and one for your Mac. I am not sure where to get these from. Move them over...and there is still a chance that they could be corrupted.

01-18-2006, 12:19 AM	#7
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	I seriously remember writing files in PC format using a Mac. It required a certain conscious selection each time and this was a newer Mac. My thought was that using a newer Mac as an intermediary would be the way to go, but I don't know how. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

01-19-2006, 01:12 AM	#8
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,702 Images: 2	As an old Mac man before I went PC, i believe you can convert the mac stuff to ADOBE acrobat into .PDF format and then it should be readable by a PC which also reads .PDF with Adobe.You would be limited to 1.4 megs on floppy, but you could do a website Upload of all the files and then Download to PC from the website. __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-19-2006, 01:42 AM	#9
7mmag6 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 337 Images: 1	yep moose mans right. That must be version 5.0 or so on the toaster mac. In them days there was no conversion between mac and pcs unless you had a power mac that ran both systems. convert to pdf if you can im not sure that old mac will even do that, or ms word for macintosh, sheesh a really old version good luck with that

01-19-2006, 11:46 AM	#10
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Sounds like an intermediary computer will be necessary. I'd really rather not convert to PDF though, wouldn't it be possible to keep them as .doc and .bmp files? __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf