MODE32

Last updated
MODE32
Developer(s) Connectix
Initial releaseJune 1991;32 years ago (1991-06) [1]
Final release
7.5 / September 7, 1994;28 years ago (1994-09-07) [2]
Operating system Classic Mac OS
Type Utility software
License Proprietary commercial software, later made available as freeware [1] [3]

MODE32 is a software product originally developed by Connectix for certain models of the Apple Macintosh. It was published in June 1991 and originally cost US$169; [1] however, on September 5, 1991, the software was made available free to customers under licensing terms with Apple Computer. [3]

Contents

Overview

MODE32 patches the ROM code in certain models of early 68020 and 68030 Apple Macintosh computers (see "Affected models" below) [1] which were advertised by Apple to support 32-bit memory management. Despite the machines' hardware being designed to support 32-bit mode, the lack of a 32-bit Memory Manager in ROM forced these machines to run in 24-bit mode, which crippled these otherwise high-end machines to support only 8 MB of RAM. [4] Prior to licensing MODE32, Apple had been subject to many complaints from individuals over the lack of 32-bit support. [3]

Versions of MODE32 prior to 7.5 include a control panel under Macintosh System 7 that lets the user enable or disable MODE32. [1] [2] The option to enable 32-bit addressing can be found in the Memory control panel when MODE32 is enabled. [1] Otherwise, the option is not displayed.

For System 7.0 and 7.1, MODE32 version 1.2 was recommended. In the case of System 7.5 (and if Thread Manager was loaded), Connectix specifically recommends MODE32 7.5 in order to avoid problems with file corruption. [2] If MODE32 1.2 was installed over 7.5, Connectix recommends a complete reinstall of the operating system. [2]

Generally, 32-bit addressing is only needed when large amounts of RAM are needed or when a piece of software requires it. Running non-32-bit-clean software in 32-bit mode on any Macintosh can cause crashes [5] and data corruption. With MODE32 installed, holding down the Esc key on the keyboard as soon as the machine is powered on causes the system to run in 24-bit mode for the current session. [2]

Mac OS 7.6 and later require 32-bit "clean" ROMs and do not require this utility. MODE32 is a descendant of Connectix's earlier OPTIMA, which also enables 32-bit addressing but for System 6. [6] Connectix also offered three similar products, MAXIMA, RAM Doubler, and Virtual; the former implemented a RAM disk and latter two adding virtual memory (with compression in RAM Doubler's case) in addition to allowing addressing 14 MB under 24-bit addressing. [7] [8] [2]

Affected models

Other models do not need MODE32 because they either do not support 32-bit addressing at all or support it exclusively.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple IIe Card</span> Compatibility card

The Apple IIe Card is a hardware emulation board, also referred to as compatibility card, which allows compatible Macintosh computers to run software designed for the Apple II series of computers. Released in March 1991 for use with the LC family, Apple targeted the card at its widely dominated educational market to ease the transition from Apple II-based classrooms, with thousands of entrenched educational software titles, to Macintosh-based classrooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh Plus</span> Third model of Apples Macintosh computer line

The Macintosh Plus computer is the third model in the Macintosh line, introduced on January 16, 1986, two years after the original Macintosh and a little more than a year after the Macintosh 512K, with a price tag of US$2,599. As an evolutionary improvement over the 512K, it shipped with 1 MB of RAM standard, expandable to 4 MB, and an external SCSI peripheral bus, among smaller improvements. Originally, the computer's case was the same beige color as the original Macintosh, Pantone 453; however, in 1987, the case color was changed to the long-lived, warm gray "Platinum" color. It is the earliest Macintosh model able to run System Software 5, System 6, and System 7, up to System 7.5.5, but not System 7.5.2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh II</span> First model of the second generation of the Apple Macintosh computer line

The Macintosh II is a personal computer designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer from March 1987 to January 1990. Based on the Motorola 68020 32-bit CPU, it is the first Macintosh supporting color graphics. When introduced, a basic system with monitor and 20 MB hard drive cost US$5,498. With a 13-inch color monitor and 8-bit display card the price was around US$7,145. This placed it in competition with workstations from Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, and Hewlett-Packard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh SE/30</span> Personal computer released by Apple Computer

The Macintosh SE/30 is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from January 1989 to October 1991. It is the fastest of the original black-and-white compact Macintosh series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple IIGS</span> Apple II series 16-bit computer

The Apple IIGS, the fifth and most powerful of the Apple II family, is a 16-bit personal computer produced by Apple Computer. While featuring the Macintosh look and feel, and resolution and color similar to the Amiga and Atari ST, it remains compatible with earlier Apple II models. The "GS" in the name stands for "Graphics and Sound", referring to its enhanced multimedia hardware, especially its state-of-the-art audio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic Mac OS memory management</span>

Historically, the classic Mac OS used a form of memory management that has fallen out of favor in modern systems. Criticism of this approach was one of the key areas addressed by the change to Mac OS X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">System 7</span> Apple Macintosh operating system released from 1991–1997

System 7, codenamed "Big Bang", and later also known as Mac OS 7, is a graphical user interface-based operating system for Macintosh computers and is part of the classic Mac OS series of operating systems. It was introduced on May 13, 1991, by Apple Computer It succeeded System 6, and was the main Macintosh operating system until it was succeeded by Mac OS 8 in 1997. Current for more than six years, System 7 was the longest-lived major version series of the classic Macintosh operating system. Features added with the System 7 release included virtual memory, personal file sharing, QuickTime, QuickDraw 3D, and an improved user interface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh SE</span> Personal computer by Apple, Inc.

The Macintosh SE is a personal computer designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer, from March 1987 to October 1990. It marked a significant improvement on the Macintosh Plus design and was introduced by Apple at the same time as the Macintosh II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh 512K</span> Revised version of the Macintosh 128K by Apple Computer

The Macintosh 512K is a personal computer that was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from September 1984 to April 1986. It is the first update to the original Macintosh 128K. It was virtually identical to the previous Macintosh, differing primarily in the amount of built-in random-access memory. The increased memory turned the Macintosh into a more business-capable computer and gained the ability to run more software. It is the earliest Macintosh model that can be used as an AppleShare server and, with a bridge Mac, communicate with modern devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connectix</span>

Connectix Corporation was a software and hardware company, noted for having released innovative products that were either made obsolete as Apple Computer incorporated the ideas into system software, or were sold to other companies once they became popular. It was formed in October 1988 by Jon Garber; dominant board members and co-founders were Garber, Bonnie Fought, and close friend Roy McDonald. McDonald was still Chief Executive Officer and president when Connectix finally closed in August 2003.

The Macintosh Toolbox implements many of the high-level features of the Classic Mac OS, including a set of application programming interfaces for software development on the platform. The Toolbox consists of a number of "managers," software components such as QuickDraw, responsible for drawing onscreen graphics, and the Menu Manager, which maintain data structures describing the menu bar. As the original Macintosh was designed without virtual memory or memory protection, it was important to classify code according to when it should be loaded into memory or kept on disk, and how it should be accessed. The Toolbox consists of subroutines essential enough to be permanently kept in memory and accessible by a two-byte machine instruction; however it excludes core "kernel" functionality such as memory management and the file system. Note that the Toolbox does not draw the menu onscreen: menus were designed to have a customizable appearance, so the drawing code was stored in a resource, which could be on a disk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh Classic II</span> Personal computer by Apple

The Macintosh Classic II was a personal computer designed and manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. from October 1991 to September 1993. The system had a compact, appliance design with an integrated 9" monitor, typical of the earliest of the Macintosh range. A carrying handle moulded into the case added a degree of portability at a time when laptops were still relatively uncommon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Macintosh 6100</span> First computer from Apple to use the PowerPC processor

The Power Macintosh 6100 is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from March 1994 to March 1996. It is the first computer from Apple to use the new PowerPC processor created by IBM and Motorola. The low-profile ("pizza-box") case was inherited from the Centris/Quadra 610 and 660AV models, and replaced the Macintosh Quadra series that used the Motorola 68040 processor, Apple's previous high-end workstation line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh Quadra 900</span> Personal computer by Apple Computer

The Macintosh Quadra 900 is a personal computer designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer from October 1991 to May 1992. It was introduced alongside the Quadra 700 as the first computers in the Quadra family of Macintosh computers using the Motorola 68040 processor. It is also the first computer from Apple to be housed in an 18.6 inch tall mid-tower form factor, which by 1991 had gained momentum with PC manufacturers as a suitable design for departmental servers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Macintosh 9500</span> Personal computer by Apple Computer

The Power Macintosh 9500 is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from June 1995 to February 1997. It is powered by a PowerPC 604 processor, a second-generation PowerPC chip which is faster than the PowerPC 601 chip used in the Power Macintosh 8100. The 180MP and 200 MHz models, introduced August 1996, use the enhanced PowerPC 604e processor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh Quadra 800</span> Personal computer by Apple, Inc.

The Macintosh Quadra 800 is a personal computer that is a part of Apple Computer's Quadra series of Macintosh computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh Quadra 630</span> Personal computer by Apple, Inc.

The Macintosh Quadra 630 is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from July 1994 to October 1995. It was introduced as the replacement for the Quadra 610, and was the least-expensive computer in the Macintosh lineup with prices starting at $1,199 USD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Macintosh 5500</span> Personal computer by Apple Computer

The Power Macintosh 5500 is a personal computer designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer from February 1997 to March 1998. Like the Power Macintosh 5260 and 5400 that preceded it, the 5500 is an all-in-one design, built around a PowerPC 603ev processor operating at 225, 250 or 275 megahertz (MHz).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PowerBook 150</span> Laptop by Apple Computer

The PowerBook 150 is a laptop personal computer created by Apple Computer which was introduced on July 13, 1994, and released on July 18, 1994. It was the last member of the PowerBook 100 series to use the original case design, the most affordable of the series when introduced and also the last consumer model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic Mac OS</span> Original operating system of Apple Mac (1984–2001)

Mac OS is the series of operating systems developed for the Macintosh family of personal computers by Apple Computer from 1984 to 2001, starting with System 1 and ending with Mac OS 9. The Macintosh operating system is credited with having popularized the graphical user interface concept. It was included with every Macintosh that was sold during the era in which it was developed, and many updates to the system software were done in conjunction with the introduction of new Macintosh systems.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MODE32 to the Rescue". TidBITS. 1991-06-17. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MODE32 Version 7.5 - Important Release Notes and Instructions". Connectix. 1994-09-07. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  3. 1 2 3 "MODE32: Clean Up Those Dirty ROMs". U-M Computing News. Information Technology Division, University of Michigan. 6 (16): 11. 1991-10-14. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  4. "System 7: MODE32 Technical Information (9/94)". Apple, Inc. 1994-09-12. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  5. Lee, Lisa (1995). MacWeek Upgrading and Repairing Your Mac. Hayden Books. p. 516.
  6. "8MB SIMMS Offered by Newer". InfoWorld . InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. 13 (17): 40. 1991-04-29. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  7. Daystar Archive, Mode32 FAQ - LowEndMac
  8. Anbinder, Mark H. (1994-06-06). "Twice the Maxima". TidBITS . Retrieved 2016-04-24.