Need Help with Color Classic

8 posts / 0 new
Last post
Offline
Last seen: 19 years 2 months ago
Joined: Dec 1 2004 - 01:50
Posts: 6
Need Help with Color Classic

I picked up one recently on Ebay for kicks. Looks in pretty good shape. Main problem right now is that it seems like it was one of the many that were used in a school/school system, it seems to be locked by passwords and such.

For example, I was looking to change the date and time, but couldn't because the Control Panel was not in the Apple Menu. I found it using the Apple Guide, but couldn't open it because it says I needed a password or something like I didn't have "executive privileges."

I'd just like to reset all the settings, but I don't have any floppy disks to reboot from. If anyone can help I'd be most appreciative. Thanks,

Sam

eeun's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 20 hours ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1895
At Ease?

It sounds like the system is running At Ease - a program designed for computers running in the education field where useful features can be locked out to prevent kiddies from trashing files, or learning how to properly use a computer Wink

Start the computer and keep the shift key held down until you get a message saying 'extensions off'.

Then go hunting around the hard drive and trash anything called 'at ease'

...that is, if it is At Ease running on your Colour Classic. Any other way I know of removing it involves boot disks.

Just in case you can't remove it, check out Jag's Place for a good tutorial on getting Macintosh boot disks created on a PC (assuming you have a PC).
http://www.jagshouse.com/pcdownload.html

Offline
Last seen: 19 years 2 months ago
Joined: Dec 1 2004 - 01:50
Posts: 6
Thanks alot for your input, a

Thanks alot for your input, appreciate it. I'll try this first thing in the morning (it's late!)

Best Regards,
Sam

davintosh's picture
Offline
Last seen: 10 years 2 weeks ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 554
Actually...

... if it is At Ease that's locking it down, it will still ask for a password before firing up the Finder when you boot with extensions off. The only way I know of getting around this is to boot from another disk; floppy, or external CD/hard drive.

eeun's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 20 hours ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1895
Re: Actually...

Hmmm...if an administrator password has been set, you're absolutely right.
I was able to do the extensions-off trick when they first put Macs in at the paper I work for back in '94.
Of course, with extensions off you couldn't do anything, so I moved to using a Norton boot disk, turning the At Ease extension visible, moving it out of the extensions folder, then rebooting.
At the end of the day, I'd put it all back, and no one was the wiser.
Thankfully, At Ease only lasted a month before we pressured its complete removal (pointing out its silly to spend months training people to use Macs, then installing software that prevents them from using that training).

Offline
Last seen: 19 years 2 months ago
Joined: Dec 1 2004 - 01:50
Posts: 6
Mac Classic Help

No luck. When I start the computer with the shift key held down, it ust starts up as normal. Doesn't say anything about extensions off. Thanks for your help though. Looks like I'll have to find an old OS disc to boot from. Thanks to all,

Sam :coolmac:

davintosh's picture
Offline
Last seen: 10 years 2 weeks ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 554
Re: Actually...

"I was able to do the extensions-off trick when they first put Macs in at the paper I work for back in ‘94."

And I suppose you worked the night shift too, right? Wink You're the kind of user that gives those poor slobs in the IT world headaches and ulcers. You know that, don't you?

eeun's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 20 hours ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1895
Re: Actually...

And I suppose you worked the night shift too, right? Wink You're the kind of user that gives those poor slobs in the IT world headaches and ulcers. You know that, don't you?

20 years of afternoon/night shifts and counting. Acute

I probably did cause one or two headaches back then, but only one or two.

Of course, everything that goes around comes around, and now I have to do my own fair share of wrist slapping.

Log in or register to post comments