Extensions

The Extensions are small pieces of Macintosh programs that load during startup. They can be printer drivers, modem tools, FAX software, system resources, or any of half-a-million other things. People familiar with the PC environment should think of them as TSRs or .DLL files. Some of these extensions are known to cause problems, and a few others are suspected. Customers using System 7.5 or better have access to the Extensions Manager, which allows one to deactivate specific extensions.

What happens

An extensions conflict can manifest itself in one of 3 ways:

  1. Blocking access to the FreePPP extension (which we install)
  2. Blocking access to the communications port
  3. Allowing the modem to dial, but interfering with the connection

Which ones cause problems

Below is a list of extension currently known or suspected of causing problems. Rest assured there are others, we simply haven't isolated them yet. When disabling extensions (and you'll have to do it eventually), the rules are slightly different when dealing with an Apple modem (such as an Apple Express modem, a GeoPort, or any of the Global Village modems), but not hard to deal with.

Extensions known to cause conflict

Extensions susppected of causing problems



How to disable Extensions
(Choose the Operating System)





After you bring up the Extensions Manager, there will be a setting in the upper right hand corner that will look something like this:

"Custom" is what it will say more often than not, but the the other possibilities are:

  1. All on
  2. All off
  3. 7.5 Only (or "System 7.5.3" or "System 7.5.5")
  4. A set saved under a specific name (which can be anything)

If the set is set to "Custom",

  1. Click on the word "Custom"
  2. Choose "Save Set..." from the list of options. You will see a window like this:

  3. Name the set "Original"
  4. Click on "OK." Now you should see:

  5. Click where it now says "Original" and choose "7.5 Only" (or "System 7.5.3" or "System 7.5.5"-- whichever is there)

If it is set to anything else, simply click on the set name (whatever it is) and choose "7.5 Only" (or "System 7.5.3" or "System 7.5.5")

Now for the final bit. If an Apple modem (Express Modem, GeoPort, or Global Village modem) is being used, its drivers need to be reactivated. Use the following table to determine what gets activated:

Modem Name

To be reactivated

Apple Express Modem
(Ships standard with Performa 6400)

Telephone Manager
Express Modem (Control Panel)

GeoPort

Telephone Manager

Global Village Modem

GlobalFax
Global Village Toolbox

and one of the below:

Teleport (Control Panel)
or Powerport (Control Panel)
or Teleport Serial Tool (Control Panel)

Additionally, you may have to reactivate the extension for the printer, and a few others such as:

Now, close the Extensions Manager. If it gives any messages about "Duplicates existing in the target folder", it alright to overwrite them. It's also possible that an Error of Type -15277 may appear. Get that squared away (click on that link to find out how) and Restart the computer!! >