Upgrading a Macintosh to Shaw@Home

Before You Install

Before you install, be sure your system meets these minimum system requirements.

  • PowerPC
  • Mac OS System Software, Version 7.5.3 or higher
  • 16 MB RAM
  • 38 MB of free disk space

*If you are running a 68000-Family Macintosh, click here to download @Home V1.2

Before downloading the @Home software, you'll have to reconfigure your network settings enabling you to connect to the @Home network.

To change your network settings, click on the Apple symbol and select "Control Panels", "TCP/IP" from the drop-down list.

Once the TCP/IP Control panel is open, ensure the "Connect via" screen reads "Ethernet built-in" and "Configure" says "Using DHCP".

Note: If you don't see the "Starting Domain Name" dialogue box in the TCP/IP window, select "Edit" at the top of the screen. Select "User Mode". Click on "Advanced" and click "OK".

Download the Software.

Click here to download the file AtHome15PPC.sit.

Note: If you are prompted to pick an application to open the application/octet stream, click the Pick App button.

Select the StuffIt Expander application and click OK. The file will download and expand.

Close all open applications and double-click the file downloaded file.

You will need 38 MB of available disk space.

Detailed Instructions

These instructions describe how to download and install the @Home 1.5 client software for PowerPC Macintosh computers.

For easy reference, you may want to save or print these instructions.

Important: Please read the Known Issues and FAQs before you download.

Note: The software is being downloaded with a "smart" installer. If it detects a current version of Shockwave, for example, it doesn't reinstall the software. Because these instructions are written for a complete installation, your actual steps may vary.

The installation process must restart your computer when it finishes installing the software. Before you begin, you should close your browser and close any open applications, so you can immediately restart your computer at the end of the installation.

We recommend you do not switch to another program, click outside the installation dialog boxes, or otherwise interrupt the installation process.

To install the 1.5 client software for Mac OS computers:

  1. Download the @Home 1.5 software installation application for Power Macintosh Users.

    If you haven't downloaded it, click here to do so now.

    This downloads a compressed file, AtHome15PPC.sit, to your default download folder (usually the Desktop).

    Once the file is downloaded, StuffIt Expander will automatically uncompress it. (If StuffIt does not automatically expand the application, double-click the AtHome15PPC.sit file and when prompted to select an application, choose StuffIt Expander.)

    Note: If you are prompted to pick an application to open the application/octet stream, click the Pick App button.

    Select the StuffIt Expander application and click OK. The file will download and expand.

    Once the file is expanded, the Install @Home Software application appears.

  2. Close all open applications.

  3. Start the installation program by double-clicking Install @Home Software.

    A message may appear to say that an error occurred. "The install description file could not be found on the disk. Using the network based file." This is not really an error, but an information message.

  4. Click OK.

    The Install Options dialog box appears, with only the option for Netscape Communicator 4.05. (Microsoft Internet Explorer is not currently an option for the Macintosh).

  5. Select Netscape Communicator 4.05 and click Install.

    Installation components are downloaded. Then, a Communicator Module dialog box appears with two options:

    • Easy Install will download all files necessary for @Home installation.
    • Custom Install lets you select files to download. This type of installation assumes that you have previously installed the files that you are not downloading.

  6. Select Easy Install and click the Install button.
    A progress bar appears. When finished, a successfull installation message appears.

  7. Click Quit.

    An Install Communicator Extras dialog box appears.

  8. Click Install.

    If more than one copy of Communicator is installed on your computer, a Select File dialog box appears to ask you where you want to install the Extras. Make sure you are installing the Extras in the same folder as the copy of Communicator you just installed and click OK. A message tells you the installation was successful.

  9. Click Quit.

    The Install @Home Fonts dialog box appears.

  10. Click Install.

    When finished, a message informs you the fonts were successfully installed.

  11. Click Quit.

    The Network Diagnostics Install (NDT) dialog box appears.

  12. Click Install.

    A message tells you the software was successfully installed.

  13. Click Quit.

    The RealPlayer Installer dialog box appears.

  14. Click Next.

    The RealPlayer license agreement appears.

  15. If you accept the terms, click Next.

  16. Type your name, organization, and email address.

    An entry for organization is optional.

  17. Click Next.

    A dialog box asks you to select an Internet connection type.

  18. Choose T1/LAN, then click Next.

    A dialog box asks you to finish the installation.

  19. Click Finish.

    A dialog box indicates that RealPlayer has been installed successfully.

  20. Click OK.

    The Shockwave Installer dialog box appears and prompts you to select a version of Shockwave to install.

  21. Select the "Install Shockwave for Netscape Navigator" option, then click Install.

    If another browser is on your system, a dialog box prompts you to specify your browser. Select your current browser and click OK.

    Note: You may be prompted to increase the browser memory size to 17500K. Click Yes.

    When complete, a message tells you the software was successfully installed.

  22. Click Quit.

    The Welcome to QuickTime dialog box appears.

  23. Click Continue.

    The QuickTime license agreement appears.

  24. If you accept the terms, click Agree.

    A QuickTime screen appears for a few seconds. Then, the Install QuickTime dialog box appears with two options:

    Easy Install will download all files necessary.
    Custom Install lets you select files to download. This install assumes that you have previously installed the files that you are not downloading.

  25. Select Easy Install and click Install.

    The installation program prompts you to quit any open applications.

  26. Click Continue.

    A dialog box prompts you to restart the computer.

  27. Click Restart.

    After your computer restarts, an Install Options dialog box tells you the @Home install is complete.

  28. Click Quit.

To run the @Home software, double-click the @Home icon on the desktop.

Now that you have completed the installation process, drag the downloaded installation file (AtHome1.5PPC.sit.bin) to the Trash to free additional disk space.

Creating a New User Profile

If this is the first time you have used the Netscape Communicator browser, information for your user profile (email name and preferences) is requested the first time you run the browser.

If you are upgrading from an older version of Netscape, your user profile information is transferred from the earlier version.

A user profile stores your preferences, bookmarks, address book, and saved email messages. User profiles also let more than one subscriber share a computer and maintain their individual settings.

  1. In the User Profile Setup dialog box, click New.
  2. Click Next.
  3. Type your full name and email address, then click Next.
  4. Type your user name for a profile name.
    Your user name is your email address without the @home.com phrase.
  5. Click Next.
    A dialog box provides a location for your profile folder.
  6. Click Next to accept the folder destination.
  7. Click Done.

To create more profiles for other users who want to share this @Home account, quit Netscape Communicator, double-click the User Profile Manager in the Netscape Communicator folder, then start from Step 1.

You can access the online @Home Help for complete information about the features and functionality of the new software.

To access the online @Home Help:
  • Choose @Home Manual from the application Help menu.
    —or—
  • Choose the Help tab and view the @Home User Guide.