How to install 7.5.3 (or other 7.x) on a Mac SE?

Question

Hi all
I rescued this Mac SE from being trashed... it's working fine and has System 7.1 on it. I even managed to get a LocalTalk to Ethernet bridge, but AppleTalk doesn't seem to work properly. It says it can't be loaded when I try to activate it, and when I try to start FileSharing Monitor, it's telling me something about AppleShare server software being installed. No idea, what this is and how I can get rid of it (my first Mac was a PM 7200 with 7.5.3).
I'd like to install a new system, 7.5.3 if this is possible, or some older 7.x. I found the 7.5.3 software, but it only comes in packages of 1.4MB, and the SE only takes 800K floppies... anything I could do there? Or shall I go for 7.0.1 instead? I found 800K images for this system.
Now, no matter which system I'm finally going to install, how do I go about it? My old 7200 already had a CD drive, and my computer before that was a C64... so I don't know how this is supposed to work. The HD seems to be partitioned, which I don't like too much. Can I boot from a floppy and format the HD? Or should I leave it as it is?
Could someone talk me through it, please? I still have the 7200, I could use it for making the floppies, and I also have an USB floppy drive (which maybe won't write to 800K disks, I didn't try yet).
Yet another question: I also got hold of a Powerbook 170 which is currently running system 7.0.1. I managed to connect it to my network, and it can even see my G5 (running 10.4.3), but when I try to connect, it tells me that the AFP protocols are not compatible - sniff! Anything I could do to get this to work? A colleague of mine suggested trying FTP... but MacTCP came only later, and isn't this required for using Fetch or some other FTP software?
Thanks for any ideas, Tina

Answer 1

Hi Tina
Lot of questions
1)You should first check the built-in memory before upgrading OS.My SE has got 2,5 MB and works with 7.0 including LocalTalk for Filesharing.
2) Did you get a Hardware or Software LocalTalk to Ethernet-Software LocalTalk Ethernet bridge works only up to 7.6.1-can't connect to Internet at all! The Hardware LocalTalk to Ethernet I've got(Farallon EtherPrint) isn't able to connect over TCP/IP.
3) IF you want to install 7.5.3(needs 8 MB RAM I believe) you can download the complete System in one Folder, transport this folder unexpanded to your SE HD via LocalTalk
connection/FileSharing-and expand there with Stuffit 4.0.1,
this Stuffit-Version can be installed via PC/MacDisk.Exe and 1,44 MB Drive only.You can try to copy Stuffit via LocalTalk to SE from 7200(accepts PC Disks)
IF you can download on PC/you can burn a CD with NERO,slow Speed,ISO 9660 und transport this CD to your 7200.IF you can burn this CD likewise(unexpanded,without forks) you can download on a MAC
4) FileSharing with 10.4 Macs isn't possible(therefore not the correct AFP-protocol)-but you can connect(using EThernet to AppleTalk-Hardware. You may look at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301183
http://homepage.mac.com/car1son/os9xnet_nfilesharing.html
You may search for Ed Hurtley in older software; he has connected with likewise systems.
HTH