Member Avatar for ElVientoLL

Does anyone know a place to locate the Mac driver for LaserWriter 4/600 PS? I have searched all over the internet and have come up empty (including and the apple site). Thanks-

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Short, practical follow‑up:

The Apple LaserWriter 4/600 PS is a PostScript Level‑2 printer that uses LocalTalk for connectivity — it can usually be driven with a proper PostScript PPD or the system’s generic PostScript driver. (support.apple.com)

For modern Macs (OS X / macOS) or Linux the fastest route is to add the printer and choose a Generic PostScript driver or supply a matching PPD. If the model isn’t in the OS driver list, grab a LaserWriter 4/600 PPD (or the generic PostScript PPD) and point the print queue at it — CUPS will accept a PPD and provide basic PostScript printing without vendor software. This avoids hunting for obsolete installer packs that sometimes only contain readmes. ()

If the unit only exposes a LocalTalk port you’ll need a LocalTalk↔Ethernet bridge (Asanté, Farallon EtherMac/iPrint, Dayna EtherPrint, etc.) to put the printer on a modern network. Once bridged set AppleTalk/Network to use Ethernet (or add the bridged queue by IP/LPD/IPP) and use the Generic PostScript/PPD approach above. Bridge manuals and reviews show how the adapters present LocalTalk devices to an Ethernet Mac. ()

For classic Mac OS systems (7.6–9.2.x) ‘s LaserWriter‑8.x approach is the right vintage solution — Apple still hosts LaserWriter 8.x resources for older systems if a full classic driver install is needed. If a downloaded driver appears to be only text, inspect the installer or disk image for a “Printer Descriptions”/PPD file rather than discarding it; extracting the PPD is often all that’s required. (support.apple.com)

Relevant quick checks: confirm the printer label/model, verify LocalTalk cabling/termination, test with a simple PostScript file, and try the Generic PostScript driver before chasing obscure archives.

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Member Avatar for Slade

ElVientoLL,
I found the driver at the following url. vbmenu_register("postmenu_24846", true);
http://www.printer-drivers.com/drivers/29/29617.htm

If you need drivers in the future I recommend you register with www.driverguide.com

Hope i helped
Thanks,

Slade :cheesy:

*PPD-Adobe: "4.2"
*% Adobe Systems PostScript(R) Printer Description File
*% Copyright 1987-1996 Adobe Systems Incorporated. 
*% All Rights Reserved. 
*% Permission is granted for redistribution of this file as
*% long as this copyright notice is intact and the contents
*% of the file is not altered in any way from its original form.
*% End of Copyright statement
*FormatVersion: "4.2"
*FileVersion: "4.0"
*LanguageEncoding: ISOLatin1
*LanguageVersion: English
*PCFileName: "APLWTQ1.PPD"
*Product: "(LaserWriter 4/600 PS)"
*PSVersion: "(2014.107) 1"
*ModelName: "Apple LaserWriter 4/600 PS"
*ShortNickName: "Apple LaserWriter 4/600 PS"
*NickName: "Apple LaserWriter 4/600 PS v2014.107"

*% === Options and Constraints =========

*OpenGroup: InstallableOptions/Options Installed
*OpenUI *InstalledMemory/Memory Configuration: PickOne
*DefaultInstalledMemory: None
*InstalledMemory None/Standard 2 MB: ""
*InstalledMemory 6Meg/Upgrade to 6 MB: ""
*?InstalledMemory: "
	save
	(None)currentsystemparams /RamSize get
	6291456 eq{pop (6Meg)}if = flush
	restore
"
*End
*CloseUI: *InstalledMemory
*CloseGroup: InstallableOptions

*UIConstraints: *PageSize Monarch *InputSlot Cassette
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Comm10 *InputSlot Cassette
*UIConstraints: *PageSize C5 *InputSlot Cassette
*UIConstraints: *PageSize DL *InputSlot Cassette

*% ==== Device Capabilities ===============
*LanguageLevel: "2"
*TTRasterizer: Type42
*?TTRasterizer: "
	save
	42 /FontType resourcestatus
	{pop pop (Type42)}{(None)}ifelse = flush
	restore
"
*End

*FreeVM: "481544"
*VMOption None/Standard 2 MB: "481544"
*VMOption 6Meg/Upgrade to 6 MB: "1607044"
*ColorDevice: False
*DefaultColorSpace: Gray
*VariablePaperSize: False
*FileSystem: False
*Throughput: "4"
*Password: "()" 
*ExitServer: "
count 0 eq
{ false } { true exch startjob } ifelse
not { 
	(WARNING: Cannot modify initial VM.) =
	(Missing or invalid password.) =
	(Please contact the author of this software.) = flush quit
	} if
"
*End
*Reset: "
count 0 eq
{ false } { true exch startjob } ifelse
not { 
	(WARNING: Cannot reset printer.) =
	(Missing or invalid password.) =
	(Please contact the author of this software.) = flush quit
	} if
systemdict /quit get exec
(WARNING : Printer Reset Failed.) = flush
"
*End

*DefaultResolution: 600dpi
*?Resolution: "
	save
	initgraphics
	0 0 moveto currentpoint matrix defaultmatrix transform
	0 72 lineto currentpoint matrix defaultmatrix transform
	3 -1 roll sub dup mul
	3 1 roll exch sub dup mul
	add sqrt round cvi
	(          ) cvs print (dpi) = flush
	restore
"
*End

*% Halftone Information ===============
*ScreenFreq: "106.0"
*ScreenAngle: "45.0"
*DefaultScreenProc: Dot
*ScreenProc Dot: "
{abs	exch   abs   2 copy   add   1 gt   {1 sub   dup   mul   exch  
1 sub	dup   mul   add   1 sub  } {dup   mul   exch   dup   mul  
add	1 exch   sub  } ifelse  }
"
*End
*ScreenProc Line: "{ pop }"
*ScreenProc Ellipse: "{ dup 5 mul 8 div mul exch dup mul exch add sqrt 1 exch sub }"

*DefaultTransfer: Null
*Transfer Null: "{ }"
*Transfer Null.Inverse: "{ 1 exch sub }"

*% Paper Handling ===================

*% Code in this section both selects a tray and sets up a frame buffer.
*OpenUI *PageSize: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *PageSize
*DefaultPageSize: Letter
*PageSize Letter/US Letter: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 792] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 792] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Legal/US Legal: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 1008] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 1008] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize A4: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [595 842] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [595 842] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize B5: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [516 729] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [516 729] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Executive: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [522 756] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [522 756] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize LetterSmall/US Letter Small: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 792] put dup /ImagingBBox [25 25 587 767] put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 792] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize A4Small/A4 Small: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [595 842] put dup /ImagingBBox [25 25 570 817] put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [595 842] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize LegalSmall/US Legal Small: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 1008] put dup /ImagingBBox [25 25 587 983] put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 1008] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Monarch/Monarch Envelope: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [279 540] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [279 540] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize Comm10/Comm10 Envelope: " 
	3 dict dup /PageSize [297 684] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [297 684] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize C5/C5 Envelope: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [459 649] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [459 649] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageSize DL/DL Envelope: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [312 624] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [312 624] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*?PageSize: "
	save
	currentpagedevice /PageSize get aload pop
	2 copy gt {exch} if 
	(Unknown) 
	9 dic
	dup [612 792] (Letter) put
	dup [612 1008] (Legal) put
	dup [595 842] (A4) put
	dup [516 729] (B5) put
	dup [522 756] (Executive) put
	dup [297 684] (Comm10) put
	dup [279 540] (Monarch) put
	dup [459 649] (C5) put
	dup [312 624] (DL) put
{ exch aload pop 4 index sub abs 5 le exch 
	5 index sub abs 5 le and 
	{exch pop exit} {pop} ifelse
	} bind forall
	= flush pop pop
	restore
"
*End
*CloseUI: *PageSize

*OpenUI *PageRegion: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 20 AnySetup *PageRegion
*DefaultPageRegion: Letter
*PageRegion Letter/US Letter: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 792] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 792] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Legal/US Legal: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 1008] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 1008] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion A4: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [595 842] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [595 842] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion B5: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [516 729] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [516 729] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Executive: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [522 756] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [522 756] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion LetterSmall/US Letter Small: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 792] put dup /ImagingBBox [25 25 587 767] put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 792] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion A4Small/A4 Small: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [595 842] put dup /ImagingBBox [25 25 570 817] put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [595 842] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion LegalSmall/US Legal Small: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [612 1008] put dup /ImagingBBox [25 25 587 983] put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [612 1008] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Monarch/Monarch Envelope: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [279 540] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [279 540] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion Comm10/Comm10 Envelope: " 
	3 dict dup /PageSize [297 684] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [297 684] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion C5/C5 Envelope: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [459 649] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [459 649] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*PageRegion DL/DL Envelope: "
	3 dict dup /PageSize [312 624] put dup /ImagingBBox null put
	dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup 0 1 dict dup
	/PageSize [312 624] put put put setpagedevice"
*End
*CloseUI: *PageRegion

*% The following entries provide information about specific paper keywords.
*DefaultImageableArea: Letter
*ImageableArea Letter/US Letter: "7.08 9.6601 598.44 780.3 "
*ImageableArea Legal/US Legal: "7.2 9.06 598.56 997.38 "
*ImageableArea A4: "6.96 9.6601 579.12 832.86 "
*ImageableArea B5: "7.2 9.6601 502.56 722.7 "
*ImageableArea Executive: "6.4801 9.6601 513.36 749.82 "
*ImageableArea Comm10/Comm10 Envelope: "6.4801 6.0601 294.48 672.06 "
*ImageableArea Monarch/Monarch Envelope: "6.48 4.2601 275.28 526.26 "
*ImageableArea C5/C5 Envelope: "6.4801 6.06 448.08 643.02 "
*ImageableArea DL/DL Envelope: "6.48 8.4601 306.0 614.46 "
*ImageableArea LetterSmall/US Letter Small: "31 31 583 761 "
*ImageableArea A4Small/A4 Small: "29 31 567 812 "
*ImageableArea LegalSmall/US Legal Small: "64 54 548 954 "
*?ImageableArea: "
save
	/cvp { (                ) cvs print ( ) print } bind def
	/upperright {10000 mul floor 10000 div} bind def
	/lowerleft {10000 mul ceiling 10000 div} bind def
	newpath clippath pathbbox
	4 -2 roll exch 2 {lowerleft cvp} repeat
	exch 2 {upperright cvp} repeat flush
restore
"
*End

*% These provide the physical dimensions of the paper (by keyword)
*DefaultPaperDimension: Letter
*PaperDimension Letter/US Letter: "612 792"
*PaperDimension Legal/US Legal: "612 1008"
*PaperDimension A4: "595 842"
*PaperDimension B5: "516 729"
*PaperDimension Executive: "522 756"
*PaperDimension LetterSmall/US Letter Small: "612 792"
*PaperDimension A4Small/A4 Small: "595 842"
*PaperDimension LegalSmall/US Legal Small: "612 1008"
*PaperDimension Comm10/Comm10 Envelope: "297 684"
*PaperDimension Monarch/Monarch Envelope: "279 540"
*PaperDimension C5/C5 Envelope: "459 6
Member Avatar for ElVientoLL

Hi Slade,

Thanks - but I had already been there..thus my angst. Printer-drivers.com links to driverguide.com and the file to download turns out to be only a text document. It is frustrating... You'd think this wouldn't be so hard to find. But I appreciate your suggestion!

ElvientoLL

Member Avatar for Slade

Found another file at , hope this helps, I know what a pain it is to have to go looking for drivers.


Thanks for putting up with my ill suggestions heh,

Slade

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

Which Mac OS are you looking to add the printer to? Are you looking for an OS 9 or an OS X driver?

The Laserwriter Pro 4/600 PS is a Postscript printer, and you would be able to use other Postscript drivers such as the HP 4 series drivers, or perhaps the HP 5. Other Generic postscript drivers should be usable too. According to Mactracker, the printer was released in 1995, so any of the generic postscript drivers should work just fine. I do not see any special options with the printer, such as a duplexor engine, or post-processing options (stapler), so you should be all set.

Let me know if you need OS 9 drivers.... I know I have that one around.

Christian

Member Avatar for DanMc

I know you have posted this article quite some time ago, but thought that maybe someone else out there might appreciate knowing how to solve this problem. You see, I was having this problem myself and found there was a few simple steps necessary to resolve this issue.

This post is relevant to people using Mac OS system 7.6.1 to 9.2.2. I have tested this on machines running Mac OS 7.6.1, 8.6 and 9.2.2. Any version of OSX, I do not know myself.

You need one of two software components: a.) Laserwriter 8.5.1 install image (from apple.com) OR b.) Laserwriter 8.6.x (any version of this 8.6 software will work.)

1st, install the Laserwriter software if you are running OS 8.1 or later.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE:
IF YOU ARE RUNNING IN SYSTEM 8.0 OR SYSTEM 7, YOU MUST DO THIS:
1.) Install the laserwriter 8 software from one of the install images I have just mentioned above onto a volume RUNNING SYSTEM 8.1 - 9.2.2. (Restart after installing.)
2.) On THAT drive, open the System Folder and go into the Extensions folder.
3.) Find the "Laserwriter 8" extension and a folder called "Printer Descriptions".
4.) Copy the Laserwriter 8 extensions and Printer Descriptions folder... (either from over the network, from a partitioned hard drive, or by being copied to another disk such as a floppy or CD-ROM)
5.) Copy these onto the SYSTEM 8.0 or SYSTEM 7 machine and drag them into the Extensions folder of THAT system/computer. (Restart the computer.)
*For some reason that is beyond my comprehensive grasp, Apple has ceased support for a driver that supports this printer under versions of system software prior to OS 8.1. Believe me, I had to figure this out ON MY OWN, and IT WAS FRUSTRATING!! :sad:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd, you must have open transport version 1.1.1 or later installed.
3rd, IN THE APPLETALK CONTROL PANEL, you must have the "connect via" tab set to "printer port."
*This was the hardest thing for me to figure out. Nowhere does the manual or otherwise mention that this printer utilizes an Appletalk printing protocol. So, contrary to other people's posts; the PRINTER DOES NOT USE AN "HP Printing Protocol" Under the Mac OS, sorry PC guys that were trying to be helpful.
4.) Close the Appletalk window and hit "Save."
:!:Note that this might (and most likely WILL) disrupt any and all network activity on the computer you are doing this at once you hit "Save."
5.) Open the Chooser and click on "Laserwriter" or on some machines will appear "Laserwriter 8."
6.) It will prompt for you to choose a Postscript printer. At this point, your printer should appear. If not, you have either done something wrong, or your computer does not support this printer, or you have installed something that conflicts with the laserwriter 8 extension, or the printer's internal RAM itself may need to be reset.
:idea: You can reset the printer's RAM by going into the "Apple Desktop Printer Utility" (usually in the Apple Extras(; Printing) Folder.
:idea:Also keep in mind, and I know you may hate to hear this; but MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CABLE PLUGGED INTO THE PRINTER PORT AND NOT THE MODEM PORT. Don't laugh guys, because I did it, and that was the biggest part of my trouble. Also worth mentioning, (again, DON'T LAUGH;) make sure the printer is plugged into the electrical outlet and that there isn't anything wrong with the printer that would keep the computer from recognizing it.:!:

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