Macintosh: Unable to Make Backup Copies of Setup Disks

ID: Q129507

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Office for the Macintosh, versions 4.2, 4.2.1
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft PowerPoint for the Macintosh, versions 4.0, 4.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you try to make backup copies of the Setup disks, the following message may appear:

   There is not enough room on the disk "<DISKNAME>" to copy "InstallPak"
   (an additional 7K must be thrown away first).

The amount of memory specified in the error message (7K in the example above) may vary depending on the disk.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if you are using preformatted Macintosh disks instead of disks that you formatted using the System 7.x. The format information on preformatted disks generally takes up about 10K of the disk. This format information takes up too much room on the disk, leaving insufficient space for the InstallPak file.

When a disk is formatted by System 7.x on a Macintosh, it typically takes up 1K-4K of the disk.

RESOLUTION

You may be able to work around this problem by rebuilding the Desktop file on the disk: this will free up enough space for the InstallPak file to be copied to the backup disk.

To rebuild the Desktop file, press and hold down the Option and Command keys while you insert the blank floppy disk. When you do this, you receive the following message:

   Are you sure you want to rebuild the desktop file on the disk
   "<DISKNAME>"? Comments in info windows will be lost.

If, after rebuilding the Desktop, you are still unable to copy the file, you will need to reformat the disk. To do this:

1. Make sure that you are in the Finder. You may want to hide or Quit from

   applications that are currently open.

2. Insert the blank disk (making sure that the disk is not

   write-protected).

3. Make sure that the disk is selected (highlighted).

4. From the Special menu, choose Erase Disk.

5. Depending on the version of your operating system, you may receive the

   following message:

      Completely erase disk named "<DISKNAME>" (internal drive)?

6. Change the name (optional), make sure that Macintosh 1.4 MB is

   selected, and click the Erase button.

The disk will now be reformatted with sufficient space for the setup files.

Additional reference words: install installer installation diskette diskettes floppies floppy computer Word6 XL5 4.20 4.2.1 5.0 5.0a 6.00 6.0.1

Keywords          : kbsetup offmac 
Version           : MACINTOSH:4.2,4.2.1
Platform          : MACINTOSH

Last Reviewed: November 18, 1997