SYMPTOMS

Attempts to install Microsoft Word for Windows or other IBM PC-compatible software programs to an MS-DOS compatible Macintosh may fail when you insert Disk 2 into the computer. For example, after you insert Disk 2, you receive a message indicating a system error or that a compressed file cannot be decompressed.

In addition, the Apple utility PC Exchange cannot read the DMF disks.

CAUSE

The Apple SuperDrive does not have the ability to read the Distribution Media Format (DMF) disks used by Microsoft. The Apple SuperDrive can read Disk 1 because it is not formatted using DMF.

RESOLUTION

Obtain the non-DMF formatted disks.

MORE INFORMATION

The following text is from an article posted to the Apple Technical Information Library (TIL)available via Apple's World Wide Web site (http://til.info.apple.com/til/til.html).

DISCUSSION

Microsoft uses a new disk format, DMF (Distributed Media Format) that allows them to ship their software on a small number of disks by using a 1.6 MB floppy disk format. The current PC Compatible (360K/720K/1.4MB) or Apple (400K/800K/1.4MB) floppy drives cannot read this type of format.

The disk set for Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows contains one 1.4 MB disk with an installer program and other 1.6 MB formatted disks. Although the 1.6 MB disks cannot normally be read by the floppy drive, the installer modifies the hardware-level floppy driver and DOS BIOS calls, which enables the PC to read the new format.

However, the Microsoft DMF Installer program is incompatible with the Macintosh DOS Compatible computers, as well as the Insignia SoftWindows product. The installer attempts to modify the DOS BIOS and hardware-level floppy driver, which can not be done in these hardware emulation implementations.

You need to get a copy of the software you want to install on standard PC formatted disks.