Taking Screenshots and Transfer to PC

[johnnycarpenter]

Hi Guys, not sure this the right forum (mods please move this post where appropriate).

My problem is, I have a desktop Mac computer G3, OS 8.5, i know, it's an old dinosaur, but it works really great (don't all macs?).

But the thing is, I am trying to take screen shots and transfer them to my Windows XP PC, so when I burn the mac screen shot files to cd and try to open them in windows, the PC does not recognize them.

Obviously there is an issue of extension compatibility. I guess what I need is a program I can install on my PC and be able to open/convert to other extensions, i.e., jpeg.

Is there such program and is it free?

Many thanks for any advice!

John

 

[goMac]

PictureViewer for Windows might work, it's part of QuickTime.

OS 8.5 took screenshots in a proprietary Apple format, hence your troubles.

 

[johnnycarpenter]

PictureViewer for Windows might work, it's part of QuickTime.

OS 8.5 took screenshots in a proprietary Apple format, hence your troubles.

Hi Thanks. It doesn't seem to be a program that exists. Are you saying I have to install Quicktime in my PC computer? Or is there a program called pictureviewer? I've seen one or 2 programs called that way but they don't address my problem.

BTW QT is a virulent program that change your preferences and hijacks computers, forcing you to buy the program if one wants to download free mp3's. Don't support software with unethical policies.

 

[ActionableMango]

BTW QT is a virulent program that change your preferences and hijacks computers, forcing you to buy the program if one wants to download free mp3's. Don't support software with unethical policies.

QuickTime does not do that. Maybe you got some virus or malware that pretended to be QuickTime.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

BTW QT is a virulent program that change your preferences and hijacks computers, forcing you to buy the program if one wants to download free mp3's. Don't support software with unethical policies.

If you checked the wrong checkbox during the QT Player installation, you file associations might be ****ed up. But if you have to buy QT Player Pro in order to download MP3s, you may have malware on your system.

 

[johnnycarpenter]

If you checked the wrong checkbox during the QT Player installation, you file associations might be ****ed up. But if you have to buy QT Player Pro in order to download MP3s, you may have malware on your system.

Well, No... it's not a malware issue in my PC, and, it's just not me, but a dozen other people I know. Quicktime is a ****ed up program for sure, they make it look like they are giving you something for free, then when you need to download the mp3 file, they ask you to upgrade to the "pro" version and pay like $30. You can hear the file but not download.

Regardless, I'm not here to discuss that program. I need a solution. I still don't know or understand how to transfer and convert those simpletext picture formatted files to a PC. I am afraid the only solution would be to install Photoshop in the Mac then convert the screenshots to jpg, then transfer to PC. The problem is the old Photoshop I used to own is no longer with me.

 

[LeandrodaFL]

Friend, honestly, quicktime is one of the best players for media in Windows..Ive used for a long time. It has a free version and its doesnt give you any headaches whatsoever...I think you were listening to the wrong advices.

You can download quicktime + itunes free on apples website. Try to see if your problem is resolved.

anyway, you may try to convert the image to jpg inside your Mac, then transfer to your windows machine.

May I ask, why you like running XP and a G3? I would have upgraded to MacMini, windows 7

 

[goMac]

Hi Thanks. It doesn't seem to be a program that exists. Are you saying I have to install Quicktime in my PC computer? Or is there a program called pictureviewer? I've seen one or 2 programs called that way but they don't address my problem.

QuickTime is the only free solution I know of. It's that or nothing. Take your pick.

 

[ActionableMango]

Well, No... it's not a malware issue in my PC, and, it's just not me, but a dozen other people I know. Quicktime is a ****ed up program for sure, they make it look like they are giving you something for free, then when you need to download the mp3 file, they ask you to upgrade to the "pro"version and pay like $30. You can hear the file but not download.

I have QT installed on all of my computers, I have never paid for Pro, and I can download MP3s just fine. You have your associations set to QT so MP3s are automatically sent to QT and played there.

I still don't know or understand how to transfer and convert those simpletext picture formatted files to a PC. I am afraid the only solution would be to install Photoshop in the Mac then convert the screenshots to jpg, then transfer to PC. The problem is the old Photoshop I used to own is no longer with me.

Your screenshots are in SimpleText format? I don't think you are making any sense.

I supported OS8 a LOOOOOONG time ago, so my memory may be faulty, but to the best of my knowledge, OS8 screenshots would be QuickDraw/PICT.

Copy the screen shot files from the CD to the hard drive on the PC. Rename the files so the file extensions are .PIC or .PICT, and most any good picture convertor will be able to deal with it. If yours does not, just do a google search for shareware/freeware that converts PICT.

 

[AdeFowler]

Well, No... it's not a malware issue in my PC, and, it's just not me, but a dozen other people I know. Quicktime is a ****ed up program for sure, they make it look like they are giving you something for free, then when you need to download the mp3 file, they ask you to upgrade to the "pro"version and pay like $30. You can hear the file but not download.

Who are you talking about when you say 'they'? Apple don't sell or distribute mp3 files. A PC can play an mp3 file without Quicktime.

 

[goMac]

I supported OS8 a LOOOOOONG time ago, so my memory may be faulty, but to the best of my knowledge, OS8 screenshots would be QuickDraw/PICT.

Copy the screen shot files from the CD to the hard drive on the PC. Rename the files so the file extensions are .PIC or .PICT, and most any good picture convertor will be able to deal with it. If yours does not, just do a google search for shareware/freeware that converts PICT.

PICT is a little more difficult for most PC programs to convert. It's basically a bunch of QuickDraw commands, so on platforms that don't have QuickDraw, it's a PITA to open. The reason QuickTime does the trick is because QuickTime has the QuickDraw extension built in, even on Windows.

 

[johnnycarpenter]

QuickTime is the only free solution I know of. It's that or nothing. Take your pick.

I already tried that along with a program called picture viewer which you can not use unless you got QT installed. . It doesn't work. When you try to open, it gives you an error message -4345 or something like.

I am tired of being told how great QuickTime is, when I know better. The problem I described has happened to me and many people I know a number of times. That makes it a deceitful program not "great". I did notice today however, that on the install I got from Apple this time, I saw a button that gives you the option to change Myme and file associations. This is right before you can click on the 'Finish' installation button. I clicked on it to check it out and sure enough, all my file association settings were going to be changed by Quicktime, including how I open other file types on my PC. So, I had to un-check everything and just leave the open .MOV files in QT option on. How many people will do what I did? You tell me you wise guys.

I can't believe this problem has never been reported before. Irrelevant, that's not what I came here for.

The only apparent way to transfer PICT files (the old MAC screen shots format) to any PC Windows computer for free, is to have a graphic design program already installed in the MAC, so you can convert to jpeg and then transfer to a PC. IOW, there isn't such thing.

You are welcome.

 

[goMac]

IOW, there isn't such thing.

Sure there is. PictureViewer on the Mac.

Or any other classic Mac editor, like GraphicConverter. Again, because PICT is serialized QuickDraw, almost any Mac program can read it.

(Classic Mac program that is, NOT Mac OS X. Especially recent versions.)

 

[johnnycarpenter]

Sure there is. PictureViewer on the Mac.

Or any other classic Mac editor, like GraphicConverter. Again, because PICT is serialized QuickDraw, almost any Mac program can read it.

(Classic Mac program that is, NOT Mac OS X. Especially recent versions.)

Yes Thank you. But that's the problem. I don't have any graphic design software on my Mac. I thought there would be at least one program in the world that could open the proprietary format for MAC screen shots from a regular Windows PC (free).

----------

Your screenshots are in SimpleText format? I don't think you are making any sense.

No, not "SimpleText" but SimpleText Picture. At least that's how it's defined in the "Kind" definitions column. The program that opens it on the Mac is Simple Text viewer though.

Which make me suspect if they are at all PICT files.

 

[goMac]

Yes Thank you. But that's the problem. I don't have any graphic design software on my Mac. I thought there would be at least one program in the world that could open the proprietary format for MAC screen shots from a regular Windows PC (free).

So grab an old copy of QuickTime for 8.5 that includes PictureViewer. It might already be on there.

Or an old copy of GraphicConverter. Or pretty much any free editor for the Mac that works with 8.5.

 

[johnnycarpenter]

So grab an old copy of QuickTime for 8.5 that includes PictureViewer. It might already be on there.

Or an old copy of GraphicConverter. Or pretty much any free editor for the Mac that works with 8.5.

Quicktime 3 is what I got, and both QT and Pictureviewer for MAC don't have SAVE AS option. Where do you find free programs for MAC 8.5 these days?

 

[goMac]

Quicktime 3 is what I got, and both QT and Pictureviewer for MAC don't have SAVE AS option. Where do you find free programs for MAC 8.5 these days?

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=graphic+converter+classic&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Which leads to....

http://www.lemkesoft.com/content/207/download-old-versions.html

I mentioned GraphicConverter by name.

 

[johnnycarpenter]

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=graphic+converter+classic&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Which leads to....

http://www.lemkesoft.com/content/207/download-old-versions.html

I mentioned GraphicConverter by name.

Thanks very much for taking the time.
I tried first the 8.6 version and didn't work (my Mac is 8.5, duh?)
I tried the 7.X PPC version and it asked me to install a missing extension. I didn't find it on the web. So i dropped it.
I installed the 68K version (for the hell of it), it opened up, and asked me to use the PPC version

Then, went blank for a few seconds and then 3 buttons showed up:
Buy it, Cancel, Try It.

So I clicked on "Try It" and it worked. what a program, it's like Swiss knife for conversions and it's compatible with formats i didn't even know exist. It converted all my screenshots fast. The best format for accuracy in color and smaller size, appears to be PICT which I opened in PS.

The program is compressed as .sit, then when unstuffed, it becomes a .smi File. If you just click on it, you may think that nothing happened, but you need to look at what appears on your desktop. A new folder is created and you are now supposed to drag the program's files to the hard disk.

When you do get all screen shots converted, make sure you burn them to CD as ISO files or you'll have a coaster.

This is been a convoluted process which took 2 hours, but was worth it to me.

I just hope that in 15 days, I won't be seeing an error message saying "Your Free Trial Has Expired".

Thanks for your help goMac