CopyRoms-0.2.0.sit.zip (20K) Stuffit archive. Includes source code.
CopyRoms is a very simple program to write out a copy of the ROM from a 680x0 Macintosh to an image file. It should work on a Macintosh 128K through to a Macintosh II. It should also work on most other 680x0 Macintosh models, but most haven't been tested. CopyRoms should be able run without crashing on any Macintosh, even if it doesn't succeed in saving a ROM image.
To use, just launch the CopyRoms application. It should write out a file (to the folder containing the application) and then immediately quit. On a Macintosh Plus, or Macintosh 512Ke, it should write out a 128K file called "vMac.ROM". For the name and size of the file written out on some other machines see this list of Macintosh 680x0 models.
If CopyRoms doesn't recognize the ROM, it will write out a 4 byte file called 'Unknown.ROM', containing just the checksum from the start of the ROM. You could send this 4 byte file to me if you'd like CopyRoms to support your 680x0 (not PowerPC or Intel) Macintosh. (Don't send me actual ROM image files.)
CopyRoms has no user interface, and so can be used even on a machine without a working keyboard, mouse, and/or screen. This can be done by preparing a floppy disk with CopyRoms set to be the startup application (in System 6 or earlier, not System 7), and replacing the finder with the "AutoQuit" application. Make sure there is enough free disk space for the ROM image file.
The main difficulty in using CopyRoms is transferring the program to the old Macintosh, and transferring the acquired ROM image to another machine. Modern Macintoshes can't use the 800K floppy disks used by the Mac Plus. The easiest solution is to use a slightly less old Macintosh that can use 800k disks, and that has ethernet or other communication options to talk to more recent machines. Some other possibilities are an AppleTalk/Ethernet converter, an external SCSI drive (though modern Macs can't use external SCSI drives without 3rd party hardware), a null modem cable, or connecting to the internet with a modem. The Macintosh 128K and 512K are even more difficult, since they only understand 400k MFS floppies, and don't have a SCSI port. It is easiest if you also have a Mac Plus.
The ROM image files that CopyRoms saves are copyright Apple Computer, and may not be redistributed.
News:
April 12, 2005 version 0.2.0 adds support for more Macintosh models.