USB Overdrive 1.4
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Alessandro Levi Montalcini |
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USB_Overdrive_1.4.sit (226.33 KB)
MD5: 14f279de3c9b4d8b77da2b937e6ecfcc For Mac OS 8.5 - 8.6 - Mac OS 9
This software is still available for purchase
The USB Overdrive is a universal USB driver for Classic OS that handles all USB mice, trackballs, joysticks and gamepads from any manufacturer and lets you configure them either globally or on an application-specific basis. It reads all kinds of wheels, buttons, switches and controls and supports scrolling, keyboard emulation, launching and complex macros as well as all the usual stuff like clicking, control-clicking and so forth. The USB Overdrive can easily handle several USB devices at once - I have two mice, one trackball, two joysticks and one gamepad connected to the same iMac, and each of them comes from a different manufacturer.
See also: USB Overdrive X
Later Versions for OS X and Windows are available from the author: http://www.usboverdrive.com/
CompatibilityArchitecture: PPC
Mac OS 8.5 or higher
Comments
I find USB Overdrive 1.4 one of those few quintessential Mac OS applications that you simply don't want to use the system without. With that said, I was quite disappointed to learn most USB mice sold in the market will work under Mac OS 9 as expected (without scrolling wheel, right-clicking etc.), but will NOT work correctly at all with USB Overdrive 1.4 installed: it's not just right-clicking that doesn't work, but often the mouse cursor will only move using 1 axis, and/or get the axis or axis direction mixed up, or, as is often the case, not move at all.
In short, quite often, USB Overdrive 1.4 won't just not work, it will also break whatever else the mouse could do prior to its installation.
Because of this, I decided to throw together a little list of mice I personally tested:
Mice that work:
- Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse v2.0 (Model: 1113) (looks like this. Very light and smooth to slide, as well as ergonomic and comfortable)
Mice that do NOT work right:
- HP USB 3 Button Mouse
- Microsoft 4FD-00023 - COMFOR MOUSE 4500
- Lenovo ThinkPad USB Laser Mouse (this mouse is stupidly good, though)
- Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse
- Vivanco-branded optical mouse (mine looked just like this one, wired)
- Nacon-branded optical """gaming""" mouse (looked like this. This mouse sucks anyway, though, considering other options)
For the record, using an ATEN DVI KVM, USB Overdrive will also not work its magic on an otherwise-supported mouse, unless if you connect your mouse to the designated KVM mouse port. At least, that's the behavior I got when plugging the mouse on the Apple keyboard, which is a USB hub, which was connected to the keyboard KVM port.
Hopefully this will be helpful to some.
No fault of this software. SheepShaver (at this point in time) does not emulate a USB port, so it cannot recognize USB devices. If you need at least basic right-button clicking with a mouse you can use TheMouse2B with SheepShaver.
Is it working with Sheepshaver, it seems its not.
No longer works on my PowerMac G4 MMD on Mac OS 9.2.2. Right click bombs the computer.
Going by the description above, I would think so, yes.
But these "programs" (Control Panels & Extensions) are easy to try out for yourself. Just add them to the appropriate System Folder, restart the Mac. If it works for you, good. If not, simply remove the CP or Extn from its location and restart. You'd be no worse off than before you began.
I want to know if this program can handle two gamepads at once (for Mac games with simultaneous 2-player support). If not, is there any program that could do that (for Mac OS 9)? Thanks.
There is registration information included with this download.
does anyone know if the public version of this program actually stops the mouse + keyboard from working temporarily if not registered?