gd0

Q: Changed Startup Disk, need info on Finder

First issue: I am stuck with this system, cannot afford any upgrades.

 

Second issue is just a request for information.

 

The now-five-years-old internal HD started to show signs of instability (struggled with backups via SuperDuper etc). So I assigned Startup Disk to one of three external HDs (two 500G, one 160G (I am unable to edit my gear profile here for some reason)).

 

First time I'd done this, and everything appears to work fine.

 

I noticed that I needed to replace the Aliases in the Dock, so that apps would launch from the Startup Disk and all work going forward gets done here. I'm content to never access the internal HD again (it's old and too small at its max 160G size).

 

I further noticed that the Finder and Dashboard aliases are not replaceable as I did the above alias swaps. Is the fact that I've changed the Startup Disk enough to ensure that the Finder is operating on the new Startup and not the old, dying internal HD? Or am I misunderstanding the procedure to begin with?

 

Just want to completely bypass the internal without disconnecting it outright. Just trying to confirm if I am already doing that.

 

Am I missing anything basic?

 

Thanx in advance.

Power Mac G4 PPC, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 667 MHz / 160G int / 160G ext / 1.5G RAM / DSL

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 2:37 PM

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Q: Changed Startup Disk, need info on Finder

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  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 13, 2012 5:32 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 5:32 PM in response to BDAqua

    /Volumes shows no extras, only the HDs I have, including their named partitions.

     

    Hex: No install needed, right? Which one of these things is the HexEdit icon? The only thing ID'd as an App is named 68K, dated 2003.

     

    hex.jpg

     

    hex2.jpg

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 13, 2012 5:50 PM in response to gd0
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 5:50 PM in response to gd0

    I went ahead and drag-n-dropped a TE file onto the only thing in the Hex folder that would open - the 68K - and it requires OS9 to do so. I removed OS9 from this system a long time ago.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 13, 2012 6:15 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 6:15 PM in response to gd0

    I think you got the wrong version, I have 1.8.9 here, but about to try 2.2.0...

     

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/hexedit/files/HexEdit/

     

    Yes 2.20 works fine also.

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 13, 2012 6:30 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 6:30 PM in response to BDAqua

    The other one is to look at fork data not normally seen.

     

    Get HexEdit and open that file for a look...

    http://hexedit.sourceforge.net/

    Open one of those say... txt files that wishes to open on the internal, or drop it on HexEdit's icon, under it's File menu choose Edit other Fork... if it warns you that it doesn't have another fork then exit/cancel, & forget this angle, if it does open a Window to this other fork look for the internal drive's name and app... just report, do not edit.

     

    Reporting.

     

    Found 220, dropped TE file, no warning issued, big list of number-gibberish.

     

    EDIT: forget above, I'm new to this... window says my TE file "has no RSRC fork. Do you wish to create this fork?" Notes says creating fork allows add data to the file etc.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 13, 2012 6:37 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 6:37 PM in response to gd0

    OK, in the Rsrc Fork look for an App's name...

    HexEditRsrcFork.jpg

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 13, 2012 6:41 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 6:41 PM in response to BDAqua

    First, do I click Yes or No to "Do you wish to create this fork?"

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 13, 2012 6:49 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 6:49 PM in response to gd0

    No, do not create it, forget this angle then it's not that then.

     

    under it's File menu choose Edit other Fork... if it warns you that it doesn't have another fork then exit/cancel, & forget this angle...

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 13, 2012 8:10 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 8:10 PM in response to BDAqua

    One little behavior detail I just noticed.

     

    I created a new TextEdit file by first launching the App from the Dock.

     

    While that App was visibly correctly open in the Dock, double-clicking other existing TE files resulted in them opening in the Dock app. If the Dock app is quit, then double-clicking the files reverts to incorrect launch from internal HD.

     

    FWIW.

  • by BDAqua,Solvedanswer

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 13, 2012 9:47 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 9:47 PM in response to gd0

    Great work!

     

    But some very mysterious thing is at work, & despite my efforts am unable to repeat it or figure out what it may be.

     

    Still, 2 things... I think 7you may have a "workaround", secondly we need to see why disconnecting the internal drive doesn't a;;ow Option key booting from the FW drive!?

     

    What Firmware version do tou have, does it need an update?

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1395?viewlocale=en_US

     

    At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac, then click on More Info, then click on Hardware> and report this upto but not including the Serial#...

     

    Hardware Overview:

     

    Model Name: eMac

    Model Identifier: PowerMac6,4

    Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.2)

    Processor Speed: 1.42 GHz

    Number Of CPUs: 1

    L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB

    Memory: 2 GB

    Bus Speed: 167 MHz

    Boot ROM Version: 4.9.2f1

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 13, 2012 10:21 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 10:21 PM in response to BDAqua

    What Firmware version do tou have, does it need an update?

     

    The list suggests my G4 (Digital Audio) can take an update, BUT it says there...

     

    "Important: These firmware updates cannot be installed when the computer is started up from Mac OS X. In order to install them, you must start up the computer from a Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9 System Folder on the computer's hard disk (not from a CD). See the hardware and software requirements listed for each installer for details."

     

    I have no OS9 on this machine, trashed it all long ago (not sure if I have an Installer CD). Furthermore, I don't have a working DVD drive to re-load OSX in case I had to do that (unless that can be done from an available external HD).

     

    Requested Hardware Overview (the Serial # is curiously missing):

     

    Hardware Overview:

     

      Machine Name:          Power Mac G4

      Machine Model:          PowerMac3,4

      CPU Type:          PowerPC G4  (2.0)

      Number Of CPUs:          1

      CPU Speed:          667 MHz

      L2 Cache (per CPU):          256 KB

      L3 Cache (per CPU):          1 MB

      Memory:          1.5 GB

      Bus Speed:          133 MHz

      Boot ROM Version:          4.1.8f5

     

     

    Still, 2 things... I think 7you may have a "workaround", secondly we need to see why disconnecting the internal drive doesn't a;;ow Option key booting from the FW drive!?

     

    Looking back in this thread (and that takes a while), I don't remember doing an Option boot after disconnecting the internal HD. Pretty sure I simply hit the button on the tower, and nothing else.

     

    Would that be a difference-maker?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 13, 2012 10:30 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 10:30 PM in response to gd0

    Would that be a difference-maker?

    Quite possibly, but I think you really ned the Firmware update... whatever it takes to get OS9 installed again.

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 13, 2012 11:32 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 11:32 PM in response to BDAqua

    Nuts.

     

    I apparently have OS9 on the G4 Install CD. Also found this on my system: "There is no volume with a Mac OS9 system folder for Classic to use."

     

    The learning curve for me to get to OS9 and then back to OSX - without losing anything - looks like days. If i have to buy something (eg DVD drive to install OSX), make that weeks; income's down to a trickle.

     

    That article reads like this is something that should have been done when i first installed OSX.

     

    Any harm in just living with this? As long as projects get saved in the Startup HD, does it matter where the App comes from? Following that train of thought, would it be feasible to trash the Apps from the internal HD, "forcing" files to open using the correct App source, esp if those few file types have an Open-With-Other>Change-All reassignment?

     

    Otherwise, should I try the internal disconnect again, with an Option boot?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 13, 2012 11:44 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 13, 2012 11:44 PM in response to gd0

    Try disconnecting the internal drive & Option boot for sure.

     

    Any harm in just living with this?

    No harm.

     

    income's down to a trickle.

    I'm losing about a grand a week in my biz, probably my last month n Biz after 40 years, tell me your problems again!

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 14, 2012 10:35 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 14, 2012 10:35 AM in response to BDAqua

    I'm losing about a grand a week in my biz, probably my last month n Biz after 40 years, tell me your problems again!

    Sorry to hear this, I'm roughly in the same boat after 30-something yrs. I asked the Magic 8-Ball about my future and the reply was "Walmart Greeter."

     

    Try disconnecting the internal drive & Option boot for sure.

    Tried this. The blue-grey screen showed up with the two arrows (circle (restart/reload?) and forward (proceed)), but no HD choices as i'd seen at other times. Clicking forward arrow did nothing. Apparently the internal HD really, really wants to be involved.

     

     

    No harm.

    Possibly the most encouraging response in this entire oddball issue.   Now that I know how, I can drag-n-drop files to launch in the Startup, if I thought that was important. Everything else seems to work.

     

    I might tinker with reassigning the Startup to another external. And/or, if can even find a 160G (cheap), just replace the internal and revert that to Startup just for peace of mind.

     

    One more thought... what if I backed up (via SuperDuper) my current main drive (the external Startup) to the internal HD? Is that even possible, or advisable?

     

    Or better yet, just land the project I'm bidding on, which includes a new Mac & Creative Suite upgrade.

     

    So...

     

    I think we may be near the end of this road. Thanks as always - you surely know where the bodies are buried in these machines. I want to acknowledge by way of marking 'correct' or 'helpful' posts, but which ones? Guessing the firmware update is the most recent resolution, though I'm not able to do that at this time.

     

    Thanks again!

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 14, 2012 10:47 AM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 14, 2012 10:47 AM in response to gd0

    250 GB drives for $40...

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Western%20Digital/WD2500JBRC/

    what if I backed up (via SuperDuper) my current main drive (the external Startup) to the internal HD? Is that even possible, or advisable?

    Should be no problem, especially with a new internal drive to clone to, though I've had better luck with Carbon Copy Cloner myself.

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