Ciro Bruno

Q: Hard time for selecting Startup Disk (partition) in Mac Classic II.

Dear coleagues, I'd like your help to understand and solve a tricky trouble. I'm sorry for the long text, but the issue is probably living in a small detail.

 

The issue regards a Mac Classic II with internal and external HDDs. Internal HDD has two partitions, a smaller with System 7.1 (first) and a larger with System 7.5.3 (second). This one is installed there since 5 years ago, working fine.

 

The (just installed) external HDD has 6 partitions (because of its size 9 Gb). It has been formated runing VCP in this Classic II itself and all partitions are initialized with HFS. It is intended to be a backup for my Classic II as well as my Mac Plus. I've started Installing System 7.5.3 in its third partition. Other partitions remain still empty.

 

Using only internal HDD I can already perceive that "Startup Disk" control panel is unable to change the boot partition attribute between partitions in the same drive. When I open "Startup Disk" it usualy both partitions of internal HDD are highlighted. I can select a Zip Drive, for instance, and it will boot from Zip. But, when I switch it back to HDD, doesn't bother wich partition I select, it will always boot with the same partition (usually 7.5.3). Then, If i open Startup Disk CP again, both partitions are again highlighted.

 

To switch between partitions in the same drive, I use Lido 7.5.6 PMount and there I select the boot partition. Then every time I select my HDD, that'll be the default boot partition.

 

My conclusion is that in Mac Classic II the Startup Disk CP is unable to set a partition within a drive, it selects the drive only. The boot will obey the drive's partition table flag. That's why I can do it whith Lido, writing directly at HDD's flags.

 

Now, attaching the external HDD, I can see all its partitions in Startup Disk CP and then I select one of them (the 3rd, with 7.5.3). Before rebooting, I close and open again the Startup Disk CP, then I can see all its 6 partitions highlighted. Just like I've been doing with the internal HDD, probably the solution to set a specific boot partition would be through Lido 7.5.6 PMount again. But Lido is unable to handle this drive. It appears gray in the drives list.

 

What does it sound to you? What would you recommend to test? Is there an alternative for Startup Disk CP?

 

Thank you.

Regards, Ciro (Brazil)

Mac Classic II, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier, 10 Mb RAM, 160 Mb SCSI HD, MathProc

Posted on May 10, 2013 10:57 AM

Close

Q: Hard time for selecting Startup Disk (partition) in Mac Classic II.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund May 11, 2013 6:54 AM in response to Ciro Bruno
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    May 11, 2013 6:54 AM in response to Ciro Bruno

    Hello,

     

    I would have expected each volume (partition) to be selectable in the Startup Disk control panel, but I cannot test/verify this right now. I do not know why it does not work here.

     

    Have you tried the Startup Disk control panel under/from different system versions?

     

    Could it be something with the formatting/partitioning and the hard disk drive driver software? BTW, I am not familiar with the VCP that you mentioned; could you expand on this?

     

    Otherwise, you may possibly want to experiment with choosing a system from one volume only:

     

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Picker

     

    http://lowendmac.com/oldmac/compact3.html

     

    Jan

  • by Ciro Bruno,

    Ciro Bruno Ciro Bruno May 11, 2013 3:22 PM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2013 3:22 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

    Dear Jan, good Evening.

     

    Thank you for your time.

     

    In fact I can select a specific partition, but by closing and reopenning Startup Disk CP I realize that the selection has been attributed to the physical drive (all partitions highlighted).

     

    I have tried Startup Disk CP in both System 7.1 and System 7.5.3. They do the same way.

     

    Internal HDD has been formated, partitioned and initialized with Apple HD CS Setup.

     

    This external HDD in a different way. Apple HD SC Setup hasn't been able to "see" it, probably because of its prior format system. Lido neither. That's why I went to VCP. Moreover, as it is too big for 68030, I had to format it attached to a Performa 6360. After formating, I've let VCP make set the partitions in HFS mode (partitions with 512, 1024 and 2032 Mb).

     

    I've mounted VCP in Mini VMac to get some screenshots for you:

     

     

    Bringing it back to Mac Classic II, it could be mounted with Lido, but System 7 has asked to initialize all partitions again. I've accepted, installed system 7 on it, and it didn't boot. Then I've repeated the partitioning and initializing procedures using Apple HD SC Setup (since now there's a Mac HDD with "small" logical drives). Nothing changed.

     

    I'm following your tip about System Picker. I've downloaded the sit file and read about it. It seems to be able to overlay the problem. I'm gonna try it and report back here.

     

    But I feel still uncomfortable not to be able to do things the regular way. As far as I know, the boot partition is an attribute of a drive partition in partition map, just like the "Active Partition" found in FAT systems. I should be able to write there as I can do with Lido in internal HDD.

     

    Thank you, Jan.

    Best regards,

    Ciro Bruno.

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund May 11, 2013 3:23 PM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 6 (9,901 points)
    May 11, 2013 3:23 PM in response to Jan Hedlund

    Hello again,

     

    During a quick test with 6 partitions on a small internal SCSI disk in a PowerBook 180c, and a Startup Disk control panel from System 7.5.3, all volumes were highlighted as you had observed (and could not be separately chosen). System Picker appears to work, though. I have not carried out tests with more than one drive.

     

    Jan

  • by Ciro Bruno,

    Ciro Bruno Ciro Bruno May 11, 2013 3:30 PM in response to Ciro Bruno
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2013 3:30 PM in response to Ciro Bruno

    Sorry about the scrrenshots:

    I've mounted VCP in Mini VMac to get some screenshots for you:

    It seems that screen shots aren't permited here. It's from Appolyonics Software Development Inc., Anaheim, CA.