I desperately need to use DiskWarrior on my startup disk. I have used it on my secondary internal hard disk with no problems. A couple of years ago my Apple keyboard went up on me and I needed a replacement immediately (I worked from home), so I ran out to OfficeDepot and bought a Microsoft keyboard that had software with it to make it run with a Mac. It has done fine for me. However, when trying to boot from DiskWarrior, I hold the C key down and it doesn't boot from the DVD, it just boots from my internal startup disk. I was able to install Mac OS X 10.4 with the DVD and this keyboard, however. DiskWarrior tech support dudes tell me it is the fault of the Microsoft keyboard. I'm not so sure (since I installed 10.4 with this keyboard). I don't want to buy an Apple keyboard "just in case." But perhaps this is a known issue by somebody "out there." Any help would be appreciated (before my startup disk explodes altogether). Thanks!
PowerMac G4 Dual 1.25 GHz,
Mac OS X (10.4.11),
Using grey & black Microsoft replacement keyboard
Try holding down Option (Alt on the MS keyboard) during startup rather than C. This should give you an option of which disk to boot from. If you can't boot using "C" nor "Option" during startup it might really be a keyboard issue.
Hey Cathryn, I should have mentioned that I also tried the Option key and I was presented with a choice of startup disks, including the DVD drive, but even when I selected the DVD, my system still booted from the internal boot disk. I actually tried it a few times, and sometimes it would mess with my head by seeming like it was actually going to boot from DiskWarrior ... but then it would appear to "drop out" and start rebooting from the system on my primary internal hard disk. So this seemed to me to be a problem with the disk, since the system was actually letting me choose which disk to use to boot from. Any additional thoughts? (In the meantime I am going to look for my 10.4 install disk and try to boot from it, which I swear I could do when I upgraded using this same keyboard - obviously, since I am upgraded to 10.4 and I was using this keyboard when I did it.) Money's extremely tight and if I can avoid buying not only a new keyboard, but taking my system in for repair or getting a whole new Mac, well, that's just not in the family budget right now. Any additional thoughts are much appreciated. Thanks! 🙂
How do I create a bootable backup hard drive? I have a secondary internal hard drive inside my machine, and I also have a USB hard drive attached that I use to backup large files (small files get backed up to my Mobile Me disk). Could I make one of these bootable? Then DW might actually run on my primary boot drive - it's got loads of problems that need fixing if I could just get to them to fix them ... I'm thinkin' I just need to set up a system folder on either other hard drive, preferably the external one that's connected via USB. Is that all there is to it? Then I can hold the Option key down to select it to boot from and then run DW on my primary internal boot drive? Please forgive me if I'm stating the obvious ... I have the flu and am not thinking too straight so want to make sure my line of reasoning is somewhat intelligent ...
Hi! You need to plan on firewire for booting. It's not impossible on some G4's but many can't. You can "clone" (make a bootable copy) using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper. SD is easier and is found HERE. It takes a couple of hours to clone a disk depending on size. The problem you will have is that cloning an unstable system yields an unstable clone. If I were you and I had another mac I would use firewire target disk mode and then run Diskwarrior from the other computer if the cd/dvd drive is not working correctly. Tom
I had (and still have) the exact same issue and tried to solve it wit the Alsoft technical support. The diagnosis emerged as the following: my internal SuperDrive is defective. It can read, write, burn CD and DVD but it can't boot from any DVD or CD whatsoever. This was proven by trying to boot from the OS X install DVD. Alsoft recommended that I have the SuperDrive replaced (MATSHITADVD-R UJ-85J). I'd like to this myself, but it appears that there are two types of connectors depending of the date of manufacture of the computer (or some detail of this order).
I have 3 Microsoft keyboards, going back to my G4 MDD. Usually plugged into an Apple Display, but on some occassions I've had to plug it directly into front USB port (or rear, front is accessible).
The one thing that I would do, is not just "zap PRAM" from cold boot, but boot into the Open Firmware screen and RESET-NVRAM, and see if that helps. Force the device ID list to be rebuilt, and does a more complete job than zapping can.
There have been a lot of major problems with Apple USB hub type support. I too was troubleshooting an issue and got the "run around."
The only time I've seen where someone could not boot from a DVD/CD was when the hard drive in the system directory was severely corrupt - OS X looks to find any and all bootable devices even when you boot from CD or another drive. And a damaged journaling file is even harder to fix usually.
Outside of the G4 PCI model (1999, early '00) a G4 can boot from Firewire, any problem I'd guess was a defective FW port; some FW cases themselves.
I never really use DW CD. Always always clone your system; create an Emergency boot drive to work from - and used only in emergency so you know it works and isn't just a backup. And, of course, a backup of your working system.
USB cables can flake out. Even new. The USB extension cable Apple includes being one such that has been known to be the culprit. So doubt and verify any cables and devices.
One G5 owner has a LaCie drive not even connected, but the FW cable was, hanging out the back, and would cause:
slow boot sometimes; kernel panic other times; pull the cable, life is back to normal again. FW cables and devices (not sure if LaCie has the market cornered or not) that "wipe out" FW ports, cause shorts, should be avoided (maybe banned).
I've used an MS keyboard for about 4 yrs on my G4, still running 10.4.11. Ever since my Apple split ergonomic keyboard died, and I've got 4 Apple Pro keyboards sitting around (I can palm a basketball but don't like typing on small keyboards). Currently use MS 3000 and 4000 keyboards.
There are lots of reports of Leopard where the system is not responding, but the mouse able to move, but no interaction - can't launch anything or even bring up the Force Quit dialogue. The system being totally non-responsive, and people force shutdown, with high potential of leaving the directory in disrepair.
Mac OS 10.2.5 was suppose to fix and solve USB hub problem. That updated lasted less than two weeks. USB issues have been around, as have Firewire problems. Even Windows Vista can loose track of and get confused by unplugging/replugging devices multiple times that it looses the device ID.
