Mac OS 9.2 Refuses to Launch Applications

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Mac OS 9.2 Refuses to Launch Applications

Hello!

I recently obtained a iBook G3 Dual USB (500 MHz/ 64 MB RAM/ 10 GB HD) off ebay. It just happened to be a public school board surplus computer from some school district in North Carolina.

Anyway, besides the point. I am having a issue. The machine won't launch any applications (such as Word '98, Appleworks 6, Stuffit Expander). It gives me either an error type 1, 2, 3 or a bomb error type 10. I researched a little and found something about the "Internet Config Extension" needs to be enabled, but it isn't in the extension list. The icon is, however in the Extension folder but doesn't appear in the Extension list that allows you to turn them on/ off.

I read that you could also download URL Access 2.3 from Apple, however my iBook won't launch it due to it requires Stuffit Expander, which gives me an error because it won't load applications. This is using Mac OS 9.2. The machine did not come with system disks (a mistake I horribly regret with buying it) but now that I have it I don't want it to go to waste. I'd like to get some kind of help to where I could get the OS fixed without a required reinstallation.

Any help will be greatly appreciated! I'm not entirely sure, but this could also be a hardware issue. It was suggested to me by a friend the hard drive might be going bad on the unit because it is loud and sometimes finder will unexpectedly quit or i'll get a bomb error on the login menu.

Thanks again,
Jake

iBook G3, Mac OS 9.2.x, 500 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 10 GB HD

Posted on Sep 29, 2009 2:56 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 29, 2009 8:07 AM in response to 88fordwayne

Hi, Jake -

Re Internet Config Extension -

The icon is, however in the Extension folder but doesn't appear in the Extension list that allows you to turn them on/ off.

That's normal. Not all extensions will appear in the list in Extensions Mananger; some are coded to not appear, so that they can not be disabled via Extensions Manager. Another one of this type is Text Encoding Converter.

***

Re errors -

It gives me either an error type 1, 2, 3 or a bomb error type 10.

This Apple Kbase article has a little info about that -
Article #TA21578 - Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 Errors

One item that the article refers to is at the bottom, re not having a printer connected. A link to another article addressing that is provided.

***

It is possible that you have an extensions conflict of some kind. One way to test for that is to set Mac OS Base or Mac OS All as the set in the Selected Set pulldown menu in Extensions Manager, then restart. If the problem does not recur, it would indicate that there is at least one third-party extension that is causing a conflict.

In general, it helps to disable extensions and control panels for services not needed. For example, if you do not use File Sharing, then that control panel and the associated extensions can be disabled.

<hr>

The machine did not come with system disks....

It may be necessary to acquire an OS Install CD of adequate version for that machine. There are some trouble-shooting things that can be done, and repairs that can be made, which require that the machine be booted to a volume other than its hard drive. The suggestions Grant offers work best when done while the machine is booted to an OS Install CD.

Your iBook (Dual USB) model originally came with a model-specific version of OS 9.1. Finding original disks for it will be very difficult.

It can not use a retail (white label, gold 9) OS 9.1 Install CD. However, it can use a retail OS 9.2.1 Install CD. Such are available, but can be a bit pricy. EBay is one possibility; sites like this one also offer it -
http://hardcoremac.stores.yahoo.net/

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Answer 2

Sep 29, 2009 6:36 AM in response to 88fordwayne

Be sure to run Disk First Aid. It will check the integrity of the Directory, but it cannot check for bad blocks.

There is a bad blocks checker in Drive Setup, named "Test Disk". It simply reads (and writes, if you allow it) every block and replaces bad blocks. It takes several hours to complete; and much longer if there are errors.

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Answer 3

88fordwayne Author

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Sep 29, 2009 6:41 PM in response to Don Archibald

Well, I think that killed it.

I attempted to do what you said, load the Mac OS 9 Base extensions. I tried to recreate the error and launch Microsoft Word. It popped up a "first time use" dialogue box as if it was going to install it, and then it gave me the Type 3 error and froze. Now the computer refuses to get past the loading extensions screen, I get the "bomb: error type 10" message. It will not boot with or without extensions.

Could this be symptoms of a bad hard drive? I believe its gone out of my hands on trying to fix the OS, it seems like it has corrupted itself. The friend I received it from reported it worked well earlier this week however it started giving him these issues but a reboot would solve the problem. However, now the machine continuously throws out these errors and now it will not boot to the system at all.

I will try to see if my friend has a OS 9.2 disk I can borrow and try booting from it, but it sounds like a new hard drive is the way to go. The hard drive is also quite loud, after the machine idles and the HD turns off it is virtually silent.

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Answer 4

88fordwayne Author

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Sep 29, 2009 7:23 PM in response to 88fordwayne

Is it possible to restore OS 9 to all factory defaults without a bootable disk? Like said, I'd really like to get the computer back up and running but the price for one of those disks is way out of my hands.

I'm not sure if it helps but I also have a MacBook 2.2GHz Intel Core Duo 2. Isn't there some kind of way I could boot the HD from my other Mac and delete/ reset files? Again I'll look tomorrow to see if the guy has a OS 9 disk I can borrow but thanks for the help everyone! I appreciate it 🙂

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Answer 5

88fordwayne Author

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Sep 29, 2009 8:03 PM in response to 88fordwayne

(Sorry, I didn't mean to triple reply: i can't find a edit button on here!)

I have photos of the errors.

I didn't take a picture of the common one. It simply reads "error type 10", and I get this when I boot normally or without extensions.

Other variations of the bomb I have received upon boot:
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll265/busweb/IMG_3475.jpg (reset PRAM)
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll265/busweb/IMG_3476.jpg (hard reset, taking battery out and adapter)
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll265/busweb/IMG_3477.jpg (When I hold space to get to extension manager)
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll265/busweb/IMG_3478.jpg (These are the extensions it loads before I get the bomb error)

Sorry about all the replies.. just trying to help get to the bottom of this without paying out my butt. Also, if I was to go to the Apple Store or schedule a appointment with a genius, do you think they would bother looking at it?

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Answer 6

Sep 29, 2009 10:47 PM in response to 88fordwayne

Hi, Jake -

Is it possible to restore OS 9 to all factory defaults without a bootable disk?

Only if you have a backup copy of the hard drive and a means to access it while booted to a volume other than the internal hard drive.

OS 9 (and earlier Mac OS's) never incorporated a 'go back' function; there's no way to restore anything without using a self-made backup copy of what you want to restore, or by using commercial or OEM install disks.

Isn't there some kind of way I could boot the HD from my other Mac and delete/ reset files?

Unfortunately, no.

Intel -processor Macs have no ability to handle OS 9 in any form, including as Classic.

Again, the issue is the ability to replace possibly damaged files with copies of good ones. Without a resource from which to get such copies it can't be done - OS 9 itself does not have that. The only resources that would apply would be a backup copy made when the system was good, or an install (or restore) CD of adequate version.

***

Starting with the Mac OS Base set of extensions should always work.

It is possible, however, that when Word popped up the "first time use" dialog it began to re-install certain extensions that it needs; and that it is these that are causing the problem. In this scenario those extensions might still be active, and so still interfereing.

There is a way around that. Restart or boot, immediately press the Spacebar, keep it held down. This should open Extensions Manager just before extensions would start to load. At that time you can select an extension set of your choosing, or disable individual extensions - I would examine that list and, if any MS or Word extensions are shown as being enabled, disable them, and then continue the startup.

***

I've never been a user of Word (took a look at it years ago and didn't like it), so am not familiar with its various versions. Is it possible that the version of Word is just too old a version for OS 9.2.x?

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Answer 7

88fordwayne Author

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Sep 30, 2009 3:07 AM in response to Don Archibald

See, I thought that too. I read that online last night, but when I tried that it won't even open it, it pops up this error:
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll265/busweb/IMG_3477.jpg (When I hold space to get to extension manager)

I think its either a corrupted OS install or the hard drive is going bad. When the machine actually was able to boot, it would commonly lock up and finder would keep quitting unexpectedly. I'm going to try to get either the OS 9.2 install CD or buy the restore CDs (I found the iBook 9.1/ 10.0.3 restore disks on ebay for about 30.00).

I'll let you know what happens!

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Answer 8

88fordwayne Author

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Sep 30, 2009 5:02 PM in response to Don Archibald

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll265/busweb/IMG_3491.jpg

Thank you!

My teacher had a copy of Mac OS 9.2.1 (the install disk) and it booted successfully! I did a clean reinstall and now its running great. 🙂. Thanks again everyone for your help and support!

I will be sure to post again if I need further help,
Jake

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Answer 9

Sep 30, 2009 9:15 PM in response to 88fordwayne

Hi, Jake -

You're quite welcome - glad you got it working again.

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