How to archive and install?

Will it boot in Safe Mode? See
What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107392
Takes a while to run, but it usually "fixes" problems.

See About the Archive and Install feature http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710
Be sure to select Preserve Users & Settings. Also, repair permissions before and after the install.

You need DW v3.x or v4.x to run on your OS X.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

Grev:

Before attempting the Archive and Install I suggest that you backup your computer, preferably making a clone of the entire volume to an external firewire HDD so if anything goes amiss you will have a full backup.

There are a couple of other things you can try before A&I.
1. Try this combined procedure:
• Shut down the computer.
• Locate the following keys: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously later.
• Turn on the computer.
• Press and hold the Command + Option + P + R keys immediately after the startup chime.
• Hold keys down until you hear the startup chime for the third time.
• Release the keys and immediately hold down Shift key to start up in Safe Mode.
• Log in and empty Trash.

2. If that does not work try this:
• Download and install Applejack
• Restart computer holding down Command + S
• When Command line comes up type in
+applejack AUTO+

Good luck.

😉 cornelius

Sorry that neither of the procedures worked. Would have saved a lot of work. In your initial post you noted:

I never had the original disc but do have one with OS X 10.3.8 update that Apple very kindly provided me with years ago.

Is this disk a Full Retail Version or is it a Upgrade disk? If that is a Full Retail Version, that might work for you.

You can contact Apple, but if you do they will send you, if it is available, the original disks with which the computer shipped. Your iMac appears to be iMac DV slot loading which was released in October 1999 and discontinued in July 2000. It would have shipped with either OS 8.6 or OS 9x, possibly OS 9.0.4. Your computer will support up to Tiger (OS X 10.4.11) including Panther or Jaguar. I recommend either Tiger or Panther. Tiger will enable you to run later releases of software. Panther, though a very powerful and stable system, no longer supports later browsers and later versions of iTunes. If you have a later iPod it will require a minimum of Tiger. However, Tiger disks are very difficult to obtain. . Tiger is no longer available at the Apple Store but may still available by calling Apple Phone Sales 1-800-692-7753. You can also try eBay. You are looking for the Full Retail Version, not an upgrade or computer specific gray disks, nor do you want Server installers. You may be able to get Tiger on eBay or Panther on eBay.

😉 cornelius

Grev:

You are very welcome.

Contacting Apple Customer Care will likely get you the OS 9 install disk for which you may have a processing fee. Contacting Apple Phone Sales will get you Tiger, if it is available. I strongly recommend that you install Tiger, and it is the highest OS that your computer will support, so you will not have to think of upgrading again.

Keep us posted on how things go.

😉 cornelius

Grev:

Adam,the person I spoke to,will be mailing me a Tiger OSX 10.4 Retail install disc and for $17.40 including shipping!

That is great, and a very good deal.

One more hurdle is the optical drive; I hope nothing's wrong with it but I'm leary because it has rejected the Disk Warrior CD I tried to use.

That is a bit of a problem. If your optical drive will not boot from the Tiger install disk, if you have access to a second Mac that supports firewire you can use the optical drive on the second Mac in Firewire Target Disk Mode. (Post back for directions, if needed). Your other option would be to use an external firewire DVD drive. Otherwise you can try your local Apple Store. They may do it for you at no cost, although that depends a lot on the tech you happen to get.

What he didn't know was whether I could still keep OS 9.2.2.

Archive and Install should leave your OS 9 installation intact. However, I recommend that you make a backup of your stuff. If you have no data to backup, then drag the OS 9 Applications folder, and the folder named Sytem Folder, including your data to an external drive, jump drive or CD. You can then simply drag them back after you install Tiger, if OS 9 did not survive the A&I procedure.

Good luck.

😉 cornelius

Grev:

I have an EZQUEST BOA DRIVE (Firewire DVD-RW/CD-RW)that I used a few times to burn some CDs. Would this work?

That should work fine. Try it this way:
• Connect DVD drive to computer via firewire.
• Insert install disk in external firewire optical drive.
• Turn on optical drive. (you may need to do this first to insert disk; order does not matter).
• Hit Power button on computer and hold down Option key immediately after chime.
• Select Install DVD as start up volume and click straight arrow.

You can test this with your Panther disk while you wait for the Tiger disk. You don't have to go ahead with the installation, although if you did, you can simply do an A&I with Tiger, or do an upgrade install option (See About installation options.

Good luck.

😉 cornelius

only the OS X and OS 9.2.2 disks show up on the desktop

It probably needs to be formatted. Launch Disk Utility while booted in OS X, or Drive Setup in OS 9 and see if the external shows up as available for formatting.

😉 cornelius

That's great. You should not have problems booting from the Tiger disk. Please let me know if you have further questions, or how things go for you.

😉 cornelius