Trouble Reinstalling OS 9.2

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Trouble Reinstalling OS 9.2

I've been using OS 9.2.2 for ages, though less and less as the few legacy items I still need get their functionality taken over by OS X software. A couple of days ago an accident caused my OS 9 System file to disappear. I've tried reinstalling, using the OS 9.2.1 installation CD that came with my original OS X disks and updating with the 9.2.2 updater from the Apple download site.

When I start Classic, first I get a warning screen about QuickTime, which I dismiss (I'll take care of that later on). Then I get the message "Classic needs to update files in "System Folder" on [my secondary hard disk]." But then when I click the "Update" button it hangs, giving me the message "There is a problem with updating the Classic-specific files. Classic was unable to update its files in "System Folder" on [my secondary hard disk]." And I have to Quit.

If I try to boot into OS 9, I get the first screen from the Mac OS Setup Assistant, and everything hangs. I can only hard restart. At least nothing in my OS X environment is being hurt, but I'm frustrated about not being able to use OS 9 in any way. What am I overlooking? What can I do to sort this out?

TIA, Jeff

PowerMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3), G4 450, processor upgraded to 1.2 GHz

Posted on Nov 19, 2005 8:26 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 19, 2005 9:22 AM in response to Jeffrey Dean

I have the same problem. When booting from os 9 after clean install it gets to the setup assistant and hangs. I can start with extensions off but have not been able to identify an extension that is causing the problem. Is there some way to skip the setup assistant? Please post if you figure a way out.

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Answer 2

Nov 19, 2005 11:55 AM in response to Jeffrey Dean

Hi, Jeffrey -

Try removing the following files from the OS 9 System Folder - Classic, Classic Support, and Classic Support UI (all usually located loose in the System Folder); Classic RAVE (in Extensions folder); and ProxyApp (someplace - location seems to vary).

Empty the Trash, then try designating that System Folder as Classic via the Classic control pane in OSX's System Preferences.

***

Re the problem booting into OS 9, try removing the alias to "Mac OS Setup Assistant" that's probably in the Startup Items folder in System Folder before trying to boot to it.

Doing that may also assist OSX in updating the Classic files.

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2005 11:57 AM in response to Old School

Hi, Old School -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

Is there some way to skip the setup assistant?

Yes - try removing the alias to "Mac OS Setup Assistant" in the Startup Items folder in System Folder. You can do that when booted with 'Extensions Off'.

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Answer 4

Nov 19, 2005 1:02 PM in response to Don Archibald

Thanks. Tried removing the setup assistant and now it looks like everything is fine but when the desktop comes up the system still hangs. I can move the mouse but nothing else works and I have to hard reset. Still works with extensions off but why would there be an extensions conflict on a clean install? Any other ideas would be appreciated.

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Answer 5

Nov 19, 2005 1:23 PM in response to Old School

Hi, Old School -

Look in the Servers folder in System Folder - remove any aliases to servers you don't need. If your machine is not connected to others via a LAN, you probably do not need to have anything in that folder.

Aliases to unavailable servers in that folder will temporarily 'hang' the OS while it looks for them in order to re-establish connection.

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Answer 6

Nov 19, 2005 1:56 PM in response to Don Archibald

Nothing in the server folder. Still working the issue if you have any other suggestions.

Thanks

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Answer 7

Nov 19, 2005 2:19 PM in response to Old School

HI, Old School -

Well, heck.

Check for other things in the Startup Items folder - something in there (perhaps a registration utility) may be hanging the system.

Otherwise, try this - reboot, immediately hold down the Spacebar, keep it held down. That should open Extensions Manager just before extensions would normally start to load. Then select Mac OS Base from the active set pulldown menu in the window, and continue the startup.

If that boots okay, then try selecting the Mac OS All set. If that boots okay, then one of the remaining extensions would be the culprit. Test a few of those at a time until the hang repeats - the culprit will be in the last group added.

Nobody needs all the extensions loaded - many are for services not needed, but are enabled by default. This can include things like File Sharing, USB Printer Sharing, etc.

In particular, there are several ATI extensions included with a standard install; among them will be one for a Rage card and one for a Radeon card. Disable the one that does not apply to your machine.

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Answer 8

Nov 19, 2005 3:04 PM in response to Don Archibald

Nothing in the startup folder. I tried using just base extensions but the same problem persisted. Very strange.

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Answer 9

Nov 19, 2005 3:20 PM in response to Old School

Hi, Old School -

Odd, that. Mac OS Base should be the 'safest' set of extensions. About the only reason it might cause an upset of the OS would be if one of its extensions is damaged for some reason.

You can use this utility TomeViewer to extract (expand) any files you want from an Installation Tome on an OS Install CD or download disk image, without running the installer.
How to use TomeViewer

One possible exception - some folk have trouble with Open Transport. Try disabling that - there's a couple of extensions involved.

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Answer 10

Nov 20, 2005 9:52 AM in response to Jeffrey Dean

Jeffrey,

If it had just been a problem updating Classic from within OSX (rather than booting into OS9.2.2 also) I would have said it was a Permissions issue.

Fixed by running Disk Copy (OSX 10.3) or Disk Utility (OSX 10.2) and repairing permissions there, Of course, this only repairs permissions on the startup disk, and you did mention that your OS9 folder is on your second disk, so you may have to select your OS9 System Folder in OSX and perform a Get Info and check the ownership and permissions.
I find stuff installed under OS9 usually ends up being owned by 'system' in OSX and so my main admin user 'simon' can't do anything with it when I'm back in OSX.

On Don's thread, it may be the recent demise of the www.alladinsys.com web server, which is used for the version checking of Stuffit and Stuffit Deluxe, that is causing these freezes, it did for me. Can you start up with all extensions off ? (hold down shift) rather than the OS9 base set - which I think includes Stuffit.

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