gd0

Q: Changed Startup Disk, need info on Finder

First issue: I am stuck with this system, cannot afford any upgrades.

 

Second issue is just a request for information.

 

The now-five-years-old internal HD started to show signs of instability (struggled with backups via SuperDuper etc). So I assigned Startup Disk to one of three external HDs (two 500G, one 160G (I am unable to edit my gear profile here for some reason)).

 

First time I'd done this, and everything appears to work fine.

 

I noticed that I needed to replace the Aliases in the Dock, so that apps would launch from the Startup Disk and all work going forward gets done here. I'm content to never access the internal HD again (it's old and too small at its max 160G size).

 

I further noticed that the Finder and Dashboard aliases are not replaceable as I did the above alias swaps. Is the fact that I've changed the Startup Disk enough to ensure that the Finder is operating on the new Startup and not the old, dying internal HD? Or am I misunderstanding the procedure to begin with?

 

Just want to completely bypass the internal without disconnecting it outright. Just trying to confirm if I am already doing that.

 

Am I missing anything basic?

 

Thanx in advance.

Power Mac G4 PPC, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 667 MHz / 160G int / 160G ext / 1.5G RAM / DSL

Posted on Feb 6, 2012 2:37 PM

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Q: Changed Startup Disk, need info on Finder

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  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 11, 2012 9:35 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 9:35 PM in response to BDAqua

    Well, that makes me feel less dumb, but there's still plenty of dumb left over.

    Are there 2 identical ones there???

    Identical what?

     

    There are two accounts. The first (501) main account's name and short name are identical. The second, never-touched, account has a name different from the main, and a short name that's different yet.

     

    In any event, the currently logged in User is shown in the House icon as you describe. (The Home icon is yet another item that has no meaning to me, fyi)

     

    So getting back to what I was supposed to be doing...

     

    I shouldn't do anything if the home directory is NOT renamed, correct? It shows the name it's always been for years.

     

    Back where I left off, I think, wondering whether to try Reset Launch Services again and risk losing current desktop.

     

    I guess there is some little setting somewhere that's creating HD confusion?

  • by japamac,

    japamac japamac Feb 11, 2012 10:11 PM in response to gd0
    Level 7 (24,390 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 10:11 PM in response to gd0

    Just remove the hard drive.

    Eventually, it may/will completely fail and render the machine unable to boot.

     

    Leaving a dying hard drive in your machine is like leaving unexploded ordinance in your back yard.........

     

    Otherwise, right click on the drive icon and eject it.

    Then, there is NO confusion as to what is being used.....

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 11, 2012 10:17 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 10:17 PM in response to gd0

    Like jmac says dissconnect the bad HDD & see what the haps are.

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 11, 2012 10:36 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 10:36 PM in response to BDAqua

    OK.....................

     

    Do you mean physically remove it?

     

    Right click doesn't mean anything to me; I use a graphics tablet. The mouse I have is old G4 issue.

     

    Are there very clear instructions somewhere for this, so I don't lose a week's worth of activity again?

     

    Can it be reinstated if I lose stuff?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 11, 2012 10:42 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 10:42 PM in response to gd0

    You can jut dusconnect the Cables to it, you don't have to phisicakky remove it.

     

    Most times Control+click = Right click.

     

    Can it be reinstated if I lose stuff?

    Yes, simply reconnect it.

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 11, 2012 10:45 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 10:45 PM in response to BDAqua

    OK, just want to make sure I don't blow this...

     

    Shut down first, yes? Then open it up, disconnect cable, close it up, boot up. Yes?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 11, 2012 10:56 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 10:56 PM in response to gd0

    Yep, you have it clearly!

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 11, 2012 10:57 PM in response to gd0
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 10:57 PM in response to gd0

    Looking at the manual, I see two(?) cables. One is a ribbon cable, the other a power cord bundle from the main logic board. Disconnect which one? Or both?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 11, 2012 11:12 PM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 11, 2012 11:12 PM in response to gd0

    Both, though only the Ribbon cable really matters in this case, the power cable disconnect will just save a few cents on your power bill!

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 12, 2012 9:48 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 9:48 AM in response to BDAqua

    This went wrong. Couldn't boot afterwards; got a flashing Apple face / question mark.

     

    It seems like the internal HD still needs to be involved somehow. Systems Preferences still shows the correct external HD as the Startup.

     

    Always suspect myself first, so for clarity: I disconnected only the flat ribbon cable from the hard drive. I left the power cord bundle attached (it was super tight, and problematic when the HD was replaced 5 yrs ago).

     

    Suggestions? Disconnect again, with an alternative boot method?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 12, 2012 10:01 AM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 10:01 AM in response to gd0

    OOPs, one thing I forgot, we're likely dealing with IDE Drives & Master/Slave jumper or Cable Select issues.

     

    In older Macs the original or 1 drive would be on the end of the cable & be jumpered Master, a second drive would be in the middle of the cable & jumpered Slave, a little later Macs had it done by the Cable itself & both drives were jumpered Cable Select.

     

    Are we into territory that you're hesitant about?

     

    Jumper settings, can't remember if these are IDE/PATA or not...

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/formatting.cfm

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 12, 2012 10:28 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 10:28 AM in response to BDAqua

    "OOPS" is never good to hear...

     

    Quick recap before I shut it down again. The G4 is roughly 11 years old. The internal HD was replaced about 5 yrs ago. Specifically, it was installed alongside the original HD (in its appropriate slot). The installation was very difficult; had to call in help. One issue was the incredibly tight cable fit. Another was the apparent loss of EVERYTHING on the orig HD. Required open heart surgery on the spot.

     

    If you need more specifics, let me know and I'll shut down and inspect again.

     

    So, hesitant for sure, after that remembrance. If there's a way to proceed with settings as we were before - or a simple disconnect without extreme analysis - I'd prefer to go that route.

     

    I guess simply reassigning Startup Disk is not so simple.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 12, 2012 10:47 AM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 10:47 AM in response to gd0

    See if you can tell how they're jumpered now...

     

    http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/op/jumpIDE-c.html

    install-ide-hard-drive-jumper.gif

  • by gd0,

    gd0 gd0 Feb 12, 2012 11:22 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 11:22 AM in response to BDAqua

    Read the article, barely understand it, and don't know how to respond to your instruction.

     

    Inspect visually? Look at something in the Profiler?

     

    Here is that HD's description therein. Note that while the original OEM HD still resides in the box, it is entirely physically disconnected, doesn't show up in Profiler.

     

    ATA Bus:

     

    ST3160023A:

     

      Capacity:          128 GB

      Model:          ST3160023A

      Revision:          8.01

      Serial Number:          --------

      Removable Media:          No

      Detachable Drive:          No

      BSD Name:          disk0

      Protocol:          ATA

      Unit Number:          0

      Socket Type:          Internal

      OS9 Drivers:          No

      S.M.A.R.T. status:          Verified

      Volumes:

    BYPASS:

      Capacity:          127.87 GB

      Available:          111.13 GB

      Writable:          Yes

      File System:          Journaled HFS+

      BSD Name:          disk0s3

      Mount Point:          /

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Feb 12, 2012 11:37 AM in response to gd0
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Feb 12, 2012 11:37 AM in response to gd0

    Yes Visually try to see the jumper settings on both drives, report them if you can see them, likely the original drive is set to Master, the new one slave, if so the new one would need setting to Master or Single & the end of the cable connected to it to be able to boot.

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