iMac G3

Here’s the source of my confusion: The article you referenced is among three that shows up as the result of a search (keywords: partition, iMac) of Apple technical articles (<http://search.info.apple.com/?search=Go&lr=lang_en&kword=kimac&type=ktech ORklearn&newstype=&q=partition>). Reading them, I am left with the impression that the 8 GB issue pertains only to older machines:

(1) that originally came with HDs whose capacity fell below 8 GB, which have since been upgraded to HDs of larger capacity; or

(2) on which one wishes to install OS X.

Some other articles I came across only add to my confusion, as they seem to suggest the same thing.

Furthermore, what strikes me as odd is this: If, in fact, the 8 GB partition requirement exists for the early iMacs, then why would Apple ever ship those machines with HDs that exceeded 8 GBs? And if Apple did so (which it did), would Apple not have partitioned the HDs on those machines (which it didn’t)?

I checked the iMac 233 specs (<http://support.apple.com/specs/imac/iMac.html>), and the HD is described this way: “Min. Int HD Size: 4 GB.” This appears to suggest that there were iMac 233s with hard drives exceeding 4 GB. However, everything else I came across seems to indicate that the iMac 233s were shipped only with 4 GB drives. That, along with the article you previously referenced (<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25249>) pretty much substantiates your recommendation.

(One more point worth mentioning: Almost everything I’ve come across (including these 2 lowendmac articles: <http://www.lowendmac.com/macdan/05/0221.html> and <http://www.lowendmac.com/macdan/03/0307ek.html>) certainly makes it sound like the need to partition the HD is restricted to situations where one intends to install OS X. However, I did come across a thread (<http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=103777>) in which one of the posters pointed out (4th post in the thread) that such partitioning is recommended even if only OS 9 was going to be installed. The poster made the same points that you had made in your initial post, above.)

I’ll partition the drive, and let you know how it turns out.

(BTW: The machine I’m currently using to post in this thread had “died” several months ago, but recently mysteriously came back to life (at least somewhat -- it’s not 100%). I’m still perplexed by it all. If you get a chance, maybe you can take a look at the thread I initiated about that. It’s located at <http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2386473>.)

I used a “software restore” CD I had to initialize and partition the HD. I used this disk because it had OS 9.1 on it, which, I figured, would save me time on the road to 9.2.2. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t allow me to install any software (system or apps) on the HD. I suspect it’s because the restore disk was the one that came with this iMac (slot loading) and not the “broken” one (tray loading). The tray-loading machine did not come with any installation CD (the store that sold it stated that they were not allowed, by virtue of their agreement with Apple, to include any system software installation disks with any “used” Macs they sell).

So, I then simply copied the system folder from this machine (which I had saved to the external backup drive) to the 7.5 GB volume. However, when I booted to it, it didn’t fully boot. I then rebooted (had to unplug the machine first to do so), and it booted successfully -- although It did indicate that my Finder preferences were damaged. Anyway, a short while later, I decided to reboot. This time, I got an empty screen, followed by a folder icon with a blinking question mark inside of it, that soon changed to the Mac “face” icon. Nothing more.

I then tried to boot to the “software restore” CD (which still was in the tray), but that didn’t work (same results: Folder with blinking question mark, followed by Mac face). I then tried to boot to my copy of the OS 9.1 CD. Same result. Finally, I succeeded in booting to an OS 9.0.4 CD that I had. I am currently in the process of attempting to install OS 9.0.4 on the 7.5 GB volume.

Just finished; it booted successfully, and now wants to walk me through setup (“Setup Assistant”). After doing so, I’ll see if it boots successfully several more times, and then I’ll see if I can upgrade to 9.1, then 9.2.1, then 9.2.2.

Actually, the machine “came back to life” on its own, after several months of not being used. Apparently, the CD player was not physically damaged, and the “sluggishness” and strange behavior of the IE menus also “went away.” However, the strange IE menu behavior is slowly returning.

You may be right re: reinstall of the system. In particular, as I noted in my previous post, copying the system folder over to the “broken” iMac didn’t seem to work well. (FWIW, I also noticed that when I selected the iMac with that system folder as the startup disk, it indicated that the iMac had OS 9.1 installed on it, and not 9.2.2, which is what the system folder contains -- and which shows up when I select “About This Computer.”)

Well, it’s working! I think you had the problem correctly diagnosed from the beginning. Now I have to decide the most reasonable way to get back to where I was before the machine ceased to boot up (i.e., Shall I simply copy over third-party inits, etc. from the “old” system folder into the new one, or actually go through the more-tedious reinstallation process?).

Thank you, KW -- I really thought I was a goner!

It's always good to get the problem fixed, especially
after extensive trouble-shooting.

The word “relieved” comes to mind.

It would be better to re-install everything. That
way, you can get rid of the unneeded extensions
baggage (from old programs you used to use but no
longer use). Also, some programs may install
invisible files that are difficult to copy over.
Speaking of invisible files...

You will no doubt run into the need to re-enter
registration numbers for some applications, since
"proof of ownership" is often stored in invisible
files in the System Folder (usually in the
Preferences folder). If you can't find the
documentation with the reg code, in some cases you
can just copy over the visible preferences file for
that application (the registration is there).

In the “old days,” a clean install involved booting from an install disk, trashing the System file and Finder, re-naming the System Folder (e.g., calling it “Old System Folder”), installing a new system, and, after verifying that the new system was functioning properly, dragging third-party inits and the like from the Old System Folder into the new one. I don’t recall any concerns about capturing invisible files from the Old System Folder.

Good luck...

Thank you. I’ll give it a shot, and post the results back here.

BTW: I will be addressing this machine (the one referred to in that old thread at <http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2386473>). As I mentioned, it “suddenly” came back to life, but it isn’t operating 100%. Most noticeably, IE’s drop-down “Favorites” menu only shows a scattering of menu choices, separated by empty spaces (where the remainder of the menu choices normally appear). Originally, I had trashed the IE preferences and re-installed IE, and things seemed to be working fine. But then it began to degrade back again to its current condition. I am curious: Can a corrupted System file cause such behavior? (I am also curious: Although the CD drive had previously ceased to operate, it now seems to be fine -- part of the “coming back to life” that this machine experienced. Could a corrupted System file be responsible for that as well?)