Forums | MacLife

ToonmaN · 2003-01-28 1:46 pm

iBook 700 640 MB RAM OS X 10.2.3

I could really use some help. Here's the story, the other day I was playing around with installing themes (hadn't had any problems last time I did) and everything seemed to be going ok, this morning I installed OS X drivers for my Cannon scanner. It wants to reboot at the end so I go to restart the computer. Only on start up all I get is a system folder icon with a flashing question mark over it. I thought, humm, interesting, so I dig out some old Software Install disk that came with my old iBook, which claims it's bootable, but no luck there. Please I don't need any smart ass "That's what you get for using themes" I've learned my lesson, and I need some help!

Fracai · 2003-01-28 2:10 pm

aquafix from versiontracker might work if you can boot to single user boot. don't have any OS X discs to boot from?

ToonmaN · 2003-01-28 2:49 pm

I found my Jag install disks, but it won't let me leave the instaler, how do you do a single user boot?

MacBoy4139 · 2003-01-28 3:27 pm

While you have the installer open, open Disk Utility from the "Installer" menu. Click on the First Aid tab. Click on Repair Disk, and then Repair Permissions. Try booting again.

If that doesn't work, you can boot into single-user mode by holding down the command and s keys at startup.

ToonmaN · 2003-01-28 5:06 pm

Thanks for all your help guys, I've already run Disk First aid. But for some reason I can't boot into single user mode. I must have really screwed it up. I think the main problem is that I had a theme runing under duality, and then I changed it to another theme using themechanger, which must have really screwed it up. I feel so stupid in retrospect. Anyway, I'm gonna wait for my brother to come by with his iBook and actual OS 9 CDs (I think I accidently gave mine to him is what happend) and try and sort this out some more.

MacBoy4139 · 2003-01-28 5:21 pm

If you feel that you are totally hosed, you can use those 10.2 CDs to do a Clean Install. Just click on the options button after you select the hard drive.

Make sure you check the "Archive and Install" and tell it to save your User folders or you will loose a lot of info.

When it's done, you should be just fine, and then you can restore the following to the new user folder:

Documents
Movies
Music
Pictures
Sites (if not empty)
Public (if not empty)

Dr.Dodge · 2003-01-28 9:39 pm

Wow...I was having the same problem with my iMac Rev B. 'Ol Bondi lost her blessed system folder when I replaced the battery and cleaned her. I'll try the boot to single user mode. My Jag discs also only let me boot into the installer, and the system prefs (the whole Apple Menu actually) is greyed out.

Anyone know how to make a bootable CDR from OS X? Even Windows (BLECH!) let's me do that.

Jeff

JackSkellington · 2003-01-28 10:03 pm

Try zapping the PRAM before doing anything else.

Restart the computer and hold down the apple/command key+the option key+the 'P' and 'R' keys during startup. do not let go until you here the start up chime three times. the computer (if all goes well) should start up normally.

If not, it may be truly hosed and a reinstall may be needed.

Dr.Dodge · 2003-01-28 10:11 pm

I have zapped the PRAM. I also reset the MB.

The drive is a 20 MB drive with 2 partitions (to avoid the early iMac drive restrictions). In first aid, both partitions verified fine and all the files appear to be there.

Also, since this iMac is an early revision, starting holding x does not work either (no startup manager).

Jeff

ToonmaN · 2003-01-28 11:48 pm

Well, I backed up my data, then played around with the drive in Firewire disk mode, managed to get it too boot... into a kernal panic tongue I messed around with it more but I desided to just do an "archive install" of Jag. Worked out great, now I just need to download all the updates.... tongue

Thanks for all your help guys, my poor abused iBook is doing much better now.

-dc

MacBoy4139 · 2003-01-29 7:11 am

Just a quick reminder about all OS X bootable discs from Apple:

It is completely normal behavior for the disc to boot into the Installer. In fact, I would be more worried if this didn't happen.

The Apple Menu here does nothing, therefore is not accessible. If you want to reboot your machine, quit the installer - it will prompt you if you are sure and want to restart.

To access the Utilities on the disc (i.e. Disk Utility for First Aid), go to the Installer menu - there you will see the options for Disk Utility, and the option to reset the admin password.

As for creating OS X bootable discs, Apple doesn't want you to do that, as it would compromise the security of the system. If anyone could make a bootable disc, they could easily have a virus auto load and your system would be hosed.

With that said, to make one, download BootCD from VersionTracker - it uses your current OS X installation as a "reference" so if your system doesn't boot properly, the bootable CD that you create won't either.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2003-01-28 1:46 pm

iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#2 2003-01-28 2:10 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#3 2003-01-28 2:49 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#4 2003-01-28 3:27 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#5 2003-01-28 5:06 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#6 2003-01-28 5:21 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#7 2003-01-28 9:39 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#8 2003-01-28 10:03 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#9 2003-01-28 10:11 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#10 2003-01-28 11:48 pm

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

#11 2003-01-29 7:11 am

Re: iBook won't boot! Flashing can't find System Folder icon?

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