Reader Reports 

Kimeldorf's First Aid

A Troubleshooting Guide For Os X Running On An Imac 800 (Flat Panel)

Part 3 of a 6 Part Series

By Martin Kimeldorf - Kimeldorf@attbi.com

With contributions from Andy Muir, Pat Gallagher

Introduction

These notes were compiled after one month of working with my Imac, navigating OS X and troubleshooting the complexities of MS office, Adobe Distiller and other third party software. I ended up having to restore my hard drive twice. I researched first aid methods consulting books, articles, with input from authors and experts online.

These are personal notes and should be taken as suggestions only, rather than as expert advice. I am not a computer expert, just an author and teacher. Use my first aid notes at your own risk, nothing is guaranteed. In fact, I have found out that well-intentioned advice about a cure can sometimes be worse than the original disease. Back up all critical files before trying anything in this document!!

Panic Attack

The UNIX core fails, strings fo text coat with errors messages displayed

• Restart
• Check updates for suspect software or last installed (go to http://www.MacUpdate.com)
• Try to reinstall last software used if problem persists

It Won't Start in OS X-Options--Clean Install OS X

• Check version of StartUp Disk control panel
• Reboot in OS 9. Make sure you are using current start-up control panel, in OS 9 it is 9.2.1.
• Update and reinstall and go back to OS X

Run a Disk Repair Utility

• Begin with OS X and use Disk First Aid or fsck
• Disk Warrior
• Micromat Drive 10

Disconnect hardware, especially SCSI

Try clean reinstall

• Start in OS 9 dump entire OS X folder
• Restart in OS X and reinstall OS X

Re-store Disk

This is a drastic step. You must initialize or erase the hard drive using the 6 restore CDs. Make sure you have archived all your data first!

WEEKLY OR MONTHLY HOUSKEEPING

Once a week I start up in OS 9 and run first disk first aid from CD and rebuild desktop. Boot from OS X and use the disk first aid (or use the fsck command, described earlier)

WHEN YOU CAN'T--FORCE QUIT, OPEN CD, READ DISK

You can't Force-Quit or Log Out

Hold in the ON/OFF button and it will eventually turn off the computer. This is akin to the old days when we had to insert paper clips in tiny holes.

Before doing this wait a minute to let cached data get written from RAM to disk to prevent corruption of data

CD won't open

Restart the machine

Hold down the mouse when starting up. You will get a flashing "?" if mouse is still held down when happy Mac appears) or you can hold down Option at startup and then press Command + period after the cursor is no longer a watch.

Won't read your disk or the CD

• Restart the machine
• Hold down the Option key and the available drives or partitions or volumes will appear for you to select

Look For Part 4 Tomorrow