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WizOSX · Mar 13, 2004, 08:06 PM

I have a Beige G3 with a 40gb HD partitioned into 3 partitions--7.9gb, 7.9gb and 22gb. I've been running 10.2.8 perfectly on the first partition for the last 2 weeks. I just decided to install Os9 on the second partition and can no longer boot from the OsX partition. I think what happened is that the Os9 intstaller somehow unmounted the hard drive.

More specifically, here's what I did: in 10.2.8 I set the startup disk to the Os9 install disk (my first mistake, I think). After the machine finished the boot process the Os9 installer couldn't see the hard drive. So I couldn't install Os9 but I also can't set the startup back to the OsX partition in any way that I can see. The Jaguar install CD (disk utility) sees the drive and partitions just fine but wont let me mount them. Anyone got any suggestions?

Mr. Blur · Mar 13, 2004, 08:13 PM

try holding command + X at boot (or is it option + X...can't recall as its been years since i had ol' beige....) - that is supposed to choose os x as the startup disk. or, maybe zap the pram.....

reader50 · 09:10 PM

The last time you partitioned the HD, did you click the checkbox to install OS9 drivers? If you didn't, OS9 will not be able to see or boot from the drive, from any partition.

If you did the partitioning from OS9 originally, the 9 drivers will have been installed.

To bypass the default device/partition set in Startup Disk, hold down:
Apple+Option+shift+delete

This will cause the first boot choice to be ignored, and the next choice taken. If no CD or floppy is present, that is usually the first partition on the HD other than what was set in Startup Disk.

WizOSX · Mar 13, 2004, 10:01 PM

Originally posted by Mr. Blur
holding command + X at boot (or is it option + X...

Originally posted by reader50
To bypass the default device/partition set in Startup Disk, hold down:
Apple+Option+shift+delete.

I tried both, no luck. Just the big ole' question mark (no disk) since I didn't put in the CD.

Mr. Blur · Mar 13, 2004, 10:05 PM

zap the pram....command+option+P+R...let it "bong" 2 or 3 times.

or...got a copy of diskwarrior?

WizOSX · Mar 13, 2004, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by Mr. Blur

zap the pram....command+option+P+R...let it "bong" 2 or 3 times.

or...got a copy of diskwarrior?

Tried zapping PRAM, still no luck. What would diskwarrior do in this case? I've never used it. The strange thing is that I just booted from the OS9 install CD and did nothing else. I'm nervous about doing anyting with the HD since the setup was working so well.

WizOSX · Mar 13, 2004, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by reaer50
The last time you partitioned the HD, did you click the checkbox to install OS9 drivers? If you didn't, OS9 will not be able to see or boot from the drive, from any partition.

No. I partitioned it from the OsX 10.1 CD and didn't install the Os9 drivers. So, it makes sense that Os9 didn't see the HD. I just don't see why the machine can't get back to the OsX partition now.

Mr. Blur · 11:20 PM

perhaps try the reset button on the motherboard. unplug the mac (of course!) and hold the reset button for a good 10 count or so...it's like a super-pram-reset....

edit - i just saw that you've got another thread in the os x forum for this (cross-posting....hmmmm

) - i think the last response with the link to the open firmware tip should do the trick...seems to fit your situation exactly....

WizOSX · Mar 14, 2004, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by Mr. Blur
edit - i just saw that you've got another thread in the os x forum for this (cross-posting....hmmmm ) - i think the last response with the link to the open firmware tip should do the trick...seems to fit your situation exactly....

You're right--that link explained exactly what happened.

Re; cross-posting--I was desperate and hoping for a quick solution. But I decided just to reformat and this time install the Os9 drivers. A pain to reinstall all my software but probably the path of least resistance.

Mr. Blur · Mar 14, 2004, 12:32 AM

Originally posted by WizOSX:
But I decided just to reformat and this time install the Os9 drivers. A pain to reinstall all my software but probably the path of least resistance.

well, if you were intent on having a bootable os9 partition then you would have had to do the reinstall anyway...but it might have been nice to get a good backup of your os x install beforehand first....but you seem okay with it so i suppose all is well in the end.

WizOSX · Mar 14, 2004, 12:37 AM

Originally posted by Mr. Blur
...you seem okay with it so i suppose all is well in the end.

Thanks for the thought. I appreciate your help, Mr. Blur and reader50!

djohnson · Mar 14, 2004, 01:14 AM

I have a nice tool from the DR days of OS X that will allow you to switch back to OS X from OS 9 even if you cannot see the drive... If I had seen this earlier I could have sent it to you.

reader50 · Mar 14, 2004, 01:59 AM

djohnson, are you referring to the System Disk control panel? That was used before the main Startup Disk control panel became reliable with X.

djohnson · Mar 14, 2004, 02:24 AM

That's the name of it! I just remember I got it when I had the DR's... Maybe I should head off to bed now...but at least I know it has worked many times for me!