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Nightrain · Feb 27, 2006, 01:00 AM

For the last 18 months my G4, 450Mhz PowerMac has been taking 7.5 minutes to finish startup.

I have had an "expert" check it out with no solution. Running OS 9.2.2. The desktop loads except for one second level pop up folder. I can move the cursor, but it doesn't function until the system is fully loaded. Tried eliminating all non-Apple extensios and Control Panels. Tried changing TC/IP settings. Tried re-setting PRAM. No CD or DVD in either drive (internal or external DVD). No network, no file sharing. No problem when all extensions and control panels are turned off. I have even tried a couple of system upgrades with no change.

Big Mac · Feb 27, 2006, 01:27 AM

And what happens when only the OS 9 Base extensions list is chosen? Have you tried doing a clean install of the OS?

Incidentally, is there a particular reason why you're still running OS 9?

angelmb · Feb 27, 2006, 03:32 AM

Instead of upgrades what I you do a clean / restore Mac OS 9 install ?

Could be that the hard disk has some sectors badly damaged?

Any third party hardware installed inside of your Power Mac?

RevEvs · Feb 27, 2006, 04:10 AM

No problem when all extensions and control panels are turned off.

well in that case there must be an extension causing problems. you might have to go through disabling them until you find the culprit

Eriamjh · Feb 27, 2006, 06:25 AM

How much ram do you have? If you have 2GB it may just be checking it. Make sure you turn off "Check RAM at startup" in the control panel. You have to hold down either Control or Command as you open the control panel to see this option.

Todd Madson · Feb 27, 2006, 07:05 AM

OS9 can only read 1.5 GB even if 2.0 GB is installed.

I'd upgrade that box to OS X unless you have specific apps that you require
that did not get upgraded (few, but I'm sure they are out there).

It's got to be an extension or a slow/damaged hard drive behind this.

I also would try a clean install or run with base extensions to see if it helps.
Defragment hard drive?

RevEvs · Feb 27, 2006, 08:29 AM

See his sig - he has 640MB

Todd Madson · Feb 27, 2006, 11:19 AM

A G4/450 can have up to 2 GB of ram. It wouldn't take much $ to upgrade that
machine to 1 gigabyte which would make it suitable for OS X operation.

kick52 · Feb 27, 2006, 02:31 PM

512 is amazing in my 400mhz g4. (see sig)
works fine for text and web stuff.

Nightrain · Feb 27, 2006, 11:41 PM

Thanks very much to everyone who replied. I guess I'll be upgrading to Tiger very soon, and I'll just have to bite the bullet on purchasing new software to be compatible with OSX. Maybe that will solve the startup problem. Is it true that programs like Quark 4, PhotoShop 5, etc will work in OSX using classic mode?

production_coordinator · Feb 28, 2006, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by Nightrain

Thanks very much to everyone who replied. I guess I'll be upgrading to Tiger very soon, and I'll just have to bite the bullet on purchasing new software to be compatible with OSX. Maybe that will solve the startup problem. Is it true that programs like Quark 4, PhotoShop 5, etc will work in OSX using classic mode?

Does Photoshop 5 and Quark 4 work in OS X, YES
Does Photoshop 5 and Quark 4 work well in OS X, NO

It all depends upon what you consider "works" it will function, but there are a bunch of little issues (besides the eye blistering GUI inconsistencies).

ChrisF · Feb 28, 2006, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by Nightrain

For the last 18 months my G4, 450Mhz PowerMac has been taking 7.5 minutes to finish startup.

This is taxing my OS 9 support memory... look for a folder named "Servers" in your System Folder and delete all aliases you find in there.

Nightrain · Feb 28, 2006, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by ChrisF

This is taxing my OS 9 support memory... look for a folder named "Servers" in your System Folder and delete all aliases you find in there.

Please give Chris a few more stars under his User name. Removing the aliases from "Servers" did the trick!!!
May I ask how this could have affected startup, and how you came across this solution? You have come through for me and I want you to have a drink on me, if possible!

kick52 · Feb 28, 2006, 01:45 PM

you should upgrade to x. os x runs alot better than os 9.2.2 on my pm (signature)

kick52 · Feb 28, 2006, 01:46 PM

you should upgrade to x. os x runs alot better than os 9.2.2 on my pm (signature)

idyll · Feb 28, 2006, 06:04 PM

too many fonts installed maybe?

Nightrain · Feb 28, 2006, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by idyll

too many fonts installed maybe?

I try to keep the number of fonts open at about 200 or so. It does slow me down when starting up some progams, but it isn't responsible for slowing down System Startup. As it turns out, my problem was caused by numerous alias "document" files in the System "Servers" folder. ChrisF brought it to my attention. Apparently, my old network wasn't set up properly, and whenever I tried to access my other computer, it would write another alias file. When the 8100 was terminated, the computer kept on looking for it at startup, which caused it to stall for almost 8 minutes each time. Soooo, it isn't always an extension problem.