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bezoar · Mar 28, 2004, 06:55 PM

I spent half a day trying to optimize the hard drive of my g3 powerbook OS9.2 using the Norton Utilities disk v.5.0. I booted up with the Norton disk, ran Disk Doctor, cleared up the minor problems (mostly bundle bit stuff) and then proceeded to use Speed Disk. Well, every time it got to the optimization part it would get about a quarter of the way then freeze, I'd reboot and go through the motions again, all the while the Norton man on the box mocked me with his knowing smirk.

One thing I noticed is that Disk Doctor kept finding some sort of disk mounting error, which I would then choose to repair only to have it show up again, unrepaired. Either Disk Doctor's a quack or something else is horribly wrong. Again I searched the pic of Norton man's face for some trace of sympathy and found none.

I though maybe this version of Norton wasn't jiving with 9.2 so I clean installed 9.04 and had the same problem. I also tried Disk FirstAid and it had no effect. The fragmentation of the hard drive is light, so it's not a big deal but I'd feel better if I could successfully optimize it anyway. Short of wiping the hard drive, can anyone suggest some tips to solve this?

typoon · Mar 29, 2004, 08:48 AM

I think it is your version of Norton. To optimize your drive I would use Drive 10. It's faster than TechTool Pro 4 a little slower than Norton Speed Disk but MUCH MUCH Safer. I would also run Disk Warrior and fix any errors you might have.

Norton on Mac is an evil evil thing.

southtdi · Mar 29, 2004, 11:47 AM

Originally posted by typoon:
Norton on Mac is an evil evil thing.

Noton on any computer anymore is an evil thing........

bezoar · Mar 29, 2004, 02:24 PM

Thanks typoon, I'll check out DiskWarrior. Is there a version of Drive 10 or something similar that works for OS9.x?

EDIT: Never mind, I see that TechTool Pro 3 can optimize for OS9.

typoon · Mar 29, 2004, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by bezoar:
Thanks typoon, I'll check out DiskWarrior. Is there a version of Drive 10 or something similar that works for OS9.x?

EDIT: Never mind, I see that TechTool Pro 3 can optimize for OS9.

Unless you have a Machine that runs only OS 9 you really don't need it. DiskWarrior and Drive 10 will optimize the Classic part of it too since it does the whole drive.

The only reason I don't like TechTool Pro to optimize is because it's SLOOOOOW. It does it's job well but like I said is SLOOOOOW. Drive 10 is a bit faster.

typoon · Mar 29, 2004, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by southtdi:
Noton on any computer anymore is an evil thing........

That's the truth.

nobitacu · Mar 29, 2004, 04:38 PM

I won't be using Norton Utilities on my Mac the first place...

Ming

bezoar · Mar 31, 2004, 12:23 PM

typoon - yes I'm on a 9.2 only computer, haven't jumped to OSX yet.

Well, I'm not out of the woods yet. I used Disk Warrior 2.1 to rebuild and it seems to keep finding one error which it can't repair: "System Folder is missing." ugh.. The computer starts up, and I can see the system folder just fine so why can't Disk Warrior? Could it be a virus?

I used TechTool Pro 3 to check for viruses and it's all clean. I also ran the multiple tester to make sure there wasn't any other trouble. Then I tried to optimize the disk with TechTool and I only seem to be able to get so far before it gives me an error message "unexpectedly quit. try optimizing again."

Both times, I was booting from the DW/TT disks..

angelmb · Mar 31, 2004, 01:35 PM

DiskWarrior all the time.

Norton?,

bezoar · Mar 31, 2004, 08:28 PM

right, got it, I'll never use Norton or his Utilities again.

but can anyone explain why DiskWarrior can't find the System Folder, and why TechTool can't optimize?

typoon · Apr 1, 2004, 06:20 AM

Originally posted by bezoar:
right, got it, I'll never use Norton or his Utilities again.

but can anyone explain why DiskWarrior can't find the System Folder, and why TechTool can't optimize?

Not sure you might want to call Alsoft. or email them and see. There support isn't too bad.

RayX · 08:48 AM

digiology2 · Apr 4, 2004, 06:59 AM

does anyone know how to uninstall norton system works? It bugs the **** out of me and I want it gone!

angelmb · Apr 4, 2004, 12:52 PM

Does not it come with a uninstaller?, I fear that soft 'likes' the Mac OS X kernel.

And again

and counting.

mrtew · Apr 4, 2004, 07:04 PM

Sounds like you have a problem with your physical hard drive to me. Do you have a backup hard disk? You should get one if not. Then you can easily erase your disk and reinstall with no worries. Normally that's never necessary, but if you have actual damage to the drive, or Norton has crapped on your world, it's a great feeling of comfort to have a good solid complete backup.

bezoar · Apr 5, 2004, 04:41 AM

I'm one step ahead of you, mrtew. yesterday I got myself a great deal on a used external hard drive from my friend. I initialized and restored the powerbook, so it's now error-free and optimizable. thanks for the tips, all of you, DiskWarrior is quality.

and now to bandage my head from hitting it against the wall all this time.

you Norton!

iBorg · Apr 5, 2004, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by typoon:
To optimize your drive I would use Drive 10.

I'd be cautious about Drive 10 - I used it to repair/optimize, and afterwards, couldn't boot my TiGHz or repair it, with any repair utility, including DW. This, after Drive 10 spending hours "repairing" it. I had to reinitialize my drive, and reinstall everything.

I guess we should take a clue from the fact that rather than doing a version update of Drive 10, Micromat chose to come out with TechTool 4, instead. And that has had plenty of problems, too.

Stick with DiskWarrior. Don't worry about optimizing.

iBorg