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i am yujin · May 27, 2003, 09:15 PM

Here's how it started. I was playing Warcraft 3 in OS 9 (since it runs MUCH better in that mode) and then it suddenly freezes so I try force quit and that doesnt work and then I have to manually restart it by pressing the power button.

So I do that, and the start up comes with a flashing question mark. After MANY tries with fiddling with the OS X install CD and OS 9 install CD, I finally got it to switch back to OS X.

Now whenever I try to switch to OS 9, that folder with the question mark pops up and I have to mess around with it again which takes a while to do.

Any way I can fix this problem?

Rainy Day · May 27, 2003, 10:04 PM

I've encountered similar problems like what you describe. First line of defense is Disk First Aid or Disk Utility. Chances are, however, that won't fix this problem. DiskWarrior is your best bet and will probably fix it.

By the way, you should avoid writing to the damaged volume until you run DiskWarrior.

mac freak · May 27, 2003, 11:31 PM

Copy over a new OS 9 system folder, and boot from that. I had a similar problem... let me find the thread...

Ah, here she be: click

Rainy Day · May 27, 2003, 11:51 PM

And if it is due to a corrupted directory, copying over the system folder may appear to "fix" the problem but it will only mask the symptoms and will not actually fix the underlying problem. Eventually more grief will come of it.

Of course it could just be a corrupted system file. Ten to one it's a corrupted directory, however, and you'd be playing Russian Roulette with your HD. The choice is yours.

i am yujin · May 28, 2003, 12:02 AM

wait so do i just insert the mac os 9 install cd i got with the computer and install that?

mac freak · May 28, 2003, 12:08 AM

First run disk utility and check for errors (and fix any). If it finds none, install a new OS 9 system folder and see if that works. If you can get your hands on DiskWarrior, run that was well... it's always a good idea to keep your HD in good shape.

Good luck!

Macola · May 28, 2003, 08:55 AM

One of my clients had the exact problem last week, on a MDD 867 (she uses Quark a lot and swithes to OS 9 frequently). I had to boot the MDD in Firewire target disk mode, then run DiskWarrior from my AlBook, and that fixed it. I'm really glad that DiskWarrior finally made it to OS X!

Edit: Running Disk Utility and fsck didn't help.