[artlewis]

Help. Apologies for the long preface.

17" iMac 1Gig running 10.3.4 and current Norton Internet suite.
2 partition HD, with main partition freezing on boot up (even safe boot)and displaying "Login Window Starting" dialogue box at point of freezing. I have access to that partition through the other and can copy documents, etc. Even repeat permission repairs, from OS X install disc and 2nd partition haven't helped.
I made the apparent mistake of backing up that key partition to a Lacie external FW HD (DataBackup trial version)and then running Disk Warrior 3.0.2 on both the key (now freezing) partition and the external FW HD. I know.....
When I try and boot from the LaCie drive, I get welcomed into Darwin with a command line interface, which leaves me totally lost and somewhat intimidated.
Disk Warrior created a 'Rescued Items' file on my frozen partition (lots of 'ActionDes..', 'icdefaults', 'Labels.strings', 'RoleDesc..', as well as other files and aliases I'm not familiar with).

Any suggestions?

Bottom Line:
Even if I can't unfreeze the key partition, is there some way to rescue my Safari, Mail and Address Book data? I'd do a clean install for the OS, if I could save that data and the corresponding data from my wife's account on the same partition.

Thanks.

[Truepop]

how is the second partition setup? do you have Mac OS X install on it?

Also I don't think it is very wise to boot from a firewire drive. I have done it a few times but there is just an iffy feeling I have about it.

If you do have 10.3 installed on the second partition you can copy both yours and yours wifes user folders over to the second partition.

But I suggest inserting your Mac OS X install disc and preform an archive and install. what it will do it take everything on that first partition and place it in a folder on the root and then install a fresh clean copy of Mac OS X. then you can sort through and find the documents and settings (mainly just copy most of your user's ~/Library folder over) and then you will have all your safari bookmarks, your addressbook and mail settings and information like inbox, cards, and bookmarks copied.

but only do what you know you can do otherwise you will accidently delete or overwrite the wrong file.

Also don't install Norton unless you have to. that might be part of the problem.

[Truepop]

There could also be a problem with a pref file for the login window or something in your startup folder is conflicting with it. It could be as simple as trashing the login window prefs in the system library.

This Article at MacOSXHints.com applies to Jag but also to Panther about saving your system and making it clean and fresh. Read it and if there are any questions post them for someone to explain before you do an archive and install and like I stated there might be a simplier solution.

[artlewis]

Truepop, thanks. The archive and install option worked like a charm.