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repair a broken os x installation - impossible?
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Hi,
I found a new - lets say - annoyance.
A friend of mine managed to damge her os 10.3.5 on a b/w powermac g3. After a dsl session it only booted into safe mode. A closer investigation showed that vital system files were GONE. For example the kextd vanished from the hd.
One question is how this can happen. My friend insured me she never was asked for her admin password. So I really don't understand how these file that belongs to root can be deleted.
(I have a suspicion that it has to do with her t-online dsl software that I instantly removed from the system including change of the admin password. This software seems to have stored her admin password because it can modify the internet connect environments on startup and shutdown. So my advice is: don't install t-online software. Its worse than a virus! Use apples native dsl driver. The t-online software does the same anyway.).
The attempt to repair OS X by a fresh install failed. The installer for 10.3 informed me that there is a newer system on the disk (the damaged 10.3.5).
DAMN!!!!!
Do I have to install the packages manually now???
(Last edited by Dr.Michael; Oct 26, 2004 at 07:21 AM.
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Did you try an archive and install ?
I am running a B&W and never had an issue installing 10.3 either a fresh install or archive and install. Worst case - if there is no important data - just reformat the drive and install.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
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Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
The attempt to repair OS X by a fresh install failed. The installer for 10.3 informed me that there is a newer system on the disk (the damaged 10.3.5).
Choose archive and install in the installer. That will preserve all her preferences and user data in her home folder, and install a fresh copy of 10.3 on the disk. Then you will have to use Software Update to install all the latest updates to get her back to 10.3.5.
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Canada, Planet Earth
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Tiger 10.4.8
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Trafalmadore
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Hi,
- the combo updater does not contain all system files. Especially the kextd is not in there.
- to choose an install option you need to have a disk where the installer allows installation. If you have 10.3.5 installed and insert the 10.3.0 install cd the installer does not allow installation and thus there is no choice for any options.
- deleting the reiceipts did not help in my case.
Thanks, but I found a solution.
Pacifist allows to read in the install cds and verifies which files are missing on the disk. Then the os can be reinstalled package by package or file by file according to the result of the analysis.
Very useful tool. But only possible to use it if you still can boot into os x.
This analysis should be something that the installer allows to do.
Michael
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
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The best way to fix the system is to use the system install disk(s) to do an archive and install of 10.3, and then running Software Update to get all the latest updates. It's not that hard to do.
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Originally posted by Person Man:
The best way to fix the system is to use the system install disk(s) to do an archive and install of 10.3, and then running Software Update to get all the latest updates. It's not that hard to do.
I don't understand. How do you do this? The options are only accessible after you have chosen a disk. This is not possible in my case.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
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Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
I don't understand. How do you do this? The options are only accessible after you have chosen a disk. This is not possible in my case.
Unfortunately I am not at my own computer to check. I will post more detailed instructions later this evening.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: brooklyn ny
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this happened to me when i was downloading the 10.3.5 update, with software update.
my internet connection dropped, and...the install was halted midway.
(this never happened before or since).
i could not boot, so...did an archive and install.
STILL, had to dL & install itunes, a few other things...
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"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
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Ok, now that I am back home, this is how to do an archive and install.
1. Boot from the install disk.
Since you're in Germany, I'll give the instructions with the options in German:
2. When you get to the step marked "Ziehlvolume waehlen," click on the target drive (even though it shows the yellow triangle and the computer says "Sie koennen Mac OS X nur auf diesem Volume installieren, wenn Sie Ihre installationseinstellungen aendern..."
3. Ignore that message, and click on the button marked, "Optionen..." at the bottom of the window.
4. From the drop down list, choose "Archivieren und Installieren" and also make sure that you check the box next to "Benutzer und Netzwerkeinstellungen beibehalten" to preserve your friend's preferences and network settings.
5. Then click "OK" and then "Fortfahren"
6. Complete the installation as normal.
7. Restart on the newly installed machine and use Software Update to update to the latest system patches and versions.
8. You can then delete the folder marked "Previous System."
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Originally posted by Person Man:
2. When you get to the step marked "Ziehlvolume waehlen," click on the target drive (even though it shows the yellow triangle and the computer says "Sie koennen Mac OS X nur auf diesem Volume installieren, wenn Sie Ihre installationseinstellungen aendern..."
3. Ignore that message, and click on the button marked, "Optionen..." at the bottom of the window.
Hi Person Man,
you understand german?
The difference on my system and on the powermac is: there is no yellow triangle, there is a red one with an exclamation mark. It says something like "you cannot install os x on this disk because a newer system is already installed".
The options button is not active and does not react on mouseclicks.
Thats what my question is about.
Btw: my system is in english because of historical reasons: The early versions of os x had a bad mix of german and english names. English was constistent from the beginning. And its easier to post something here if you know how things are named in english ;o).
Wait a moment. Now I've got it! You use a Panther install disk, right?
I use an upgrade disk. When I bought my computer I got Jaguar delivered with it but was in the period of time when Panther could be bought for 20€/$. For this I received an upgrade disk.
It seems it wasn't even worth the 20 whatever I paid for it.
Can you confirm, please? Then we localized the problem.
update:
I have checked myselft with the original Jaguar install disk. This behaves as you have described it.
So its indeed the update disk that does not allow a repair. In case of a damaged system you have to go back to the original version, re-install and apply all updates again.
Bad trap. I hope nobody has spend more than 20 cash units for an os x update.
(Last edited by Dr.Michael; Oct 28, 2004 at 04:11 AM.
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
Hi,
I found a new - lets say - annoyance.
A friend of mine managed to damge her os 10.3.5 on a b/w powermac g3. After a dsl session it only booted into safe mode. A closer investigation showed that vital system files were GONE. For example the kextd vanished from the hd.
One question is how this can happen. My friend insured me she never was asked for her admin password. So I really don't understand how these file that belongs to root can be deleted.
Now we know how this happened.
Her 80GB Maxtor drive died in the meantime. Suddenly it did not mount any more. After we bought a new disk, installed a new os and attempted to save/repair what could be saved/repaired the heads started clicking and finally scratched the surface of the disk (according to the clicking and creaking sounds).
I never experienced this before. The drive was not older than a year.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
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Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
I never experienced this before. The drive was not older than a year.
I recently experienced a similar incident.
My 11 month old PowerBook's 40GB HD died. I have never had a disk die after such little use before. Last time a disk gave up on me was in 1992 when I lost a 5 year old and heavily used SCSI disk. 
Of course this just illustrates how necessary regular backups are. Large external FireWire disks are cheap and fast. ASR works fine (in the meantime) and is easy enough for a kid to use. Nobody should be w/o a recent backup.
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Status:
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Originally posted by Simon:
Nobody should be w/o a recent backup.
Yes, you are right.
Its all about money. My friend is alone and has a little daughter, thus no way to work except freelance. Money for a backup drive is a lot for her.
Maybe now she understands that it will be well spent.
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