The problem, as I stated, is most likely a missing /etc/hostconfig file.
When the computer starts up, type the following:
ls /etc/hostconfig
The computer will respond either with:
/etc/hostconfig
which means the file does exist (and I'm out of ideas),
or with:
ls: /etc/hostconfig: No such file or directory
Which means we're in business.
The solution is the following:
You simply need a valid /etc/hostconfig file for the computer to start up. You can get one from any of 3 places:
1: Your archived system (if you did an Archive & Install)
2: Another computer with 10.1.5 or a working 10.2 installation
3: Typing it in yourself
You can do this with Unix, at the prompt, or by booting into OS 9.
Method 1: Archived system (OS X way)
If you did an "Archive & Install", your old 'hostconfig' is still on the disk. You just need to find that file and copy it to the right place.
When the computer starts up, type:
cd /
ls
which should list all the files and folders at the root of your disk. Some are familiar (like "Applications"), some are not (like "var").
Look for the folder named "Previous Systems" (or something like that; I've since removed mine...)
When you see the right folder, type:
cd "Previous Systems"
with the quotation marks around the name of the folder. Then type
ls
again to list the contents of that folder. It should be something like "Previous System 1". Type
cd "Previous System 1" (using the correct name, of course)
and then
ls
This time you should see several folders, one of which is named "etc"
For the last time, type
cd etc
ls
You'll see a bunch of files go by. One of them should be "hostconfig".
First we mount the drive for read/write access:
mount -uw /
Now we'll copy hostconfig into the right place:
cp hostconfig /etc/hostconfig
Now restart:
shutdown -r now
(or just hit the button)
Method 2 (skipping for now)
Method 3: Typing it in
You can also just type in a basic hostconfig file. I don't think it needs very much to allow the computer to start up.
First, mount the disk to allow reads and writes:
mount -uw /
Then type:
pico /etc/hostconfig
This opens a little word processor. Type in the following to make the simple 'hostconfig':
Code:
##
# /etc/hostconfig
##
# Network
HOSTNAME=-AUTOMATIC-
ROUTER=-AUTOMATIC-
# Services
NISDOMAIN=-NO-
Then press control-O to save the file, and control-X to exit.
I think just that should be enough to start up the computer. Restart and give it a shot.
Good luck!
mithras
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