Here's my real story:
My computer is nearly totally hosed. With multiple cascade failures, corruptions, missing data, and much much more. This morning I planned to reformat, partition and reinstal OS X 10.2.
However before I take this step I would like to interface with someone regarding the bigger issues that have led to this state. {It seems to be related to adding OS X to my Beige G3 MiniTower, which was previously running fine with OS 9.2.2. The upgrade was only to take advantage of some modern advances; ie. current internet data which was inaccessible from my older browser as well as additional fine points (so much is only avilable to OS X users).
My original intent was to install in such away that the computer remain essentially OS 9, while having the ability to boot to the modern system when needed. That never was the case. It seems OS 10 took over and although it would dutufully switch to Classic mode when called upon, would never again allow a boot to OS 9.
This situation seemed fine on the surface, but I had issues with using my legacy scanner and laser printer, both of which are no longer supported by their manufactuers. Agfa Arcus scanner software is not OS X available and laser printer NewGen TurboPS/880's company seems to have gone out of business. (perhaps someone can port my OS 9 driver to X, but that is another issue)These are only the issues I was aware of and had been dealing with correcting when...
My second 80GB HD with two partitions stopped mounting the larger of the two partitions. My main work horse. All applications all personal data etc. I don't think anything is missing so much as a root structure corruption or whatever :/ (u guys are the pros).
Apples Hard Disk Toolkit can see the HD but it is greyed out. (special note: only the version 10 version of toolkit can see it. OS 9 version does not see that partition at all.) [additional point I was about to purchase AlSoft DiskWarrior or MicroMat TechTool Pro to look into these problems. Any feedback if this is the right track?]
That should have been the primary reason for contacting you however, now my "Disk Copy helper" appears to be damaged and will not allow use of any .dmg files (OS X's method of distributing upgrades and such by internet). I thought I would try updating to OS X 10.2.8, to no avail. Then I tried just a step up to 10.2.6, but the real issue is the .dmg thing. I have also used another computer at another location to decompress the files and brought back the "MacOSXUpdateCombo10.2.8.p
kg", alright now I'm in business, right? No, seems installer is malfunctioning too.
Finally I'm at well let's just start over from scratch and boot from the original installer CD, this isn't happening either. It spins up and presents a "grey on grey universal circle with diagonal slash" icon, no explanation. The CD seems to spin down, the screen eventually seems to lose integrity and white ugky bars begin to degrade the image. >Power down> remove CD >continue to boot back to this moment. In a nutshell their have been far more frustrations and retrys than I've told.
some tech stuff:
OS X 10.2
1 processor 267 MHz PPC G3 (v.=2.2)
Beige G3 MiniTower Darwin v.6 06/27/02
Bus 67 MHz
1 MB L2 Cache
2 80 GB HD (each is partitioned identically p1= 7.75GB p2= the balance around 66GB)
OS X is on 1 of the small partitions while OS 9 is at the large partition of the same HD
(Winchester)
Seagate Baracuda HD was added before the system upgrade originally as back-up for drive one (I have foolishly reformatted drive one before installing the two OS's, essentially rendering moot the idea of the backup. Most of this data is available from archives and Application disks, but not all)
Where do I go from here?
