All the troubleshooting assistance found here has been re-written and updated in my Macintosh Troubleshooting book: 'Fix a troubled Mac'

Available to purchase ($15), from the KAGI online store.

These Procedures are for any Macintosh that can boot into Mac OS 9.2.2 or earlier using a Firewire Drive. Booting via Firewire is not supported by Macintosh models prior to 2001. You will need to boot off a Mac OS 9.1 or later CD with relevant firewire support extensions to access your Firewire hard drive. These techniques do not apply to Mac OS X.

Tech Support Note:

Use of a firewire drive is recommended, and will require an installed & tested Mac OS 9.2.2, the basic emergency tools like Alsoft Diskwarrior and Norton Utilities (for use of Speed Disk) and Apple's disk utilites like Disk First Aid and Drive Setup. You will also require all the relevant Classic Mac OS Software updates and installers that are downloadable from the Apple Support website.

How to
Update the Mac OS

  • Boot off your Mac OS 9.2.2 Emergency Firewire HD (restart, Hold down the 'option' key to select boot volume)

  • Run Diskwarrior, Preview Disk before repacing the directories (compare the Replacement HD with the Original HD, get info on each to compare size and number of files), when confirmed OK, complete replacement with DiskWarrior.

  • Update as follows:
    • Mac OS 9.0.x to 9.0.4 or
    • Mac OS 9.0.x to 9.1
    • Mac OS 9.1 to 9.2.1 then 9.2.2

    Notes: When updating, choose 'All Other Countries', select Update Drivers in Options

  • Disable un-needed Extensions and Control Panels and Apple Menu Items after final Mac OS update. Do not trash any files, just make the relevant 'Extensions (Disabled)', 'Control Panels (Disabled)' and Apple Menu Items (Disabled) Folders so they are compatible with Extensions Manager.

    Suggested things to disable if client doesn't need them:

    • Extensions Manager
    • Fax STF Software
    • OpenGL
    • QuickDraw 3D
    • Locations Manager,
    • Web Sharing
    • Printer Sharing
    • USB Printer Sharing
    • Unused Printer Drivers
    • unused Video Drivers (ATI or Nvidia if no hardware support)
    • Speech Manager
    • any un-needed USB device drivers
    • any un-needed Firewire drivers (if no hardware support)
    • Authoring support (if using Toast or DVD Studio)
    • Palm Desktop software

  • Turn OFF virtual memory (Apple default is ON). This impacts performance and is still problematic with certain programs. There is plenty of RAM about, besides Hard drives get trashed with VM on.

  • Optional: Defragment the StartUpDisk with Norton's Speed Disk. To speed up the process you may disable 'Check Media' option. If you suspect Hard drive problems, leave it Checked.

To rebuild a Mac OS from Scratch to 9.2.2

This will only work on Blue and White G3's, G4's, Cube, eMac, Firewire capable; Imac, Powerbook and iBook

  1. Backup client data over ethernet to another mac or to another spare hard drive. DO NOT FORGET: Documents folder (Microsoft User data), and in the System folder > Preferences and Fonts Folders and specific Extensions

  2. Boot off Emergency support Firewire hard drive

  3. Erase the backed up Hard Drive you intend to rebuild the Mac OS on.

  4. Install/Copy over a default 'Mac OS 9.2.2 System' to the intended StartUpDrive

  5. Run Diskwarrior to check files are OK

  6. Run Norton's Speed Disk to defragment the StartUpDrive

  7. Specify new StartUpDrive with the StartupDisk Control Panel

  8. You are now ready to merge all the exisiting backed up data,
    applications and certain preferences to the new Mac OS 9.2.2 System.

    Important Preferences and extensions include:

    • TCP/IP Prefs
    • Remote Access folder
    • Printer Descriptions
    • Non System, client install Fonts
    • Web Browser bookmarks
    • Eudora folder (if used)
    • Claris folder (if used)
    • ColorSync Profile created by client
    • Specific hardware extensions and control panels
    • Extensis Suitcase folder (if used)

  9. Test that specific hardware is supported, ie: modems, infrared, USB, Firewire, LCD monitors etc