extensions issue

**Shifting** · August 19th, 2003, 05:47 AM

ok, a buddy of mine is trying to fix up (and eventually install X on) an old beige G3. he knows very little about computers so i'm helping him, but it's been a long time since i've dealt with OS 9, so i thought i'd post this. here's the deal:

the G3 started out with OS 8.5 on it. i upgraded that to 9.1 with no trouble, but after a restart, it bombs on the startup screen while loading extensions every time. so i think no sweat, just startup with extensions off. but...every time i do that, i can't use the mouse, which is a logitech two button mouse that must depend on an extension to work. i tried using my apple pro mouse under the same circumstances, but it won't work either. anyway, once it starts up without extensions, i can only view the extensions. i can't turn them on or off. and i can't restart either. what really bothers me is that once it's started up with extensions off, they all appear as generic icons in the extensions manager, thus making it impossible for me to figure out which one is causing the problem. i know what it looks like from the startup screen, but i have no idea what it is called or what purpose it serves.

i also tried to start up off my OS 9 install disc, but that's no good either, because the internal cd drive on the beige is broken, so he's got a usb drive that refuses to work without it's proper extension running.

so i can't find a solution. i don't want to give up without a fight though. anyone have any ideas what might work?

**Cheryl** · August 19th, 2003, 11:02 AM

Sounds like you did not do a clean install or update the hard drive drivers. How did you install OS 9 if the CD drives do not work?

Did you try restarting and holding down the space bar to get the extension manager?
Don't give up. First, insert the OS 9 CD in the USB drive and do a hard restart -> command(apple) + control + power key.. then hold down the C key. If that does not do it, try it - restart then hold down Delete + option + command (apple) + shift. This will force the computer to search for an operating system other than the hard drive.

Once you get the computer started with the CD, open the Utility folder on the CD and run disk First Aide. Have it verify then repair all the problems. Then quit that. The drive icon should show up on your desktop when it is done. Open it and check to see if you have two system folders. You only want one. Trash the other if you find two.
Open Drive set up and go to the menu and select Update Driver. Quit that, and open the installer. The second screen will give you either an options button or a box to check. You want to select perform a clean install.
The clean install will create a new fresh operating system and rename the old one previous system folder. Now you need to install your drivers for printer, etc but I highly recommend that you download the correct updated drivers for OS 9.

Keep us posted on how you do and if you need further help.

**Shifting** · August 19th, 2003, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by Cheryl
How did you install OS 9 if the CD drives do not work?

well the usb drive worked under 8.5. so that's how i got 9.1 to install.

Did you try restarting and holding down the space bar to get the extension manager?

yes, and this works, but when i get to the extensions manager all the extensions appear as generic icons (making it impossible to identify the offending extension), i can't use the mouse and i can only view the extensions. i can't turn any of them on or off. are there any keyboard shortcuts that would help me here? i've tried everything i can think of with no luck.

thanks for the suggestions Cheryl, i'll try all this as soon as i can and post up what happens.

**Cheryl** · August 19th, 2003, 09:58 PM

You probably need to check for an update on the mouse driver So it will work in OS 9.

**Shifting** · August 19th, 2003, 11:15 PM

that may be the case, but if so, why wouldn't my apple pro mouse work under the same circumstances? that is, starting up without extensions.

but i will look into drivers, i need to look for OS X mouse drivers anyways.

well i'll be working on the beige again later tonite, so i'll let you know what happens.

**Shifting** · August 20th, 2003, 08:49 AM

i took your advice, Cheryl, and i got 9.2 installed.

however, i told it to do a clean install but it didn't. at least it starts up properly now. but the usb drive won't play a music cd, instead it crashes.

i want to install X on it, specifically Jaguar, but the install doesn't work. the disc loads fine but it hangs after the first screen that says "click this button to restart and start the install". the same thing happens with my 10.1 install disc. i'm thinking of trying my 10.0 disc too, but i suspect the same thing will happen.

i guess i can try doing a clean install of 9.2 again...i just don't want to wipe out the drivers for the mouse and the usb drive, because then i'd be screwed. plus this G3 has no internet access at the moment, so i'd have to back those up. which i can, but then how can i use the usb drive without it's driver? that's part of the reason i want to upgrade to X, as both the mouse and usb drive are natively supported.

**Cheryl** · August 20th, 2003, 10:33 AM

Before you do anything more, Check the hard drive to make sure you only have one system folder. If it did the clean install properly, you should have 'previous system folder'.

Next, Check the system folder for any duplicates of files. Just open one folder at a time - especially the extensions folder and the control panel folder. By the way - check the extensions folder for ObjectSupport Lib and trash it.
Also, it could be that you have USB drivers that are in conflict. If apple installed USB drivers, you may not need the additional drivers.

If all looks good - Check the memory control panel. You need virtual memory on and ram disk off. Next, restart the computer and hold down the option and command(apple) keys until you get a dialog box asking if you wish to do a desktop rebuild. This will come up after the extensions load at the bottom. Release the keys and click on the okay button.

The beige G3 needs firmware updates before you can install OS X...and make sure you have the general install CD not the specific model CD. When the CD has a specific model listed on it, it will not install on any other machine. But you need to get OS 9 working smoothly first.

Did you do a full install? Do you have Apple CD player installed?

**Shifting** · August 20th, 2003, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by Cheryl
Before you do anything more, Check the hard drive to make sure you only have one system folder. If it did the clean install properly, you should have 'previous system folder'.

i forgot to mention, after the 9.2 install i checked and there was only one system folder. i glanced at it, it looked fine. no 'previous system folder', though.

Next, Check the system folder for any duplicates of files. Just open one folder at a time - especially the extensions folder and the control panel folder. By the way - check the extensions folder for ObjectSupport Lib and trash it.
Also, it could be that you have USB drivers that are in conflict. If apple installed USB drivers, you may not need the additional drivers.

i'll be sure to check all this out.

If all looks good - Check the memory control panel. You need virtual memory on and ram disk off. Next, restart the computer and hold down the option and command(apple) keys until you get a dialog box asking if you wish to do a desktop rebuild. This will come up after the extensions load at the bottom. Release the keys and click on the okay button.

just curious, how will a desktop rebuild help? i'll gladly give it a shot, i just wonder what it does.

The beige G3 needs firmware updates before you can install OS X...and make sure you have the general install CD not the specific model CD. When the CD has a specific model listed on it, it will not install on any other machine. But you need to get OS 9 working smoothly first.

i have the general install discs for 10.0, 10.1 and 10.2, so that shouldn't be the problem. as for firmware, there are firmware updates on the OS X install discs, but nothing for a Power Mac G3. i'm looking for the update(s) right now, but not having any luck...

Did you do a full install? Do you have Apple CD player installed?

the cd player is there, it opens when i try to play a music track, but then everything locks up.

thanks for your help so far, Cheryl.