Question for the Mac addicts amongst you...

[cherry]

For a little while now, my computer has been acting anomalously. (Yes, again.) My free space hasn't been tracking properly -- I have a 27.94 GB capacity, and my computer thinks, at the moment, that I have 6 free. This is less than it should be, and seems to change at random, not adding the amount of things I delete, or just randomly dropping and adding gigs. Odd, but I could deal with it.

Now, my computer cannot run Disk Utility. When I attempt to verify or repair my permissions, it says that it's lost its connection. A third-part permissions repair program freezes up and will not run.

I've run Disk Warrior, and it claims there is nothing wrong with my system.

Now, it's refusing to recognize the presence of an internet connection. (This is being posted from school.) I've checked my connections and the lights on my modem are on, but I've rebooted both my computer and the modem several times, and it's still refusing to recognize the connection.

I don't suppose someone has any suggestions as to what to do, or as to what my problem might be?

Comments

[sprat.livejournal.com]

Heya! I'm at work, so I asked one of my more knowledgable co-workers what might be going on and he seems to think it could have something to do with Norton... He says their "Protected Trash" function often causes disappearing disk space, and advises you check that and see if you can empty it. I did some online looking, too (it's slooooow here *g*) and there seems to be a whole bunch of complaints about that in various Mac-oriented forums. So maybe that's something to check out.

As for the internet thing, if you comment back with your connection type (like, cable or DSL) I can see if I can find anything out. :)

[elvenjen4.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I meant to mention that to you earlier. Everything I hear says just to totally trash Norton - all its files. That protected trash means it doesn't really delete anything. But it will delete itself if you do it. :)

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I dropped Norton completely, but it doesn't seem to have cleared up much space. Turns out my aunt has a bit of space on her computer -- I think I may just reformat the whole shebang again. I really don't know what to think at this point. What do I need to transfer my files temporarily, other than a firewire cable? She has an pretty new Mac

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

So, the internet thing is working, temporarily; but dropping Norton didn't really clear up much space at all. I searched out all the pref files and everything.

It turns out my aunt has some space free on her computer, so I'm thinking it might be best to just to reformat the entire shebang. I need a firewire cable, right, to transfer files? And then it sets itself up as a second hard drive?

The thing where I can't run Disk Utility is worrisome to me, and it seems like a rather *bad* sign.

[elvenjen4.livejournal.com]

Yep, just FW! Turn off your computer, connect the cable, turn hers on, then turn yours on while holding down the "T" key until the FW icon comes up.

[sprat.livejournal.com]

Yay working internet! But yeah, if getting rid of Norton didn't clear things up, I think reformatting is probably the way to go. Have you managed to find the real iBook G3 install discs? If so, here's what I'd recommend (and you probably know how to do all this already, but you know...just in case *g*):

1. Transfer everything to your aunt's ccomputer (just files, bookmark backups and plists, if you want them, but not apps - it's usually better to bookmark those and install them fresh after you reformat). For a firewire transfer you just need the cable. Here are instructions

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583

It's probably best to make your aunt's computer the target computer, which means that's the one you start up holding the "t" key. Then her hard drive will mount on your desktop and you can just drag and drop your files into it.

2. Disconnect your aunt's computer, restart and make sure the files are all there.

3. Find the disc that says "apple hardware test" on it and boot to that (restart holding the "c" key). (It might just be on install disc one -- if it is, shut down and restart holding the "option" key. When you get a weird looking screen with some icons on it, pick the hardware test one and click the right-pointing arrow.) Run the extended version. If you get any errors, let me know and I'll look them up for you. (No point reinstalling if the drive itself is buggered, which it might be.)

If it passes--or if you don't have the real install discs--then you could just skip right to the erase and install, of course. :)

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

So, if I wanted to keep Photoshop CS, it would be better to install Limewire again after the reboot to reacquire CS, then uninstall Limewire?

Also, can I run the hardware tests here, before I go to her place and transfer the files, or should I wait? I still have all the disks that came with my computer (10.2), I but I think I only have two for 10.3. I could always just wipe it using my old disks and then upgrade the OS.

I have such bad luck with computers...

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Also, when I uninstalled Norton, I didn't see anything called protected disk space. I don't know if I missed it, and it's still hanging around somewhere...

[sprat.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I've seen Limewire cause kernel panics and stuff on Macs, one of which resulted in an erase and install because it had messed things up so badly. So maybe it's best to try transferring Photoshop via firewire first, see how it runs after you reinstall and then think about Limewire if it doesn't work properly? (The reason we recommend reinstalling applications fresh rather than transferring is that the file associations get all screwed up during the transfer. So if you're really careful about setting those up properly, you should be fine.)

As for the hardware test, you should be okay to run it at home before you go. We just always recommend back up before people put the install cd in because a couple of wrong clicks and whee, there goes everything. But you know, you're not exactly the average customer, so just don't go ahead and click stuff at random and everything should be cool. *g*

You do need to run the hardware test from the install cd's that came with your computer, though--it's specific to model. But since you're doing an erase and install, you can use whatever OS version you want for that.

And don't worry about the Protected trash thing--and erase and install would totally wipe that.

Good luck! Hope it all goes smoothly.

[sprat.livejournal.com]

...And when I'm sayng file associations, I mean the support files that come with the application, ie: fonts and brushes and etc. Write down each folder's path (like "hard drive/system/library/application support" for instance) before you erase. Then make sure, when you're transferring everything back, to put those folders exactly where they're supposed to go.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

When I ran the hardware test, it cleared everything -- however, part way through, my screen started flashing colours -- patterns first, filling the screen, then alternating screen of solid colour. It would sometimes flash back to the test, then it would do a colour run again. I suspect that's not normal, but I could be incorrect.

[sprat.livejournal.com]

Nah, that's normal. It's just testing your video card or your display or something--but for sure it happens every time you run it.

(It's great that it passed! Macs are awesome. :)

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Is it wrong that I was almost hoping that it was something to do with the hardware, just so that I'd know what was causing my issues?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

Um. I'm sending your Veronica Mars off on Monday when the post office is open. I can send a copy of photoshop CS your way as well? It might save you that bit of hassle.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Oh, it would save me so much hassle. If you wouldn't mind, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you, hon.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

No worries. I"ll send it off on Monday. :)