Classic stalls on startup

[xym]

First, my specs:

iBook G4
1.2 GHz processor
512 MB memory
Mac OS 10.3.9 with Mac OS 9.2.2

I bought my iBook (refurbished) going on two years ago and it's worked marvelously except that Classic stopped starting up. It doesn't crash, nothing loads, the window comes up and just sits until I tell it to stop.

Here is a "short" chronology leading up to its refusal:

1. My Dad decided to install Adobe CS2 on my laptop in addition to the family desktop (an iMac G5 running 10.4).
2. CS2 would not run correctly and a re-install was attempted. Unfortunately the installer would subsequently crash.
3. Doing some online research I found out about a terrifying bug that could cripple a system related to installing CS2 on 10.3.9. The recommended approach was to install 10.3.4, impossible due to not having it, but a secondary solution was to delete the Legal Docs found in the CS2 folder as some of the foreign language ones contained illegal filenames (the supposed culprit).
4. That done, it did not solve the main issue: CS2 programs would not start, or they would hang. I called Adobe Support and they emailed me a script that would wipe all CS2 items from my system. Once done, I should then attempt to install it on the root as there was probably an obscure permissions conflict in the computer's accounts.
5. The initial installation removed, I re-installed CS2 from the CD without a hitch within root.
6. Shortly after, I realized the Classic environment would not boot. Peculiarly, it will boot in root, similarly to CS2, but of course this is wildly inconvenient.

Short of starting over with a system wipe, what possible solutions might there be to this particular snafu? I am not a programmer, but I don't mind diving into the console if that's what it takes. It's quite strange, an empty system window will open with a progress bar like normal, but no gray pattern or anything. No slow-down, no crashing; it just hangs.

I'd appreciate any help that could be offered. If it will require a clean system install (we do have 10.3.9 CDs), is there a better/safer way of installing CS2?

Thanks!

[appleman_design]

512 ram is not enough to keep OSX and classic running correctly upgrade to 1GB at the least.
go to apple and download the 9.2.2 update and see if it will bring up classic for the install.
you can also try and re-bless the system on os9:
sudo bless -folder9 /Volumes/diskname/'System Folder" -label "diskname" -bootBlocks
(place your drive name in for the diskname)

[JDV]

While I don't dispute the advantages of more RAM, 512 MB will, in fact, run OS X 10.3.x (and Classic) with no real difficulties.

You might try rebuilding the Classic desktop (an option in the Classic Prefpane); that's a fairly common trouble-shooting technique in OS 9 and earlier, and often clears us problems. You might also have to play with extensions; it's possible you have a corrupt extension.

Joe VanZandt

[biovizier]

If Classic launches for the "root" account but not a user account, it might be a permissions issue. If there is an option in the "Classic" pref pane to use preferences from the user's "home" folder, try enabling it, and if it is already enabled, try moving the "Classic" folder out of your user's "~/Library" folder before trying to use "Classic" again. Also, I forget what it did, but there should be an option in "Disk Utility.app" to repair OS 9 permissions which might be worth trying.

[xym]

I already have v9.2.2 and it used to run like clockwork, including some of my old system 7 stuff. Memory is not the issue, it would seem.

Rebuilding the desktop, turning off extensions, and the like have been tried before, but I did so again for kicks to no avail. I think I must have tried "Fix OS 9 Permissions" before as well but, in case I hadn't, I've done so now. I also attempted the classic prefs as well and neither made a difference.

I also attempted blessing the System Folder and, assuming I entered it correctly, it has not fixed anything.

It is very strange: Classic's startup window opens but it never begins to load the OS; it just hangs without even showing the typical gray background.

[benwiggy]

I'd appreciate any help that could be offered. If it will require a clean system install (we do have 10.3.9 CDs), is there a better/safer way of installing CS2?
There is always a danger of problems when running software that is not 'contemporary' with the OS. If you're using CS2, then I'd upgrade to Tiger. Downgrading to versions of Panther below 10.3.9 is just silly, and no wonder you have problems with Classic.
Also, what apps are you running in Classic? Certainly not CS2! Perhaps there are alternatives for them that run in OS X.
I'd start by re-installing Classic, which should be a separate .pkg on your installer discs.

[xym]

Well, I had a couple of games that do not have native versions in Mac OS X (Sim City 2000, Myst, etc.) that I break out every once in awhile. The only heavy legacy software though is Finale 2003 and occasionally HyperCard. Still, it's just the fact that something was working perfectly and now it's not is what is most frustrating, even if I didn't need it at all.

As for CS2, I know it was "meant" for 10.4, but it supposedly will (and does, basically) run on 10.3.9. It originally installed perfectly but then refused to run which prompted the clean install into root (as recommended by Adobe). My dad needed it for working on some freelance work (he is a graphic artist) and we didn't have the desktop at the time. The only reason I don't just get rid of it is that he still sometimes will borrow my laptop, and I also am more convinced that CS2 may be a symptom, rather than a cause...

Oddly, the desktop came installed with 10.4 but did not come with any CDs. However, we do have the install discs for 10.3.9 which I can use for the laptop if need be. I am running 10.3.9 now in case there is any confusion about that.

I forgot to mention a secondary symptom/problem which may help to point to the main issue: I am no longer able to connect to other computers remotely via our local network, but others can still connect to me. Once again, it will hang (without freezing or slow-down) when I attempt the operation. It will prompt me for a user name and password and upon entering it, that dialogue window goes away and nothing else happens, forcing me to restart the Finder. However, similarly to the problem with Classic, it will connect to others while logged into root...

Oh, the mystery!

[benwiggy]

So you've enabled the root user, and some things only work when logged in as root....?
I'd say you've got a massive permissions problem, and if repairing permissions won't fix it, your simplest best is to re-install the OS and stay away from the root user account.

I've run various combinations of OS X and CS versions, but never run into this.

[xym]

I guess I was hoping to not to have to do that, but alas, there seems to be no other choice. I've run Disc Utility and Disc Warrior before as well in hopes that they might cure the permissions conflicts, whate'er they may be, but they have never worked either.

Le sigh...

Thanks everyone for the input. I guess that I will just have to bite the bullet and back-up everything for a wipe. If this particular problem rears itself again, I will be sure to post about it!

Over and out.