02-14-2008, 09:19 AM

Hi guy's,

I'm new here so I hope you can help. I did a quick search and didn't manage to find the answers I need so apologies if we're treading a beaten track here:
I've had a powerbook G4 (15" 1Gig/256 on 10.3.9) for 4 years now and I've always been good with cleaning it up, verifying and repairing permissions, deleting unwanted caches etc. Unfortunately the most important apps I use have slowly died a death and the whole system is just a little poorly. Virex detects 31 possibly infected files but never seems to clean them so I don't know if this is the place to start or what to attack it with (issue no.1)

So it's about time to do a system re-install (no.2). I've read a lot of the guides and "how to"s but i'm a little concerned about loosing important apps and files. I've never done this before and I don't know anyone else who can look over my shoulder so I see me spending a couple of hours scared out of my wits thinking... "OMG, is that supposed to happen?"

Will I loose all my old emails from within my Mail? (this would cripple me)

From what I understand it's just a case of backing up the home folder and any other important docs to an external HD, then rebooting off the original restore cd (10.3 I have here) whilst holding down CTRL, rubbing you head and hopping on one foot?

Please let me know if there are any little surprises I should take into account, what to expect, how long it should take.... and if there's any preference for the direction of head rubbing

Any help would be greatly received and, as you can probably tell, will go a long way.

02-14-2008, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Mr.C

the most important apps I use have slowly died a death and the whole system is just a little poorly. Virex detects 31 possibly infected files but never seems to clean them so I don't know if this is the place to start or what to attack it with (issue no.1)

Quite frankly, there is a major part of the problem... Virex. You don't have any 'infected' files, which is why they cannot be "cleaned".
Get rid of Virex. If it came with an uninstaller, use that first. Otherwise, just trash it and any associated files for it.
Then download and run Onyx. Once Onyx is installed, run a full optimization on your system


Reinstalling the OS is almost never needed, no matter what the situation. Just get rid of old apps that are no longer used or simply useless. Then clear up your caches, run a Disk Repair by booting up from your install media and maybe run a Permissions Repair on your startup disk.

02-14-2008, 10:11 AM

OK thanks for the starting point, I've done a system search and although there an installer package, there's no uninstall. Can I just select all related files and delete?

Thanks again

02-14-2008, 10:57 AM

10.5 onwards required according to versiontracker however Virex is now outta here!!! I take it Onyx is the same as CacheOut and MacJanitor?

02-14-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Mr.C

I take it Onyx is the same as CacheOut and MacJanitor?

Yes and no. Onyx does the same things MJ and CO do, but offers much more in the way of optimization and maintenance.

02-17-2008, 08:08 AM

Hi all,

Really hoping someone can help me here.

I've had some performance issues with my PB G4 (10.3.9) and recently and things are starting to look pretty ugly. I initially noticed a 15 minute boot up of an audio project that normally is up in less than 1 min, this prompted me to verify/repair my permissions earlier than scheduled however; the "verify" operation froze and I had to force quit. After which I did a system search for one of my apps... and had to force quit again (10 mins just to force quit!).

On reboot (22mins!!!), another attempt at verifying ended in another forced quit. No problems with mozilla or mail (thank heavens) but particular apps seem to be affected, others not.

I haven't tried repair yet as I normally verify first as a process. Any ideas? Any help really appreciated.

Thanks

02-17-2008, 08:10 AM

So can anyone suggest an Onyx equivalent for 10.3.9?

Cheers

02-17-2008, 08:52 AM

Go to the developer's page, Titanium software : he still hosts several versions of OnyX, including one for Jaguar, Panther, Tiger.

02-17-2008, 08:57 AM

Thanks I'll give that a try and post the results. Did you see my other post by any chance?

02-17-2008, 01:06 PM

Right, got Onyx and I see what you mean about the depth of the application compared to MacJanitor etc. Unfortunately, whilst trying to verify/repair permissions, it froze like disc utility has done recently. However; i did manage to clean up the caches which prompted a restart. Bingo, it booted up like it should as opposed the the 22mins!!!! it took to boot up this morning.

so, i'm happily playing away and then it starts to slow again. It all ended with me checking the date (clicking on the time).... its now very ill indeed!!!

It won't start up now. I get the chime and then grey screen but no apple symbol. It's not even ticking over. I have left it in it's grey screen stasis for up to 20 mins to see if there is any progress but nothing.

i have tried re-booting several times to no avail, then tried re-starting the software only (CMD+CTRL+Power), after which I got got the usual grey screen but then a flashing icon (mac logo alternating to a file icon with a ?)

I would go ahead with an OSX Restore, but I have a horrible feeling it's going to need a little more love than that.....

Please, Please help....

02-17-2008, 01:18 PM

I would seriously consider buying a retail copy of Tiger and doing a back-up install with that

That way you get a fresh install and can restore your older system parts - like mail at your leisure.

Does anybody know if panther offers a back-up and intsall option?

yes it does, try an archive and install

http://www.apple.com/support/panther/install/

02-17-2008, 01:27 PM

Don't think tiger will run on my old PB 15" g4 (1gig/256ram). Why would installing Tiger be better for me than Panther?

does anyone know anything about this flashing icon i'm getting? (mac symbol with a ?)

02-17-2008, 01:37 PM

Tiger works a dream on my 733 G4 with 1 gig of RAM

You could upgrade the RAM anyway on your puter (its cheap and will spped up your mac no-end)

Then decide to do a clean Panther install (with archive option) or decide to go tiger

02-17-2008, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.C

Don't think tiger will run on my old PB 15" g4 (1gig/256ram). Why would installing Tiger be better for me than Panther?

does anyone know anything about this flashing icon i'm getting? (mac symbol with a ?)

This means that the Mac cannot find a valid system to boot from. There is probably a corruption of some kind. Did you try resetting the PRAM and resetting the PMU?

Give those a try. Report back so we can see where this takes you. Good luck!

02-17-2008, 01:53 PM

RAM is an option but I stick to the same apps and don't really have a great need for it. This isn't what wrong with my system though.

What i'm worried about is not being able to do a restore at all. I'm thinking my HD has had it (hope not) but I just don't know.

i'll try a restore when I get home but probably won't be able to post the results till tomorrow.

really need to find out what this flashing icon is all about??????