Help installing Jaguar over system 9/10

[jjoan]

My friend's iMac is crashing and doing crazy stuff, won't even start up sometimes. I think she should switch to System 10. Can I use my Jaguar install disk (which I purchased from Apple for my G4) on her iMac? I think her iMac is a G3. She does have the system ten and system nine CDs that came with her computer. She has both systems installed on her hard drive, and she hasn't partitioned her drive. But isn't Jaguar supposed to be better? What steps should I take to reinstall any system? Is there a step by step method anyone here knows of thatI can print out and take to her house? I volunteered, now I'm getting scared! Plus I have to do it tomorrow morning at EIGHT! Help!

[tacit]

Yes, youcan install your copy of Jaguar (just insert the CD, double-click on the installer icon, and away you go)--but you can't do it *legally*. Legally, she has to buy her own copy.

Before you do this, though, you should find out WHY her Mac is acting up. What crazy stuff is it doing? What happens when it won't start up?

[jjoan]

She said that her email program is sending mail to people without her telling it to (?!), adding attachments to her emails without her telling it to, and when I saw her briefly today she was saying that it wouldn't start up. I guess I'm jumping the gun here, I should have more info before I dig in. She is out doing chores (owns a horse farm) now, probably won't be able to get an answer from her till sundown! This is her first computer, she's only had it for a year, she said she was going to throw it out the window. I will be more specific after I talk to her. Perhaps I should wait a day, get a battle plan, then go for it. --Joan

[marie]

Forgive me if I am speaking out of line. It almost sounds like virus activity?
Although I have not seen a virus affect a Macintosh. I know how they react on M$, and typically that is a tell tale sign.
But there is a big diffence here between the Mac and M$.
Please someone correct me if I am wrong.

[gmann]

Vey few viri affect Macs, but a Mac infected with a windows virus can pas that virus to other pc's.  Have your friend run a good anti-virus program on her machine to delete any such creatures.

[jjoan]

It must be a windows virus then? I have no idea what a good virus protection software is, I never paid attention, because I thought that we were IMMUNE! Really! Does a virus protection program fix a virus that's already there? I never would have thought that this was a virus issue at all.

[marie]

jjoan
Sure sounds like a virus. I do know that classic virus activity will affect email programs and address books, producing mass mailing from the affected computer. It usually will attach an attachment with an infected file. When the receiver opens it, boom! they are now infected.
Antivirus programs.....Well, I know of two that I feel are good. Nortons Antivirus and MCaffee.
One thing I want to stress though, it SOUNDS like it MAY be a virus. Although, it very easily could be something else, I myself try to not be to hasty in calling it virus or not.
Macintosh users have a very minimal risk of virus infection compared to M$. But the advise to get an antivirus program and scan is indeed a great idea. Sure hope this helps.
Marie

[kelly]

It could be a Virus.      

In the history of macs there's been about a hundred.

Compared to 60,000 for the PC.

Some info and links.

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0108/0...06.hacker.shtml

http://headgap.com/virusnews.html

Sounds like your friend is a candidate for SystemWorks.

http://www.applelinks.com/reviews/norton_sw2.shtml

If you or your friend are not comfortable working with these

Applications she might want to take it somewhere.

[jjoan]

Her iMac took almost ten minutes to boot up. The clock popped up when I attempted to open any folder, it was unbelieveable. Used TechTool to optimize the hard drive, and the iMac is zipping again. I also own a copy of DiskWarrior, but it has always intimidated me. Since it seems to be back to normal, should I leave it be? Perhaps, magically, the email episodes will quit? That would be nice, yes? And I should consider investing in SystemWorks for myself, I'm finally running System X and haven't gotten into trouble yet.

[kelly]

Joan. You have TechTool. That's great.  

I'm sure that will help a lot.

Don't have Disk Warrior myself.

Others may advise you on that.

I suggested SystemWorks because it combines

Utilities and Anti-Virus in one package.

Personally I'm not real fond of the latest Norton Anti-Virus.

You may consider an alternate Anti-Virus or not bother.

If your repair has fixed all your friends problems that's great.

Do you know if she's using MS Office or MS e-mail?

[jjoan]

She uses Netscape Navigator as her email program, but does her word processing in Microsoft Word 98.

[pendragon]

jjoan, Using DiskWarrior is easy. Not to worry. If Bernie can do it…  

1. Insert the DiskWarrior CD.
2. Go to your System Preferences and select Startup Disk.
3. The Startup Disk will list all available startup drives, including those on DiskWarrior CD. Highlight OS 9.2.x on the DiskWarrior CD and then restart. Or insert the DiskWarrior CD and restart while holding down the C key.
4. After the restart has completed, launch DiskWarrior if it is not already open.
5. Double click on the DiskWarrior icon at the top of the window (the blue knight on a hard drive). Do not select the DiskWarrior extension on the bottom left.
6. Agree to the software license.
7. From the pull down menu select the drive that you wish to check/have it’s directory rebuilt.
8. Click on Rebuild
9. DiskWarrior will now proceed through a 10 or 11 step process that may take 15-20 minutes. Be patient.
10. You will then be presented with a list of errors found (these appear in red) and are somewhat arcane. Even if no errors are found you will be presented with an option to replace the directory. Click OK or what ever is the affirmative action.
11. A window will then appear advising that the directory has been replaced.
12. Quit DiskWarrior
13. From the Apple, select Control Panels and then select you r preferred startup drive and restart.
14. Enjoy!

I suppose someone somewhere has had a problem with DiskWarrior and regretted creating/replacing the directory, but I am sure those cases are extremely rare and that you won’t go wrong or do any damage.

HTH
Harv

[jjoan]

I love it! A numbered list! I will print it out, take it with me, and go for it, I'm no longer intimidated. Thank you, Joan