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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Problems with startup time on OS 9.2.2 Splash

asp272 - Jul 6, 2006 - 3:49 pm

Several months ago we started to get very long startup times on our OS 9.2.2 Splash RIP that we use for our Xerox Docucolor 12. I eliminated all possibilities for the problem down to the Apple Ethernet extension. When this extension is disabled, the machine starts up normally within a couple minutes. With the extension turned on, it takes the machine about 15-20 minutes to connect to the network and get past the desktop background (where icons begin to show up on the desktop, etc.) In the long delay, all that shows on the desktop is the small stopwatch icon for the mouse and the ethernet activity indicator in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Our server hardware here at work was recently switched to Windows 2000 Server, but all hardware IP addresses/names remain the same. The machine is configured manually and all IP addresses are correct according to IT. We also updated our Switch for the Macintosh department - but I think this problem did not occur until much later - after the hardware change was made. The IT department has checked all the Ethernet cable connections using a very expensive piece of equipment and all is OK there.

Once the Splash starts up we have no problems connecting/printing to it. I ran Norton Utilities on the system and discovered a few errors, but all were fixed successfully. I retested to verify all is well with the hard drive and files. It just seems that for some reason this system is having a VERY hard time starting up the Ethernet network connection. I have tried just about everything I could think of, including replacing the Apple Enet extension, with no luck. Xerox, who is supposed to support this machine, has no clue. Their only suggestion was to reinstall everything. For some reason I just don't think that will do it. Let me know if any of you have any other ideas as to the cause of this problem. My sincerest thanks!
P.S. I was an Apple Certified Desktop Technician on Mac OS 9/10.1, but I am a little rusty. You can be as technical as you want though in your response.

gomacgeek - Jul 10, 2006 - 2:59 pm

Hi,
This may be a long shot, but I seem to remember something similar to this. Go to your System Folder, Apple Menu Items folder, and open the Recent Servers folder. Delete all the aliases in that folder. It seems to me that the system tries to verify those items during startup, and if it can't find one of them, it will sit and spin for quite some time before it gives up. If isn't that, let me know and I'll put this back into the open pool for someone else to answer.
Tom

asp272 - Jul 12, 2006 - 9:16 am

Your suggestion lead me to the solution. I deleted the aliases in the Apple Menu Items folder and that had no effect. So I went into the System Folder:Servers folder and found a bunch of old server aliases in there. THAT was the problem. After deleting those it started up as normal. Thanks so much for your help! I hope we can get rid of this OS 9 Splash soon and update to the new Xerox OS X Splash they just released. At least then we can get support without having to go online for it. Thank God for macosx.com! Again, my sincerest thanks Tom!

gomacgeek - Jul 12, 2006 - 10:07 am

I'm glad you found the answer. In the back of my mind I thought there was somewhere else that those servers were stored, but the Servers folder on my machine was empty when I checked, so I wasn't sure if it was it. I used to be pretty proud of my troubleshooting OS9, but I seem to be in over my head some days with OSX. I end up getting more answers from macosx.com than I am able to provide some days! We had a Docucolor 12 for 6 years and loved it. We didn't have the Splash rip, though. The dealer that sold us the copier sold us another rip he liked becuase it would also drive an Encad wide format printer at the same time. About 6 months ago, we upgraded to the new Xerox Docucolor 250 with a Creo CX250 rip. A fantastic combo, fast and great color.

asp272 - Jul 12, 2006 - 4:17 pm

We are getting ready to upgrade to the Docucolor 240 with a Splash RPX-i rip. The cost is about the same as the Docucolor 12 we are using now, but the speed, resolution, and rip are far better. We don't really need more than the Docucolor 12 can do, but it would be nice. We do, however, have to get rid of this OS 9 Splash which Xerox can no longer support (obviously). I know what you mean with the OS X problems, though. Sometimes troubleshooting can be much more difficult in OS X, and especially in the very buggy 10.4 Tiger. Anyway, thanks again for the help!