Ticket Options

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Ran Norton, Now Browser Crashes, Etc.

SIR - Sep 9, 2005 - 9:43 pm

Our iBook was running a bit slow so we decided to run Norton Utilites and optimize the disk as well. After running Norton (which boots the system in OS 9) we restarted to a black screen with some code on the top corner saying, "/etc/master.passwd: no such file or directory."

I restarted from the Norton cd again and told it to "undo" the last procedure which was supposed to restore my hard drive to the state it was in before I ran the program. I restarted and still had the black screen with the code message. FYI, Norton had only found minor problems which I had chosen for it to "fix all" so I didn't think this would be a big deal.

I managed to find on Apple's web site that perhaps the "etc" or "var" files had been deleted by running a program that could have moved or deleted folders or files. I figured Norton could have done this so I followed their suggested code (after restarting in single-user mode) to put back these files and then restarted. Eureka! It appeared all had been fixed...I got on the internet and checked my mail no problem. BUT, then when I launched Safari from the dock it bounced like it was getting ready to launch but then nothing happened. We then tried to find a download and only found updates which would not install without giving us an error. So, we tried downloading Firefox which also gave us an error and wouldn't install. Explorer is working but keeps crashing.

Any ideas? To think, this all started b/c we were trying to run routine maintenance! Is Norton Utilities not a good program to run maintenace on OS X? It is what I always used for OS 9.

I have a really good understanding of OS 9, but X is fairly new to me. I still use OS 9 on my desktop b/c I need certain desktop publishing programs to do my design work and I haven't updated them. But on our iBook which we mainly use for internet purposes we use OS X. I am pretty good with technical talk...but I'm not an IT person.

Thanks for any ideas you may have.

Jackie

baldprof - Sep 10, 2005 - 9:24 am

The version of Norton Utilities you have has been demonstrated not to be compatible with OS X. In fact, while Symantec still makes Norton AntiVirus for Mac OS X, they do not make the Norton Utilities package any longer. If you want to use third party utilities with Mac OS X, you should consider using either Tech Tool Pro 4, or Disk Warrior.

In order to correct what Norton Utilties has done, you may have to reinstall the OS. That's probably not what you wanted to hear, but backup your key files just in case.

But here's something to try, which also can be used for routine maintenance. Boot from an OS X CD; insert the disk, restart, and hold down the "C" key.

When the Mac has finished booting, you will see a series of screens connected with installing the OS. That's not what you want to do, yet. When you get to the screen where an Options button appears, click that. Then select Disk Utility. Click Disk First Aid. Then select Repair Disk. Rerun that procedure until you get a message stating that no additional errors were found. The select Repair Permissions. When that finishes, restart. If either Disk REpair can not finish, or this process fails to fix your problem, then it's time to find the software restore disks that came with that iBook and reinstall. It's best to use those because that will guarantee you have OS 9 available.

Regardless, don't ever use Norton Utilities on an OS X Mac.

You might be interested in what Apple has to say here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25668

SIR - Sep 10, 2005 - 9:33 am

Thanks so much, this is a huge help. We are actually borrowing this iBook from someone who just bought a brand new Powerbook and no longer has use for this, so I will ask if he can send the OSX cd and try your suggestion.

Thanks again for your help and quick reply.

Jackie