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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Startup Problems

Vizier - Jan 5, 2007 - 9:11 pm

I have a MAC G4 Laptop running Version 10.4.8. Two things happen at startup:

1. I do not see my Hard Disc icon show up on my desktop. YES, I go to File:Preferences and under "Show these Items on the Desktop" Hard Disks is already checked. If I then turn off the check and then turn it on again my Hard Disk icon magically appears! Also. on occasion, I have clicked in the upper right hand area of the screen and sometimes, again magically, the icon appears. Why doesn't it simply appear at startup? Why must I go through this routine EVERY time?

2. On my laptop I have no network setup. I have no internet connection. I don't want one for my laptop until I can get a wireless setup. I also have a G4 Desktop MAC and that's where I get my Intenet stuff. Here's the problem, after about two minutes following startup (and at other times) I get the annoying error message (with the Network Icon staring accusingly at me from the little window) "Internet Connect - Could not find a PPPoE Server." How do I keep that message from popping up?

Can you help me with these two problems?

Cheryl - Jan 6, 2007 - 6:12 am

Tom,

Let's tackle the internet problem first. Go to System Preferences (light switch in the dock) and select Network.
In the Show pull down menu select Network Port Configurations.
The window that appears will show all the possible internet connections your Powerbook can connect with. Uncheck all those boxes.
Click on Apply Now.
Close System Preferences.

Now you should not be bothered with those messages. When you need to connect the Powerbook, just go back to that panel and select Ethernet for a wired connection or - when you do get the wireless card select Airport.

As for the hard drive icon not showing, try this:

Go to Home>Library>Preferences
Now go to the view menu and select by list. This will put all the files in alpha order making it easier to find items.
Locate and trash the com.apple.finder.plist file.
Close the window, empty the trash.

Now give it a test and see if the icon shows up.

Let me know how you do.

Cheryl

Vizier - Jan 6, 2007 - 2:00 pm

Thanks so much for the quick reply.

1. Sure enough, your directions helped for the Internet Connection problem

2. Unfortunately the disk icon still fails to appear. I followed your directions 6 (yes 6) times. I would restart. Then I would shut down and then start up again. It still requires that I either go to preference and unclick and then reclick (Show HD") OR click in the "general area" where the disc is supposed to be (upper right hand corner) and then it appears.
One more thing that may be important (or not). I wondered if I clicked in any area of the screen the disc icon would show up. As I was clicking merrily away, just like the magic disc icon, a little "preview" document (looks like a little photo with JPEG below the photo). I clicked on it and this message pops up "Item "zhangzf9.jpg" is used by Mac OS X and cannot be opened". Is this a hint? I continued clicking all over the screen but no other little icon popped up. Any ideas?

Cheryl - Jan 6, 2007 - 4:31 pm

Tom,

Start up with the OS X 10.4 CD/DVD. Connect the power adaptor to the powerbook and a good outlet. Insert the OS X 10.4 CD/DVD and restart the computer immediately hold down the C key.

When the computer starts up, you will see Welcome and select your language.
Select your language, then do not click on the installer screen.
Instead go to the Utility menu and select Disk Utility.
Click on the second hard drive icon in the side bar, then click on Repair Disk.
Watch the activity screen. If it does any repairs - you will need to click on the Repair Disk button a second time after the first pass is done. The object is to make sure it finds all the problems and repairs them. You may need to hit that button a third or fourth time to get no references to repairs made.

Now click on Repair Permissions. When done, quit Disk Utility.

Now go to the File Menu and select Restart.

Does this help solve the problem?

Cheryl

Vizier - Jan 6, 2007 - 7:40 pm

Cheryl,

First, let me say that I have dealt with "technical assistance" many times since my first MAC in 1985. You are the best. You are clear, concise and absolutely determined to help. I want to thank you for that.

Unfortunately, I tried all of your syggestions and the problem persists. I even decided to use something called Disk Warrior and rebuilt the desktop and permissions, whatever that means. It didn't help. Finally, on a hunch since that "Zhang jpg" sounded familiar (it is, it's a photo from Zhanghou in China that I took when I was there) I went to iPhoto and tried to import it from the desktop. Lo and behold, I was given a choice of about 2000 (no exageration) jpgs to choose from. However, when I tried I was told they couldn't be imported since they were in use by another program????? I looked closer and they were ALL 0 KB in size. Zero KB??? NONE of these things appear anywhere on my desktop!

By now I am so frustrated that I will put up with clicking in the right hand corner to show the disk icon. After all, all the rest of the stuff works.

Thanks so much for your help. I truly appreciate your efforts. I wish you success with all your other hopeless people like me.

Tom Shea

Cheryl - Jan 6, 2007 - 9:20 pm

Tom,

Did you move your iPhoto library recently? Did you select one of your photos from iPhoto for your desktop picture?

Go to System preferences (the light switch in the dock) and select Desktop & Screensaver.
Click on Desktop if it isn't selected already, then select a different folder (and image if you don't have Change picture every xxx minutes selected).

Wait until the desktop changes, then close System preferences.

Now see if you can get that zhangzf9.jpg to show on your desktop and move it to your Pictures folder (in Home folder). You can move it to the iPhoto Library later.

When you updated to 10.4.8 do you remember if you used the combo update or the update through Software Update? It could be the update did not install correctly. Try this:

Go to: http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...updateppc.html

Download the combo update, then before you install it....(from the Go menu)
Go to Computer>Library>Receipts.
Drag to the trash the following file:
MacOSXUpd10.4.8PPC.pkg
Empty the trash.
Now install the combo update you just downloaded.
Restart, then go to Utilities and start up Disk Utility to repair permissions.

Does this fix the problem?

Cheryl

Vizier - Jan 6, 2007 - 11:08 pm

Cheryl,

Several things:
1. No, I haven't moved my iPhoto at all
2. I have used an iPhoto phot for a desktop picture for at least the past two years and have not had a problem.
3. I have trashed zhangzf9.jpg. But not the other 2000 iPhoto import "sees" on my desktop. If I use iPhoto and select import for any one of them it says "Unreadabe files : 1 The file could not be imported". Then, in the box it says
/Users/thomasshea/Desktop/DSCF0001.JPG. That last part (DSCF0001.JPG) is just one of the 2000 files iPhoto says are on my desktop.The interesting thing is they were all created,modified, and last opened at the exact date of 11/8/06 AND THE EXACT TIME of 2:33. ALL of them! I have NO, zero, nada, nil, zilch album or photo in I photo with that date.
4. In order for me to download anything I would have to disconnect from the desktop and then connect the laptop to my modem
5. I have given up! I'll live with the problem. Let me repeat that. I have given up. There is no need for you to spend any more time on me or my problem.

Thanks again for your help.

Cheryl - Jan 7, 2007 - 6:42 am

Tom,

You should not 'live' with this problem, but I will respect your decision. I do believe that iPhoto is creating this.

Cheryl