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From: flowers@CS.UCLA.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Suitcase,Pyro,Findswell don't load any more
Message-ID: <9401@shemp.UCLA.EDU>
Date: Tue, 24-Nov-87 05:36:34 EST
Article-I.D.: shemp.9401
Posted: Tue Nov 24 05:36:34 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Nov-87 06:01:32 EST
References: <9344@shemp.UCLA.EDU> <3617@uwmcsd1.UUCP>
Sender: root@CS.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: flowers@CS.UCLA.EDU (Margot Flowers)
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 41

In article <3617@uwmcsd1.UUCP> hammen@csd4.milw.wisc.edu.UUCP (Robert Hammen) writes:
>In article <9344@shemp.UCLA.EDU> flowers@CS.UCLA.EDU () types:
><problems with System & INITs on hard disk -- can boot from floppy
                     but not hard disk with identical system folder>

>I believe your problem lies with the above - having more than one System file
>(& folder) on the hard disk. The reason your INITs are probably not getting
>executed is the fact that they are not in the active ("blessed") System
>folder. To find out which is the active System folder, boot off the hard 
>disk and drag any folder that has a System file in it to the trash. The Finder
>won't let you throw away the currently active System. Empty the trash and then
>copy your INITs into the remaining System folder and they should work.

About the same time as your message (thanks!) I saw the very
informative and useful article "Hard Disk Medic" in the current
MacUser which mentioned this, along with many other things to try.  In
addition to getting rid of system files, I had to trash and make a new
copy of my system folder before I could get beyond the ?-in-a-floppy
at boot time.

>Ordinarily, I would have replied to this message, not posted, but it is an
>example of a common mistake that many Mac owners make - having multiple 
>System files on a hard disk. This is dangerous and potentially deadly to
>the hard disk (as I have discovered from the experiences of others). I don't
>know if this is ever mentioned in the manuals for the Mac, but it should be.

The article was authored by an Apple employee (Bo3b Johnson, "3Remember
the 3 is silent"), supposedly based on technical note 134, so it seems
like this is now mentioned somewhere (but not where many people will
find it).  According to Bo3b, there should be only one system _folder_
on the the system.  (I actually violated both those rules, since I
have a system folder and file buried down deep that didn't conflict
with a successful boot, but I plan on renaming then right away.)

thanks for the help!  

>=========================================================================
>Robert Hammen	Computer Applications, Inc.	hammen@csd4.milw.wisc.edu
>Delphi: HAMMEN		GEnie: R.Hammen		CI$: 70701,2104

-- Margot