OS9 disappeared files, confusion on startup

[beedubblyer]

What to do..? When a G3 iMac seems to have hidden all the files that were saved to the desktop - a Sherlock search finds the files (and the original desktop file) but I can't drag & drop/copy the files found in Sherlock to any uncorrupted folder.

Alsoft's Change Visibility plugin, and TechTool Lite only seem to have exacerbated the problem, with the Mac now unable to see it's own system for startup - we can only manage that from an OS9 or OSX disc! We can't even install OSX (10.1) over the top, because it doesn't think OS9 is installed.

If I partition the drive: a) will it definitely NOT delete all existing files? b) will I be able to install OSX on the new partition?

Thanks

[lZakl]

beedubblyer,

First off, do you have Disk Warrior utility? It sounds to me like the drive may need to be repaired. I would start here. It seams really strange to me that you can't install OSX, unless it's an upgrade disk. If that is the case, you might try popping in the OSX disk, restart, and use OSX's disk utility if you don't have Disk Warrior. Also, if there is another Mac with OS9 installed that you have access to, you should be able to just copy the System9 folder straight over to your machine, and have it work.

-- Zak

[microcars]

with the Mac now unable to see it's own system for startup - we can only manage that from an OS9 or OSX disc!

if you can't boot without using a System on another disk you have to either repair the Directory that is on that iMac or you have to get the files off it and then re-install the OS from scratch (which will erase the disk, partitioning will ALSO erase the disk at this point)

I second the need for you to get a copy of DiskWarrior...PRONTO!

It has saved my butt several times and is well worth the $70 or whatever it costs.

If you have access to another Mac with Firewire, you can transfer the files with Firewire TARGET DISK MODE to the "good" computer and then wipe the drive and re-install the OS.

[beedubblyer]

Thanks guys - we can't do the copying over thing, as the files are hidden to my laptop too... but Disk Warrior definitely sounds like the next step!