So last night shortly before we headed off to bed, Takaza set his iBook to download the 10.2.4 update for Mac OS X. That’s when things started to go horribly wrong. First Mail crapped out and ICQ wouldn’t fire up, then he rebooted. Now it’s not recognizing the mouse or the Airport card at all. This is probably going to require a call to AppleCare, but if anyone has any suggestions we can try, they’d be appreciated!
Take iBook… go back four yards and punt…
May not solve the problem, but you sure feel better as you make the feild goal…
a) Connect the iBook via Ethernet.
b) 1)If the iBook thinks it’s not currently running 10.2.4, rerun Software Update, and download the 10.2.4 updater to hard disk (note: download to disk option [in the menus], instead of install directly off software update, is recommended for problematic installs).
2)If the iBook thinks it’s running 10.2.4 to to Apple website, find the update you need, download.
c) Rerun the 10.2.4 updater.
Fun with Applecare
I went through and talked with Applecare about the situation, ran the repair disk for 10.2 and for 9.1 and looks like there is a problem with the boot record. Also there is a problem with the syblink(IIRC). Their solution was get things off the computer that I need and then scrag the disk and reinstall everything.
Your solution sounds like a possibility but I am hardly a heavy mac user so I have no idea how to get around without the use of a mouse. What’s your suggestion? Thanks
Re: Fun with Applecare
You can use Tab to move through the alphabet between highlit icons and Shift-Tab to move backwards.
Re: Fun with Applecare
How about plugging in a USB mouse?
Re: Fun with Applecare
Tried it – wouldn’t recognize the mouse.
AppleCare’s verdict was that the master boot record is irretrievably screwed, and the only solution is to grab what data he can from the drive and then scrag it and reinstall.
Of course, getting the data off is a trick. A Firewire connection directly to a PC didn’t work. A USB hard drive (a Terrapin Mine) wasn’t recognized, either. The last-ditch effort tomorrow is going to be getting together with a friend who has an iBook and doing a direct connection to see if that will work.
Re: Fun with Applecare
You know, you’re not the only ones I’ve heard who have had problems with this update. And since you’re pretty screwed with not having a mouse… hmm, there’s always single user mode (I think it’s Command-S when booting) that will allow you to do UNIX type stuff, but I don’t know if you can bring up the networking stuff in single user mode.
Might wanna check that mode out.. I dunno. 🙂