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Mac OS X: Defrag w/o Norton Utilities?
Defrag w/o Norton Utilities?
by jennywren1420 - 12/9/05 8:51 AMI am running OS 9.2.2 (don't ask!) on a G4 desktop. I seem to have misplaced my copy of Norton Utilities, or someone has borrowed it and forgotten to return it. I have Disk Warrior and use it instead of Disk Doctor for analysis, etc., on the disk, but I wondered whether I still need Norton for defragmenting. Everything seems to be moving somewhat more slowly than usual, and I thought defragmenting the disk might help, as it has in the past.
Is there something else I can use? I ran Disk Warrior recently, but the slowness has persisted. Occasional freezes in Netscape (7.02), too, but that's a subject for another message.
Thanks, in advance, for any help on this.
Jenny
Utilities
by mrmacfixit
- 12/9/05 10:29 AM
In reply to: Defrag w/o Norton Utilities? by jennywren1420
you may have to find it, or the "borrower" if you feel the need to defrag.
TechTool Pro has a defrag module but I'm not sure if it will boot the G4 under OS 9
Maybe you could find an older copy on ebay.
As to your 9.2.2, of course we are going to ask. Why!?
P
Utilities
by jennywren1420 - 12/10/05 10:15 AM In reply to: Utilities by mrmacfixit
Thanks for the advice, P. As for why I use 9.2.2 (besides finding it quite satisfactory, except for not being able to buy or download free much that is new in software), it's quite simple. My mother, who had a hard enough time converting to OS 9 from an earlier version, not to speak of going from Word 5.1a to 98, uses 9.2.2. She calls on me often to help her by phone to untangle something she can't understand on her computer, and it's really easier to do it if I can see what's going on on both her screen and mine.
That's leaving aside that I'd have to update a lot of the software I have. I admit that I'd be able to do more and wouldn't have to search for older software at various Web sites when I need something. Try, for example, getting Acrobat--not the reader, the standard version--or Quicken or some such thing for OS 9, and more advanced versions of Netscape. My ISP, Earthlink (which too over my beloved Mindspring), also offers new software only for OS X (even though there is little that they offer for Macs, anyway). There are many other things that I just can't use because I don't have OS X, but fortunately, I don't need a whole lot more than I now have.
That's the story: I love my mother; she wouldn't be willing or able to adapt again to a new OS version, one that is much different from the one she knows; I want to be able to help her; I might not even go to X if she gave up computing, or not until I had to, which was the story with getting 9.04 with my current computer. If that seems silly (leaving aside the expense of upgrading the OS and some of my software), so be it. That's what my cryptic remark was all about.
Thanks for asking. Kind, as always.
Jenny
That makes sense
by mrmacfixit - 12/10/05 7:33 PM
In reply to: Utilities by jennywren1420
It is much easier to explain to someone when you are looking at what you think they are looking at. Most of the time they are, but the odd occasion when they are not.....Then it becomes fun trying to figure out where they are.
At least she uses a machine
P
That makes sense
by jennywren1420 - 12/20/05 8:59 AM In reply to: That makes sense by mrmacfixit
That is precisely the point. (I knew you were smart!) You are right, too, that it's great that she uses a computer--though it can have its downside, too. Because I'm the only one in my family who even tries to work with Mac-related difficulties, I have ended up as the local Mac guru (what, moi?), and my mother is my primary "client"--though my two sisters come up with something, occasionally. It's really kind of a trip, though I beg to remind everyone how far I am from deserving the title, and at times it can be very time consuming. Fortunately, almost all of the problems that have come up so far (except, notably, some with my own computer) have been pretty basic and quite easily resolved.
Thanks for your interest and support. Always grateful, I am.
Jenny
Toss Norton in the trash where it belongs...
by Byronic - 12/9/05 11:23 AM In reply to: Defrag w/o Norton Utilities? by jennywren1420There is no need to 'defrag' a Mac. It won't get fragmented to any extent whatsoever, unless your disk is 95% or more full. Techtool or Disk Warrior are good utilities, and I think Techtool will give you a report of fragmentation, but again, unless your disk is way full, it's not going to be over 2-3%, which is not going to slow you down. Fragmentation is a common problem in windows, not at all on Mac.
You might try rebuilding the desktop. (hold down option and command (apple) during boot up, and the mac will do this for you, no software needed.
Other sources of slowdowns on OS 9 (actually a fine OS as long as you don't need multiuser features, etc... of OS X) include having way too many fonts installed (Move the ones you don't need out of the system folder:fonts folder) and also corrupt preference files. You can move a preference file out of the system folder:preferences folder and see if that makes a difference. Also, extensions or control panels you don't need (these are in their own folders in the system folder too (like the stuff above)) can be removed or turned off with the extensions manager control panel.
Good luck
Ditto! Norton is dangerous
by rdiesto - 12/9/05 2:09 PM In reply to: Toss Norton in the trash where it belongs... by ByronicDon't use Norton to repair your disk. It is invasive; unlike other utilities like DiskWarrior or TechTool it tries to repair directory problems instead of rebuild. If it happens to encounter a problem that it can't fix, it gives up and you are SOL as now you have a drive that is useless. Yes, this has happened to me and after that one incident I swore never to use Norton again.
Unless you do digital video, you're not going to notice any difference in performance with a defragged drive. And I agree with the previous post that excess fonts will slow you down, so make sure you clean up any unused fonts.
Good luck,
RD
Ditto! Norton is dangerous
by jennywren1420 - 12/10/05 10:30 AM In reply to: Ditto! Norton is dangerous by rdiestoThanks for your thoughtful message.
J
Where does it come from?
by lampietheclown - 12/9/05 10:01 PM In reply to: Toss Norton in the trash where it belongs... by ByronicWhere do people get the idea that Macs don't get fragmented? Especialy OS9.
I've heard it a hundred times, in conversation, and in posts like this, but I've never heard Apple say it.
When asked why they believe that, most point to the end of software installs when it reads "optimizing system".
That's not a defrag. It is updating/rebuilding the "desktop" file.
If you understand how fragmenting happens, you know that there is no way to avoid it, unless the OS defrags constantly. It doesn't.
I gave up on Norton, when I moved to OSX, but I've allways liked their "Speed Disk" defrag software. It's faster, gives more choices, and I never had a problem with it, but TechTool Pro works too.
Where does it come from?
by jennywren1420 - 12/10/05 9:59 AM In reply to: Where does it come from? by lampietheclownYes, it was Speed Disk that I wanted to use. Well, maybe I'll have to invest in Tech Tool Pro, if I can find a version that works with my OS. I have the free version, but I don't think it will do the trick thoroughly.
I'll keep looking for my errant disk. Thanks!
Jenny
Toss Norton. . . .
by jennywren1420 - 12/10/05 10:28 AM In reply to: Toss Norton in the trash where it belongs... by ByronicThanks. Very informative. I had already rebuilt the desktop file before I wrote the message, but I doesn't hurt to be reminded. As for the fonts, I have the same number that I had before the slowdown, so I'm a little doubtful that that is the problem.
I replaced the Finder preference file (but not the Finder itself) but still got freezes--especially when using Netscape for some time or saving a bookmark or sometimes, using PDFs. I replaced Acrobat Reader's preference file, too, but as I wrote in a message to the Browsers forum (to which I have yet to get an answer, but it's early days yet), I am not sure how to find Netscape preferences. There are many Netscape files and folders, but nothing that indicates what I need to throw away.
Don't try to help me with finding the Netscape pref file, though. I don't want to be in the position of cross-posting (not my intention and a forums no-no for good reason); I am hopeful that someone reading my message in the Browsers forum will help me out; and my mentioning it is just a way of addressing the recommendation to ditch preference files in your helpful message.
Thanks,
Jenny
OS 9
by mrmacfixit - 12/10/05 2:24 PM
In reply to: Toss Norton. . . . by jennywren1420
On the last machine that I have that is running OS 9, I keep a copy of the Finder, Resources, Panels and Login.
After a few force quits and freezes, I would take all four and replace the old ones in the system folder. (Using option drag to make a copy)
Usually helped
P
OS 9
by jennywren1420 - 12/11/05 8:50 AM In reply to: OS 9 by mrmacfixit
Sorry to be a little dense, but do you mean that you made a copy before the files went wonky, or copied them when things started getting slow? Does the Mac treat a copy made after the problem has become intolerable as though it were a fresh copy, or would it just be a duplicate of the damaged one, and therefore would simply replicate the problem? (Oooh, I wish I knew more about all this!)
If the copies would just be tainted duplicates, I may be able to copy those files from my Firewire drive, which would presumably have cleaner files than what's on my computer now. I could reinstall what's on my Install CDs, but that means going through 9.0.4, then 9.1, then 9.2.1, then 9.2.2. I'm going to try your suggestion first.
Thanks for your patient help.
J.
Made a copy before they went bad
by mrmacfixit - 12/11/05 10:21 AM
In reply to: OS 9 by jennywren1420
I did a clean install of OS 9 and moved it on up to 9.2.2 I have a 9.1 installer and a 9.2 upgrade on one CD.
Once it was installed, I moved a copy of those file to another drive and just let them sit. Once things started to go awry, I would move a copy of them back into the "real" system folder. You can't store those four together because it messes things up. Finder needs to be in a folder by itself and can then be put inside a folder with the other three files. (just for storage)
If the OS on the Firewire drive is the same version as the one you boot from, the file moving thing should work.
You are correct in assuming that a copy made after things went south would just result in the same problems.
P
Made a copy before they went bad
by jennywren1420 - 12/12/05 9:14 AM In reply to: Made a copy before they went bad by mrmacfixit
As I suspected, I can't use copies from the bad files. Thanks for the added instructions, though. I would never have known to do all that. I'll copy them out and do as you've indicated, even though I have the files (same version, not corrupted) on the Firewire drive. It's always good to have a copy on a CD.
Thanks so much!
J.
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