Boot error in OS8 -- no CD-ROM, how do I fix it?

Question

OK, I have an old PowerBook 2400c. It was working fine when I got it, running OS8.something, but the previous owner hadn't deleted any of their programs or files before giving it away. Since the hard drive is so small, I went through and deleted all their old crap (a bunch of teaching and networking programs I either have no use for or don't have the hardware they're supposed to support, documents and pictures, etc.). I was careful not to touch the system files, but something still got screwed up (the files on this computer were such a mess, I wouldn't be surprised of some system files had gotten moved from where they belonged). Now when the computer starts up I get an error message saying it can't finish booting because some system file is missing. The message asks for me to restart the computer and boot from the system disk that came with it. Well, I didn't get any system disks with it. I picked up a 3.5" external floppy drive on eBay that connects to one of the weird round ports on the back (whatever they're called), so I can load software off floppies onto it.
Basically, what I need to do is get some of the programs backed up, along with the handful of my documents that are on it (I have a way to back all this up now). What I'll do then is a clean system install. But I need a boot disk so I can get the data off the computer, and I'm not sure what system I'm supposed to buy. I know it was running OS 8, but it looks like that only comes on CD, and the only drives compatible with this computer are floppy. The one version of OS8 comes with two floppies, though. Is that what I need to get the computer up and running again? Should I buy the 8 CD and make floppy copies (and, if so, how do I do that?). It looks like OS 7.6 comes on floppy disk. Is that the system I should get instead of 8? It's very important that I get the computer up and running so I can retrieve the programs and data before I reinstall anything. Thanks in advance for help.

Answer 1

Ripping the clamshells down is very easy for me because I do it 5-10 times a week to refurbish them. I could probably replace the motherboard in a clamshell with my eyes closed.
I've gotten the powerbook up and running perfectly again. I'm going to post how I did it for the benefit of anyone else who encounters a similar problem (keep in mind I'm used to taking apart Apple laptops, though I'd never worked on an old PowerBook before).
I used the guide posted here http://members.aol.com/kim/computer/duo/2400cpu/2400upgrade.html to disassemble the PowerBook. The guide's technically for upgrading the CPU, but, since that requires taking the entire computer completely apart, you can use it for doing just about any upgrade or repair. There's two extra screws on the opposite side of the electronics board from the hard drive that will need to be removed to take the hard drive out that aren't mentioned in the guide. The pins on the hard drive connect sideways, so you'll need to lift it up in back and pull it away from the connection, rather than trying to pull it up.
Once I had the hard drive out of the PowerBook, I put it into a waiting firewire clamshell (when I was first learning how to repair the clamshells I used the ifixit.com guides, which are pretty good). The PowerBook's hard drive isn't actually quite the same size as the clamshell's hard drive (it's a little thicker) but the pins connect right. Clamshells are roomy enough inside that you can get the essentials (optical drive, LCD, keyboard, trackpad, etc) put back into place with the the thick hard drive in (not sure this would work with a less roomy type of laptop). I then firewired the clamshell with the PB's hard drive in it to my lime and booted it into target disk mode. This worked flawlessly and gave me access to all the information on the PB's hard drive.
Once I had all the programs and files I wanted transferred, I put a retail CD of OS 9.1 that I found in my 'software I never use' box into the clamshell's CD drive. I erased the hard drive and did a clean install of OS 9.1, and installed a bunch of other software (Appleworks, kidpix, etc.) off CD. I then reconnected with my lime in target disk mode and transferred all the other programs and files I wanted.
Once I was sure I had everything and all the programs were running, I took the PB's hard drive out of the clamshell, put it back into the PowerBook, and put the PowerBook back together. The only problem I encountered was that the PowerBook wasn't recognizing it's RAM chip after the disassembly. I took it apart down to the RAM again, took the chip out and carefully put it back in making sure it was tight, and tightened some little white pin connector beside the RAM chip that looked loose. Then it recognized the RAM and is working perfectly (obviously something was knocked out of place when it was taken apart).
I think the PowerBook was much more difficult than the iBooks are to take apart (though you don't need the special tools you do for iBooks). I did end up with one screw left over, lol (obviously it wasn't an important screw).
You could use an external hard drive enclosure for the PB's hard drive if you didn't have a compatible computer to take apart, I guess. I've had too many issues with OSX not wanting to install on external hard drives to bother trying, though (OS 9 might be more co-operative).