Power Mac G4 & OS 9 Problem...can use some help!

Question

I have a Power Mac G4 with an OS 9 operating system that is around ten years old. It has been reliable over the years until now. This morning, I started my G4 and everything was like any other day. The OS 9 window appeared and after the extensions folder icons finished loading on the bottom on the screen, a new window came up afterward, telling me that the 'Time Sychronizer' error #41 existed and to restart. I rebooted and again the same thing happened. I tried one more time and the same thing happened.
Next, I figured I would by-pass the extensions folder, and I restarted with the shift key down. The OS 9 window did display itself along with it telling me that the extensions folder was 'off.' To my surprise, the error window came up again, telling me that there was an error #41 and to restart. I have been in this loop all morning and I can't get out. Even if I had to reinstall the a new operating system...how do I by-pass the the aforementioned loop within my computer to get to the installation information, etc.
Can anyone tell me what is going on? What can I do? Can it be fixed? Is it a major problem or, a simple one the can be resolved? Any answers out there? Help!!!!!
Thanks,
HJ

Answer 1

Hi, HJ -
Error #41 is a somewhat generic one, usually indicating that the OS itself is damaged. This Apple KBase article addresses that -
Article #TS2207 - Mac OS: Error Type 41
The solution given is to re-install just the Core OS files. In order to do that iou will need to use an OS 9 Install CD valid for that machine, and of a version equal to the installed OS 9 version.
Boot to the CD, run the installer - when you select your hard drive and click okay, you'll be asked what you want to do - click Reinstall. On the last page of the installer, the page with the Start button, click the Customize button.
On the new page, uncheck everything (make sure they have neither checks nor dashes) except Mac OS 9.x; to the right of it is a pulldown menu, preset at Recommended Installation - select Customized Installation from that.
In the new window, uncheck everything except the first item, Core System Software - again, make sure none of the other boxes have checks or dashes. Click Okay, click Start. That will re-install the System, Finder, other basic OS files, and nothing else.
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Even if I had to reinstall the a new operating system...how do I by-pass the the aforementioned loop within my computer to get to the installation information, etc.
In order to do a re-install (Core System or complete) you will need to boot the machine to an appropriate CD.
When you boot the machine to a CD, the OS on the CD is running the machine. This means that nothing on the hard drive is in use, including any damaged files. This is one of the primary virtues of retaining install disks - they allow the machine to be booted, and usually repaired, regardless of the state of health of the OS on the hard drive.
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If you do not have an OS 9 Install CD of a version equal to that of the installed OS 9, you will need to re-install the complete OS. The easiest way to do that is to use the Software Install CD that came with the machine, or a later version retail OS 9 Install CD. Boot to that CD, and on the page where you select the destination drive click the Options button. On the new page checkmark the Clean Installation option, okay the page, continue the installation.
Note that with OS 9 a Clean Install will not remove anything - it will install a brand new System Folder and do little else.
Article #TA43881 - Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: Performing a Clean Installation
A Software Restore CD can not be used to do a Clean Install, and, if appropriate care is not taken, can result in the loss of data on the hard drive.