Problems + Itunes no longer works

Question

Hello,
I recently used a system optimization tool because my system in running pretty slow. It worked somewhat, but now I am having problems in other area that previously were just fine. For instance, whenever (since the optimization) I open iTunes, iTunes takes forever to open and no longer contains my large library of music that was once there. I did a little snooping around the files in my hard drive to see if I could tell if there is an obvious problem. Well, there is, but I can't figure what to do about it.
In the "user" file in the hard drive there are duplicates of the desktop folder. I am thinking that the optimization took the the desktop contents and placed them into a folder and stored them in the User folder....Arggghh
Does anyone have any idea what is going on here?
Two more questions:
1.) My hard drive is filling up, so I want to upgrade it to a large hard drive. I've read articles, where people have upgraded there hard drive on the same or lesser models of the emac 1ghz g4, without any problems. The current hard drive is a 5400 rpm 40gb. I would like to put in a 160-320 GB 7200 rpm hard drive in. My question then is, will there be a definite problem if I do so?
2.) I want to upgrade to Tiger or Leopard. Do I have to install Tiger before installing Leopard? Or, can I just wipe the hard drive clean and install Leopard? I tried installing Tiger from a disk my wife owns only to find a "grey/ you need to restart you computer now screen." My theory is, the only way this computer will install that Tiger disk, is if I wipe the hard drive clean first.
Whew.... Sorry for the naggingly longish post. But, I have to ask because I need to keep this computer for at least another 1.5 years.
Thank you!
James

Answer 1

I can only guess what the optimization tool did, so I won't. Duplicate desktop files would normally be bad, but please be a little more descriptive. Are there duplicate folders in your home folder? iTunes looks in a the iTunes folder in your Music folder which is in your home folder. Is that OK?
One possibility of what to do next: get an external HD and move all your important files to it. Erase your internal HD and install 10.4 or 10.5. Then, move important files back and/or access them from the external HD. It's honestly a bit dificult to advise you exactly what to put on the external HD and what to put on the internal HD without knowing what sorts of files and apps you use the most - so you could post back with that info or actually any more specific info on the app you used to clean up your HD and what's going on in your home folder.
Is the disk you got form your wife grey or black? Grey disks are intended for specific Macs, black ones will work on any Mac that meets the system requirements for the OS on the disk.
Installing a new internal HD in an eMac is not impossible, but it's going to take an hour or two if you've never done it. Also, make sure you don't get a SATA HD, as that won't work in your eMac. You'll need a plain old ATA, or PATA HD.
As for 10.4 or 10.5 - you'll want at least 1 GB of memory installed to get reasonable performance out of 10.5, and a 1GHz eMac may not be the best Mac for 10.5. 10.4 install disks are getting harder and more expensive to come by.
hth and post back with more info, someone will give you more info to think about.
Jeff