RAM Doubler broken by OS 9 Startup Disk control panel

After setting up a PowerBook G3 with OS 9.2.2, thought I'd install RAM Doubler since it has only 128MB of RAM (and just for nostalgia's sake). Seems to work fine (of course, had to install the two OS 9 RD updates), but then I started from an external disk to run Disk Warrior on it, and when I returned to the internal disk RAM Doubler was disabled "because it had been moved". I remember RD had a piracy-protection system to prevent copying; apparently this was triggered somehow.
Experimentation determined that the trigger was the Startup Disk control panel: if this control panel is even opened, without changing any settings, RD is immediately disabled. Though the alert suggests "Restart your computer to run more applications," this doesn't work; RD must be reinstalled at this point.
I assume this is a bug that appeared in Mac OS 9 sometime after Connectix went out of business, so was never addressed/fixed. (I haven't tried this with 9.0.x or 9.1.) It can be avoided by not using the Startup Disk control panel, instead using the C key to start up from a CD, or cmd-opt-shift-delete to force startup from an external disk. Either of these expedients does not affect RD, but the Startup Disk control panel kills it.
Anyone else run into this? Any thoughts, solutions?

Hi, HandyMac -
There have been a few posts over the years indicating that RamDoubler can't quite get to full compatibility with OS 9. This may have to do with some applications in OS 9 having the ability to use dynamic memory allocation, a function probably not expected by RamDoubler.
As Baby Boomer suggests, leaving RamDoubler off and using the OS's native Virtual Memory function should prove to be more stable.
Best is to increase the physical RAM in the machine. I have 896MB RAM in this G4, and am able to leave Virtual Memory off.

Similar Messages

Looking for "Startup Disk" Control Panel for OS 7.1

Hi,
For some reason the "Startup Disk" control panel is missing from my PowerBook 170 and it's not booting up nice like it should. I still like and use the old Mac PowerBook 170 for word processing. In many ways I even prefer it. Easy on the eyes and it keeps me off the internet.
Does anyone know where I can find a copy the OS 7.1 > Control Panel > "Startup Disk"?
Thanks!

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Startup Disk Control Panel

I'm curious. Out of all the parts of Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9 I thought the Startup Disk control panel might be 68k running in 68k emulation on PowerPC Macs. Is this true? If so where can I find an updated Startup Disk control panel? The one included with Mac OS 7.5.5 is too buggy. I haven't tried the one included with Mac OS 7.6.1 but I'm guessing the bug is probably still present. I'm asking because I tried installing Mac OS 7.5.5 & System 6.0.8L on my Performa 405 before the LC II Revision B logic board died due to corrosion. If possible I would like to make my Performa 200 dual boot with both OSes so I can run black & white apps like adventure games which are incompatible with Mac OS 7.5.5 & later versions of the Mac OS.

Download the Mac OS 8.1 updater, and use TomeViewer to extract the control panel. The version of the control panel included with Mac OS 9.1 or later is PowerPC.
(23885)

No Yosemite in Startup Disk control panel on dual-boot System

Hey, have the mystery issue. Have MacPro3,1 - four hard drives, 8 partitions and 2 OSes.
Snow Leopard on my main volume, this is the OS I use for day in and day out service - also I can run my old graphics programs under Rosetta with it, so it's staying in use and that is set in stone. Have had this current install up for three years, it's well maintained with proper system scheduling and maintenance.. all is hunky-dory.
Last fall I took the Yosemite beta and installed that on one of the empty partitions on a second drive. It's installed and I just updated to 10.10.3 this afternoon and was dealing with the machine perpetually rebooting to 10.6 when the Yosemite installer finally quit. I want to set the machine so it will boot to Yosemite but in the Startup Disk control pane, the only OS that shows is Snow Leopard.
Thing is, I also have a MacBook Pro5,3 and it's got three OSes and four partitions and I have 10.6.8, 10.8.5 and 10.10.3 and that also has a very strange Startup disk panel, but at least I can bounce back and forth with the boot option correctly set.
I've tried resetting the PRAM to get the Startup Disk to add Yosemite to the list of bootable volumes, but it's stubbornly refusing to.
Is there a terminal command that I can run in Snow Leopard to bless the system folder in Yosemite so it will be visible to Startup Disk?
Thanks!
Deb.

Oh Niel, I know the Option key startup trick.
The problem lies when I boot into Yosemite that way and take an update as I did and on the installer reboot, it goes back to Snow Leopard.
Shortside of me going into Yosemite and using the Startup Disk to set it to 10.10 reboot, I'd just like to get this cleared up as to *why* this has happened, on what has been an otherwise flawless install of the second system.
How does any given OS see another one and why isn't Snow Leopard seeing Yosemite on the MacPro and why is it so screwy on the MacBook Pro?

10.9 Startup Disk preference panel will not work on Firewire disk

On my 2008 Mac Pro I have a OWC FireWire attached cloned copy of Macintosh HD. I select the drive in Startup Disk preference panel. Then click on Restart. I get error “Preferences Error There was an error in Startup Disk preference pan.” Using a USB cable it works fine.
Process:         com.apple.preference.startupdisk.remoteservice [494]
Path:            /System/Library/PreferencePanes/StartupDisk.prefPane/Contents/XPCServices/com.a pple.preference.startupdisk.remoteservice.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.preferenc e.startupdisk.remoteservice
Identifier:      com.apple.preference.startupdisk.remoteservice
Version:         6 (322)
Build Info:      StartupDisk-322000000000000~3
Code Type:       X86-64 (Native)
Parent Process: ??? [1]
Responsible:     System Preferences [488]
User ID:         501
Date/Time:       2013-10-26 04:49:45.475 -0400
OS Version:      Mac OS X 10.9 (13A603)
Report Version: 11
Anonymous UUID: F4E841D5-BF33-96B4-7E59-07F8D9741CBE

It turns out that the error has nothing to do with Firewire. It is Mavericks.
In the Systems Preferances, open the Startup Disk Panel. While pressing the Option key, click on Restart. The restart fails every time. (The Option key should bypass the "Are you sure you want to Restart.)

Startup Disk is Locked?

I'm working on an older Mac (G3 Blue & White PowerPC w/OS 8.6) for a customer and there are many problems. The one I'm facing now is an error that reads "Startup Disk is locked. Your changes will not be saved when you quit Sherlock. This happened when I clicked Sherlock in the Apple Menu.
I'm wondering if this problem is causing the other problems as well. Some of those include will not boot to original desktop without the OS CD. Missing .Pics folder...this being the most critical loss. Startup Disk and Apple Talk are the only two Control Panels. Chooser, Control Panels and Sherlock are the only things in the Apple Menu.
I've retrived her documents from the hard drive but not the pictures.
I'm kinda new to Mac's (if you haven't noticed) but learning everyday!
Love em'
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
PhilW
Dual 867 MHz PowerPC G4 Mirrored Door Mac OS X (10.4.5) 1GB DDR Ram, 80 GB HD

Hi, PhilW -
...will not boot to original desktop without the OS CD.
It sounds like the machine is being booted to the OS Install CD.
Startup Disk and Apple Talk are the only two Control Panels. Chooser, Control Panels and Sherlock are the only things in the Apple Menu.
Those are the only items of those kinds included in the OS on an OS Install CD.
Although an OS Install CD will install a more complete OS, with a full assortment of control panels, Apple Menu items, extensions, etc., the OS on the CD, which is what is running the machine when the machine is booted to the CD, has a very limited assortment of them.
The one I'm facing now is an error that reads "Startup Disk is locked. Your changes will not be saved when you quit Sherlock.
That is not an error. When the machine is booted to a CD, the CD is the startup disk. Since such a CD can not be written to under any circumstances (which is one of their advantages), it is, in effect, a locked disk.
With the machine booted to the CD, have you tried selecting the OS on the hard drive in the Startup Disk control panel? It may be that the CD was the last boot volume set in that control panel, hence set in PRAM; and that is why it seems not able to boot unless the CD is in the drive. Resetting the boot volume in Startup Disk would be the solution for that.
If there is no selectable OS on the hard rive presented in Startup Disk, that would indicate one of three things -
• The System Folder on the hard drive has become 'unblessed'. The solution for that is to re-bless it. To do that, go to the System Folder on the hard drive (not the one on the CD). Drag the files System and Finder out onto the desktop. Close the System Folder. Drop those two files back into the closed System Folder on the hard drive.
• The System Folder on the hard drive has become damaged in some way, to the point it is no longer capable of booting the Mac.
• There is no valid System Folder on the hard drive.
The solution for the last two is the same - re-install the OS. You can do that while booted to the OS Install CD. Run the program Mac OS Install, and follow the prompts to do a normal (generic) install of the OS.
If there is a System Folder already on the hard drive, and it is necessary to re-install the OS, it would be wise to do a Clean Install of it. Note that a Clean Install removes nothing - it will install a brand new, 'clean' System Folder, rename the old one to Previous System Folder, and little else.
Article #58176 - Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: Performing a Clean Installation

Trouble switching Startup Disk

I have a Wallstreet 233 MHZ with OS 9.2 and OS X 10.1 installed. If I boot into OS X, I can load classic, but no applications will work. They appear in the dock for only a moment, then vanish without explanation. Repeat till fingers get tired of double clicking.
So, I reboot into OS 9, great, they work! Have fun, play games, want to restart into OS X again. I go to Startup Disk in my Control Panels and I get the following message:
The Application "Startup Disk" could not be opened because ">>OTUtilityLib<<" could not start up.
I cannot find >>OTUtilityLib<< and have no clue what it is anyway.
The only other way I am aware of to get back into OSX is to load the 10.1 install disk, install just the absolute minimum and restart, then select OS X as my startup system folder.
Anyone know a better way to handle this?

Ok... I was actually able to get them off my 9.2 disk... Got them both in there showing up correctly but it still won't let me get to the startup disk control panel.
But on the bright side, while I was doing it, I found a few other extensions that hadn't copied correctly and replaced them. Other stuff works better now, just not the really important thing! LOL
Wallstreet G3 233 MHZ Mac OS X (10.1.x) 80 GB HDD, 288 MB RAM

Select Startup Disk Locks Computer?

Hello! I'm a long time Mac user and OS9 is old work but I've run into a problem I can't seem to alleviate. When I click to select a startup disk in the startup disk control panel it locks the computer. My utilities all give me a clean bill of health and I haven't done or added anything to the system folder in the last couple of years. I haven't had any crashes or locks in a couple of years also. I tried trashing the startup disk prefs file which had no effect also. Usually I don't have any problems sorting out an extension problem but I'm at a loss on this one. Any ideas? Tom
Oh yes, the computer is a G-3 minitower, 768 megs of ram, one internal scsi on sys bus, one internal ide drive and an internal scsi on a card; also an external firewire drive. OS9.2.2.And the problem manifests itself on any drive selection. Tom

Hi, Tom -
That sometimes happens when a 3rd-party driver has been installed.
Although OS 9's Drive Setup can not initialize and format drives connected via firewire or USB, it can do that for SCSI drives. However, if the drive has had 3rd-party drivers installed, their presence can confound Drive Setup.
The solution then is to put the drive into a PC and format it as a PC drive. Then bring it back to the Mac; Drive Setup should then work on it. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find a PC which can handle a SCSI drive.
An alternate may be to use OSX's Disk Utility, which in many ways is more robust and capable than OS 9's Drive Setup.
Since the drive is working now, redoing it may not be of great priority - but it is something to keep in mind for the future, such as if (or when) you install OSX on that machine.

Hard time for selecting Startup Disk (partition) in Mac Classic II.

Dear coleagues, I'd like your help to understand and solve a tricky trouble. I'm sorry for the long text, but the issue is probably living in a small detail.
The issue regards a Mac Classic II with internal and external HDDs. Internal HDD has two partitions, a smaller with System 7.1 (first) and a larger with System 7.5.3 (second). This one is installed there since 5 years ago, working fine.
The (just installed) external HDD has 6 partitions (because of its size 9 Gb). It has been formated runing VCP in this Classic II itself and all partitions are initialized with HFS. It is intended to be a backup for my Classic II as well as my Mac Plus. I've started Installing System 7.5.3 in its third partition. Other partitions remain still empty.
Using only internal HDD I can already perceive that "Startup Disk" control panel is unable to change the boot partition attribute between partitions in the same drive. When I open "Startup Disk" it usualy both partitions of internal HDD are highlighted. I can select a Zip Drive, for instance, and it will boot from Zip. But, when I switch it back to HDD, doesn't bother wich partition I select, it will always boot with the same partition (usually 7.5.3). Then, If i open Startup Disk CP again, both partitions are again highlighted.
To switch between partitions in the same drive, I use Lido 7.5.6 PMount and there I select the boot partition. Then every time I select my HDD, that'll be the default boot partition.
My conclusion is that in Mac Classic II the Startup Disk CP is unable to set a partition within a drive, it selects the drive only. The boot will obey the drive's partition table flag. That's why I can do it whith Lido, writing directly at HDD's flags.
Now, attaching the external HDD, I can see all its partitions in Startup Disk CP and then I select one of them (the 3rd, with 7.5.3). Before rebooting, I close and open again the Startup Disk CP, then I can see all its 6 partitions highlighted. Just like I've been doing with the internal HDD, probably the solution to set a specific boot partition would be through Lido 7.5.6 PMount again. But Lido is unable to handle this drive. It appears gray in the drives list.
What does it sound to you? What would you recommend to test? Is there an alternative for Startup Disk CP?
Thank you.
Regards, Ciro (Brazil)

Dear Jan, good Evening.
Thank you for your time.
In fact I can select a specific partition, but by closing and reopenning Startup Disk CP I realize that the selection has been attributed to the physical drive (all partitions highlighted).
I have tried Startup Disk CP in both System 7.1 and System 7.5.3. They do the same way.
Internal HDD has been formated, partitioned and initialized with Apple HD CS Setup.
This external HDD in a different way. Apple HD SC Setup hasn't been able to "see" it, probably because of its prior format system. Lido neither. That's why I went to VCP. Moreover, as it is too big for 68030, I had to format it attached to a Performa 6360. After formating, I've let VCP make set the partitions in HFS mode (partitions with 512, 1024 and 2032 Mb).
I've mounted VCP in Mini VMac to get some screenshots for you:
Bringing it back to Mac Classic II, it could be mounted with Lido, but System 7 has asked to initialize all partitions again. I've accepted, installed system 7 on it, and it didn't boot. Then I've repeated the partitioning and initializing procedures using Apple HD SC Setup (since now there's a Mac HDD with "small" logical drives). Nothing changed.
I'm following your tip about System Picker. I've downloaded the sit file and read about it. It seems to be able to overlay the problem. I'm gonna try it and report back here.
But I feel still uncomfortable not to be able to do things the regular way. As far as I know, the boot partition is an attribute of a drive partition in partition map, just like the "Active Partition" found in FAT systems. I should be able to write there as I can do with Lido in internal HDD.
Thank you, Jan.
Best regards,
Ciro Bruno.

Switching startup disk from OS 8.6 to OSX.

Hello,
I posted this issue once before however it became a long post and I thought I would start again so that I could focus the question more accurately and as well to indicate that some of these solutions might not work.
OK, Here is the issue: Against conventional practice, I am trying to use both OS 8.6 and OS X on the same computer but on different disks. The question is, how does one re-startup in OSX once one was previously in OS 8.6? The challenge is that OS 8.6 (unlike OS 9) is not very compatible with OSX in terms of being able to boot back and forth between the two systems.
Here are my three solutions. I am particularily interested in keeping the two OSes on separate disks (as in solutions 2 and 3 below) - which makes this a challenging problem - how do you boot back into OSX after previously being in OS 8.6?
Here are the three solutions:
solution 1 (if OS8 and OSX are on same partition)
Since 8.6's Startup Disk can't recognize Mac OS X directly, and the Blue and White G3 does not support the Startup Manager, rebooting back into Mac OS X is best done if both are on the same partition, since all you have to do is hold the X key to startup in Mac OS X. You won't be able to do so if they are on separate partitions. For good measure when you restart back into Mac OS X, repair permissions.
solution 2 (if OS8 and OSX are on a different partition)
If you want to be able to switch to OSX while booted to OS 8.6, you will need to update the Startup Disk control panel - the one in OS 8.6 can not recognize OSX as a valid boot OS.
You can download and install this replacement, which (in spite of what the info about it states) others have found also works with OS 8.6 -
Startup Disk 9.2.1 Document and Software:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120024
solution 3 (if OS8 and OSX are on a different partition)
I just found another way to reboot back into OS X from OS 8.6:
"To unbless (or make inactive) a system folder simply pull the Finder File out of it."
So, I suppose I could just unbless the OS 8.6 system folder by pulling the finder file out of the 8.6 system folder and then restarting the computer and it should find OSX.
But then I would have to put the finder file back into the 8.6 system folder if I wanted to reboot back into 8.6. I suppose I could so that from OSX
Summary of question:
Unfortunately I tried solutions 2 and 3 and both did not work on my beige G3 due to some issues which I am determined to troubleshoot later. In any case, could anyone think of another way boot back into OSX after previously being in OS 8.6?

The procedure for transferring files over Ethernet depends upon the exact operating systems involved. Recent Mac OS X versions have limitations as far as file sharing with older Macs is concerned.
One alternative method with fewer limitations could be to use a web server on the old machine. Personal Web Sharing (the Web Sharing control panel) may already be present on the G3 computer, or can possibly be added through a custom install. A router with a built-in multi-port Ethernet switch (LAN ports), with the WAN port disconnected from the Internet, can be used for a local setup. A web browser on the new computer would give access to files.
A utility creating compressed archives can simplify transfers.
Jan

PowerBook G3 (PDQ) - Startup disk and PCMCIA slot problem

Hello
I have encountered a problem with my powerbook G3 (PDQ model)
Once when I had to configure my microphone, I saw that there was "Zoomed video" present in the list of audio inputs.
I thought this was a glitch, and inserted my SD card reader into the lower PCMCIA slot. Then my display got messed up.
The slot insertion doesn't seem to work right too, it resists much more than the top slot does.
It didn't react to anything except Fn-Shift-Ctrl-Power, which is Reset.
It happens in both OS9 and 10.2.
Photo: http://instagr.am/p/NtWNH/
Once I was able to insert it right so it wouldn't mess up, and i used the reader in the lower slot as usual.
When I ejected it, the card didn't pop out as usual and it was hard to pull out, and the screen was messed up as well.
The second problem is that when I start the "Startup Disk" control panel in OS9, the PowerBook hangs for no particular reason, also reacting to Reset only.
Maybe there is a bootloader I can install so I'd choose the OS I want before actually booting anything?
Could these problems be related to each other, or a dead battery? Maybe to the incorrectly set clock (however doesn't seem so)? Or related to using an Apple DVD drive?
Thanks,
~ Vladislav Korotnev

No it hasn't. What kind of battery does it use?
The power battery is dead as well (not charging nor powering the pb)

Adding system to Startup Disk Preferences

I recently erased my windows partition and recreated it (so I could make it bigger) however it no longer shows up in the Startup Disk System Preferences. I can only boot to it by holding down option on start up and then it appears. How can i get it to appear in the Startup menu like before?

Hmmm, that could be the reason - using Winclone to restore the old Windows system rather than reinstalling. But this is just a guess on my part.
You might consider using the Startup Disk control panel installed in Windows with the driver installation. Select the Windows system and reboot. Then use it to select the OS X partition and reboot into OS X. Then see if it shows up in the OS X preferences - Startup Disk.

Clone OS 9; HD startup disk

Hi,
I would like to clone the HD on my iMac that is using OS9 and make the external drive be the startup disk. How can I do this?
Thank you, Linda

Hi, Linda -
Your iMac 400MHz Slot-load machine has native firewire ports; this means it is firewire bootable.
An OS 9 System Folder copied to another drive on the same machine is almost always bootable immediately; this includes firewire drives. You can use Startup Disk control panel to select the drive/OS you wish to boot to on the next startup.
You may also be able to use Startup Manager to choose which drive to boot to 'on the fly' at startup -
Article #106178 - Startup Manager: How to Select a Startup Volume
Note - after copying the System Folder and other related folders to the new drive, you may need to 'fix' any aliases - the pathname in each to its original will not be changed by the copy process; they will continue to point to the old originals.
These can include an alias to Sherlock in the Apple menu; a few in the Help folder in System Folder; or others you may have created.
If you do a Get Info on an alias, there will be a button in the lower right of the Get Info window to manually reconnect the alias to an original.
If you want to have a full-drive copy, don't overlook things on the desktop.
I've done that copy process many times, and the steps I use are -
• Drag the icon of the source (original) drive to the icon of the target (new) drive, and let go. Finder will copy everything to the new drive, including invisibles, anything left lying aroound on the desktop, and anything in the Trash. It will all be placed in a folder on the new drive; that folder will be named the same as the old drive.
• Drag the System Folder out of the just-created folder on the new drive, and Trash it.
• Copy just the System Folder from the old drive to the new one; make sure it does not end up in any folder, just on the drive.
• Move the Documents folder and the Applications (Mac OS 9) folders out of the folder on the new drive, so that they are at the same level (the root level) as the System Folder.
• Fix any aliases as needed, or make new ones.

Can't switch Startup Disks - System Freezes

I read and applied many solutions to my problem, but after I switched over from OS 10.2.8 to 9.1 I've had nothing but freezes and can't get out of 9.1. Here's what I tried.
*Holding down the x key.
*Trashing preferences ASLM, Finder, Mac OS, & System
*Holding down keys: Apple, Option, Shift & Delete
*Zapping PRAM: Changed the screen to flashing ? & Mac file folder, then eventually attempted restart but with large images on the screen. It seems like it made it worse.
*Removed the battery. Tried to restart. No change.
*Unplugged the machine, bought a new battery, installed it & plugged in and restarted. Nothing changed.
The computer freezes on Restart unless I hold down the Shift key and starts with Extensions Off.
*Then I went into Control Panels/Startup Disk, switched to 10.2.8, and whether I click on Restart or just highlight 10.2.8 and try to Restart from the drop down menu the machine freezes.
It freezes on regular startup without extensions Off, and any attempt to Restart.
*I also tried Disk First Aid several times. At first I received the message that everything appears to be normal. Then on another attempt I received "Test interrupted because another program is using the disk."
What else can I do? Help!
Thank you,
Dave
G3 Blue Mac OS X (10.2.x) Also 9.1

Hi, David -
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
From the specs you've given - G3 Blue Mac
Is your machine a G3 B&W (Blue & White) 'tower' model? - or is it an iMac?
If it is an iMac, which specific model? - what is the CPU (machine) speed?
Be sure you have updated the firmware for your model -
Article #86117 - Firmware Updates
Some machines need that firmware update before the X key will force a boot to OSX. If your machine needs a firmware update, it will need to be installed while it is booted to OS 9 from the internal hard drive. Running the firmware installer is safe - if your machine does not need it (such as it has already been done), the installer will so state and refuse to run further.
The Startup Disk control panel that comes with OS 9.1 and earlier is not capable of recognizing OSX as a valid OS. The solution is to either update the OS to OS 9.2.1 or later (which can be done via download updater), or update just the control panel. You can download a replacement control panel from this page -
Startup Disk 9.2.1 Document and Software
It may help to throw away the file named Startup Disk Preferences (System Folder >> Preferences >> Startup Disk Preferences) after replacing that control panel.
FWIW, I've found that using the Restart button in OS 9's Startup Disk control panel usually does not work worth a hoot. What does work, is to make the selection of boot volume/OS in Startup Disk, then close the control panel and use the Restart item in Finder's Special menu.
I also tried Disk First Aid several times. At first I received the message that everything appears to be normal. Then on another attempt I received "Test interrupted because another program is using the disk."
That would indicate you are running Disk First Aid from the hard drive while booted to the hard drive. In order for DFA to do some diagnostics or testing and to do any repairs the machine can not be booted to the hard drive being examined, nor DFA run from it.
The solution for that is to boot to (in this case) an OS 9 Install CD (the most recent one you have valid for that machine - a retail OS 9.1 Install CD is perfect) -and then run DFA from the CD - it can be found in the Utilities folder on any OS 9 install CD.
It freezes on regular startup without extensions Off, and any attempt to Restart.
At what point does it freeze?
- before extensions start to load?
- in the middle of extensions and control panels loading?
- after extensions and control panels have loaded, but before the desktop has fully loaded?
- or some other point?

Startup Disk Oddities and Other Things

Hi there, I'm having some issues with Boot Camp related items that I'm unable to solve myself. Hopefully someone here can help or point me in the right direction.
Current configuration:
I have a Mac Pro with 4 internal and 1 external hard drives. Disk 1 has my OSX partition on it. Disk 2 has Windows XP installed through Boot Camp, taking up the entirety of the other partitions. The other three drives do not contain bootable operating systems. The 1.5TB external drive is used as a Time Machine drive and contains backups of the other drives (WinXP excluded).
I have a wide variety of software available to use and am familiar with most all terms related to this issue.
Symptoms:
1) Windows partition does not show up as a viable boot disk in the OSX Startup Disks control panel
2) When using the Boot Camp Assist, I am never given the option to return my second disk (the NTFS one) to an OSX Partition. That, and create a second partition option is ALWAYS grayed out, my only option being to erase the whole disk and create a single partition for Windows. This will show up no matter what format the partition is currently (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+).
3) When holding down the Option key on startup, I see three available boot volumes. OSX, Windows and Windows. Booting to either the first or the third option gives me OSX or WinXP, respectively, but selecting the second returns an "Operating System Not Found" error on a black screen.
4) When in Windows XP, going into the Boot Camp control panel, I see 3 startup volumes. OSX on Disk 1, Windows on Disk 1, Windows on Disk 2.
As best as I can determine, something on my OSX volume is being recognized as having a valid Windows partition. I'd like to resolve this issue so I can go back to the "normal" way of doing things before other issues arise because I've ignored this for so long.
Thanks for any help and suggestions you may have,
Jackson
After thought: I am unable to boot into the Parted Magic live CD to inspect the partitions on my first disk. It hangs on "Waiting 10 seconds for devices." This as a troubleshooting utility is unavailable.

Since my last post, I repaired disk permissions, and ran CacheOutX, What Size, and MacJanitor. I now have 3 MB available but it goes back to zero when I launch iTunes.
Sep 10 10:59:22 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
Sep 10 10:59:22 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
Sep 10 10:59:22 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
Sep 10 10:59:23 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
Sep 10 10:59:23 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
Sep 10 10:59:23 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
Sep 10 10:59:23 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
Sep 10 10:59:23 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax/Contents/MacOS/uid
2008-09-10 11:00:03.782 WhatSize[907] IDDLog will start logging to file /Users/admin/Library/Logs/WhatSize.log
2008-09-10 11:13:45.421 MacJanitor[953] Is Authorized==-60007
2008-09-10 11:13:45.644 MacJanitor[953] Find keychain returned -25300
2008-09-10 11:13:47.636 MacJanitor[953] Is Authorized==0
2008-09-10 11:13:47.637 MacJanitor[953] authenticateForExecutablePaths returned OK
2008-09-10 11:13:51.766 MacJanitor[953] Running task
Sep 10 11:13:51 admins-powerbook-g4-12 authexec: executing /Volumes/MacJanitor_1.3/MacJanitor.app/Contents/Resources/MacJanitorServer

RAM Doubler broken by OS 9 Startup Disk control panel

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