May 29, 2003
Create a Jaguar Bootable OS X Utilities CD
UPDATE: See here for the Panther (10.3) update.
Got Jaguar (10.2)?
So you want to build a bootable CD, eh?
Hope you are prepared to go through some hoops to do it. Then I hope you are willing to wait for the CD to boot up! It takes a long time on my Dual 867mhz system - between 5-10 minutes to boot off the CD. But after that, we are golden.
Get BootCD:
VersionTracker has BootCD
Download it and drop it into your Applications folder then launch it
I prefer a 680mb image since most CD-r disks now are 700 mb. I also set my ram disk to 500 since I have 1.5gb of ram. The defaults on both are 640mb and 10mb respectively. I'll leave you to figure out the ratio. The defaults work just fine.
Next click on the "Create Bootable CD" button and you will be promted for and admin password. You do have administrative rights for this, right? Hope so.
Then it will prompt you to name the file and save it somewhere. I leave the name at "Emergency Boot CD.dmg" and save it to desktop (my preference I guess). You can name it whatever and you might want to put in and OS X version like 10.2.6, which machine if you have multiples, what drive you are going to use as a base (we'll get to that).
Then you get to wait as Disk Copy does it's thing...
by assembling the proper files. Just trust it. It will be a few minutes and you can go surf, check mail, chat. Just wait. It is doing it's thing.
Next it wants to make you choose any application that you might want to add.
I like to add DiskWarrior, Tech Tool Pro and a few other utilities so that when the CD boots, these apps are available. I bet you do too. DiskWarrior 3 especially. It's up to you. Follow the prompts, add file after file, app after app and then when you have what you need, click Cancel. [1]
No this won't cancel the process, just this little bit of Application additions to the BootCD.
Next we click on "Great" and Quit Boot CD.
You should have on your Desktop the : "Emergency Boot CD.dmg"
Still with me? Good. Now launch Disk Copy from you Applications/Utilities folder.
And you should have this simple window on your screen:
From that applications File menu, select "Burn..."
And then this window appears:
Insert a blank (some good media here people, none of that cheap no name brand. I like TDK, Sony, Fuji but my burner is pretty easy and likes some, but not others. Please do not cheap out as this is a serious system (AKA: save your ass) bootable CD we are building, k?
So now that you have the CD in the burner, click the burn button silly and then wait for it to eject after verifying the integrity of the disc.
So now we have a Disc that you may boot from. Stick it back in the drive an let it mount on the Desktop. Then launch your Preferences and select "Startup Disk"
Hit the "restart" button and then approve the prompt that comes up.
Now sit back and wait. Because this is your bare OS on a CD, it does not mount as quick as a Hard Drive will. So you wait, wait, wait.
And then you wait some more. And then some more. And then you get to the login prompt. In the version of BootCD that I used in this the username is "root" and the password is "bootcd" - all lowercase and no quotes.
From here the CD should boot a fresh desktop with your apps you added in previously in the Dock at the bottom of your screen. Use them and whatever else you booted into the this Emergency Boot CD and when done, launch the the System Preferences panel and then Startup Disk. So go pick your boot drive you were using before.
Note: If you like this, good. If it works, even better. If it makes your system unbootable, then I hope you have a backup. I make no admission that this works on your sytstem, just that it does on mine and if I left out something or did not call out a warning or anything, the problem is not mine. In theory this is all just a tutorial about making my certain system safer. It should work for you, but who knows. Not all systems are installed or maintained in the same way. I do this for clients and they pay me. This is a personal tutorial/documentation of how I do it. You'll do fine with the right precautions.
Feel free to leave a comment ...
[1] (09.06.2003) As per the CharlesSoft Site Norton does not yet work yet:
" BootCD is a Cocoa app that creates a disk image that can be used to burn a Mac OS X boot CD with a working Finder and Dock on it. This utility is unfinished and still has some flaws, but works. The current version works much better than previous versions, and includes the ability to run Drive10 and other utilities, although Norton does not yet work from the CD. "
That said, since days of Mac OS 8, I have given up on installing Norton Utilities on drives and basically using any of Symantec's products on mine or my Client's Mac systems. I find the programs to be inherently destructive if you really want my opinion.
Thanks all for the comments and advice.
Posted by erik at May 29, 2003 10:41 PM | TrackBackAre you saying that you can get TechTool Pro on the CD? Is there enough room for TT, OS9 and OS X? I've not tried this yet because I thought that there was not enough room. Also, I've not yet received my copy of DiskWarrior 3. Woud this work on a DVD? MY new 1.25 Dual came with a DVD containing the softwear..
Thanks Larry
Posted by: Lawrance A. Schneider at June 22, 2003 06:20 PMLarry,
TTpro should fit on it but I do not own it so I have not tested it. I hear it works. I would make an OS 9 disc seperately just in case there are strtup issues.
Have no idea about the DVD, my Dual 867 Came with 2 Install CD's. Sorry.
And for anybody else, the Startup Disc I created for my 300MHz iBook that runs as a web/ftp/mailserver, it took almost 13 minutes to boot but does work when you need to unmount your internal drive to do cloning, maint and other things.
erik
Posted by: Erik at June 26, 2003 03:07 PMdoes the image size have anything to do with the CD-R? say if i'm gonna burn Diskwarrior 3 on a DVD-R, should i make the image size to 4.3GB?
Posted by: gavin at July 19, 2003 10:39 AMGavin,
I would assume so. Like I said, have not tried it on a DVD yet. Saving pennies for a DVD burner. Please post your results.
This tutorial cover burning to CD media. I'd love to learn more.
Posted by: Erik at July 20, 2003 10:01 PMi need a softwear
Posted by: eric at July 25, 2003 07:48 AMEric,
If you need BootCD, get it here:
http://versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/15196
For any of the other software in the tutorial above, it will need to be purchased.
EriK
I followed your directions to a 't' and created a Norton bootable disc. However, when I boot from the CD, it takes forever for it to log on and i have never even gotten past the login screen - no desktop. I waited 4 hours once for it to show the desktop.
what do you think is the problem? thanks.
Posted by: Lisa at August 7, 2003 04:36 AMLisa,
I have tested the BootCD's I create on a Dual 867 and a Rev A. iBook. The iBook 300 takes about 12-15 minutes to boot to the login prompt and then I enter root:bootcd as user:pw and then it takes about a minute to get to the finder. I have also gotten my CD's to boot a few 400MHz Graphite G4's at a design studio with no problems.
On my Dual 867, this process is shorter by more than half. Faster Proc's and CD read capabilities.
I have one user who I have been talking with that has a similar experience as yours and will ask them to comment and see if it the same problem.
What is your machine and CD specs? I assume you are running Jaguar.
Posted by: EriK at August 7, 2003 09:16 AMthank you, hope everything works out
Posted by: sean fritz at August 8, 2003 01:21 PMMy system disc is a dvd.i have a g4 and an old bondi imac. i want to run 10.26 on the imac though it does not have a dvd drive. can i use this process to install 10.26 on the imac.
Posted by: duce at August 13, 2003 03:28 AMDuce, no. You would be best off purchasing a 10.2.6 CD from Apple. Another approach (assuming you have the family pack license from Apple) would be to borrow/buy a FireWire external DVD player and do the install that way.
Unsure if your model has a FW port though :( If you have FW port on the iMac, you can look into FW Target Disk Mode or do below...
If I were in your situation, I would extract the HD from the iMac, install it as a slave in the Tower, boot from the DVD, install 10.2.6 onto the iMac HD, then re-install the HD in the iMac. Voila!
Good Question!
Posted by: EriK at August 13, 2003 09:20 AMEriK-
Sorry for delay in response.
I have an 800 Mhz G4 eMac running OS 10.2.6...stock Pioneer CD burner ...about 780 MB in size.
I still have not been able to successfully create and initiate a boot cd using the instructions you have supplied...I can't get past the login screen...
Thanks!
Posted by: Lisa at August 22, 2003 10:15 PMLisa-
Thanks for the update. I just upgraded to a SuperDrive on top of my Combo-Drive. I should try to use my 'BootCD' disc on that drive to make sure. Stay tuned and please remind me.
This weekend is not good for that test but please remind me to try. Now I have a drive that you all have so like any theory, eliminating factors is key to a solution that one can replicate.
eriK
Posted by: Erik at August 22, 2003 10:33 PMWill be awaiting your findings!!
I think part of the problem (may) lie with having to assign the password "bootcd" to "root" within System Preferences ...just an idea. The system doesn't seem to recognize the login, yet it doesn't give you a login error either; it just resets....
anyway, just a thought.
Posted by: Lisa at August 23, 2003 12:22 AMThank you for the program... it's very useful... ;-)
Just a question... i can't find out the way to run Norton Utilities from the CD created with BootCD... :-(
When the system boots, all the applications are available, except to the Norton AV & Norton Utilities... :-(
How can I do to make it work...? :-) Thank youuu... :-)
Teo,
The program is not mine. Just the tutorial ;-)
As far as Norton (a program I do not use anymore) try to install it like I installed DiskWarrior:
Install DW on your boot hard drive, then use the tutorial, that way when you pull the DW program in via the method described, it 'should' pull the preferences in along with it.
I made a few coasters trying to pull in a copy of DW that was not installed on the source drive so that when I booted from the BootCD, DW could not write the preferences (or read cause they weren't there) to the newly created BootCD.
I think if you pull Norton in from where it is installed on the source drive, that may work. Please keep me informed.
Posted by: erik at September 11, 2003 10:38 AMOn the CharlesSoft website it now mentions that a BootCD will not run Norton, possibly the reason for your troubles.
Posted by: deter at October 6, 2003 02:56 AMDeter, thanks for the info. I have updated the tutorial with a footnote along with my hatred of Symantec on the Mac ;)
Posted by: erik at October 6, 2003 10:01 AMRegarding Norton--I will NEVER give them another penny. They came close to destroying my brand new G4 last year...I hoped they'd reimburse me for the cost of the CD/Norton/ disk, but I never heard back. I STRONGLY advise: Just Say No!
Very cool site, great stuff, love the portfolio on .metagraphics as well.
Glad we met tonight...Thanks for trying out my Crazed Cowboys...and for the compliments on our music.
Paula from Dreamweaver/ and G4 lists
Posted by: Miz B at October 15, 2003 09:59 PMYeah, Norton and I (as an admin) had a falling out around OS8 and I have not looked back.
Thanks for the compliments. the CC are a lot of fun and I look to purchase some stuff soon.
Posted by: erik at October 15, 2003 10:15 PMI don't think that BootCD is usable on the new OSX Panther. I created a BootCD, put DiskWarrior and TechTool Pro 4 on it and waited for the dad-gum thing to boot for over 5 hours! I'm guessing this isn't normal.
Where's the Panther compliant version!?!?
Posted by: Ben at December 28, 2003 02:30 PMBen,
Try making the Boot Disc off of a Jaguar install. I have not tested my Jag BootCD on my Panther computers but it should work fine. It did before.
erik
Posted by: erik at December 28, 2003 02:45 PMRemember you cannot create a Boot Disk Off of Norton!
Don't even try, Norton scatters files around your OS, Trying to load Norton is a Death Wish anyway.
I've had it kill a few drives.
BTW, Booting w/Panther
Posted by: Jeremiah B. at December 31, 2003 12:29 PMThanks, Erik. It is a really nice work. Has anyone ever try to create a Panther bootable CD? Or, is it possible to create a Jaguar bootable CD for system maintaining purpose from a system running on Panther? Thanks.
Posted by: Bin at January 21, 2004 10:40 PMI can boot my my Panther machine off my CD that I made.
It's simple. a BootCD created with Jaguar on a machine capable of running Jaguar should be able to boot the machine even if it has been upgraded to Panther or beyond.
The Panther as the current OS should not be a variable.
Posted by: erik at January 21, 2004 11:32 PMThanks, Erik. But I have only a PowerBook running on Panther. I am afriad that I cannnot make a Jaguar bootable CD. Is there any workarounds? Thanks.
Posted by: Bin at February 4, 2004 02:57 AMSomeone can explain me what I've to do for make a bootable CD from "Panther toast image file" please? I'have Toast 6 and my OS x system is Jaguar 1.2.8
Thanx in advance... To be a dummy is my aim...
Just use Toast or Jaguar's Disk Copy and burn the .DMG file to a CD. It should be bootable.
Posted by: erik gilchrist at February 26, 2004 09:21 AMBootCD does not work with Panther! Just check the developer web site. He is working on a new version that is compatible.
Posted by: Adam Prall at March 9, 2004 04:26 PMAdam, I never claimed it did...
Posted by: erik at March 9, 2004 04:37 PMTIP:
If you want to avoid making a bunch of coasters out of your cdr's or just plain don't want to take the time to reburn a cdrw over and over again while your trying to get stuff to work, Just use a spare hard disk (if you have one). Create a 650 meg partition on it and use the disk utility restore function. You can restore the image that bootCD creates to that partition. Change the boot disk in your preferences (or just use the option key during the startup) and you get a bootable partition that acts pretty much like a cd only faster. Write access is even appropriately limited so if you get a utility to work on that partition chances are pretty good it will work on a cd as well.
Posted by: Joshua Kaiser at March 10, 2004 02:17 PMJosh,
Excellent tip! In my MDD867 I use the slower IDE bus (forget which one) and have an el cheapo leftover 4GB IDE drive runing just like this under the Optical drives. Now if I could just remember if it is running Panther of Jaguar :)
Either way it is loads faster than CD. But my CD that I made while writing this tutorial under Jaguar still boots my Dual867. And the CD I made from my iBook 300 lamshell under Jag stil boots that machine. Takes forever tho :)
Posted by: erik at March 10, 2004 02:28 PMOSX 10.2.8 Pbk 867 15"
I did exactly as instructions and you wrote ... but I got a lot of problem to burn .dmg file:
1) After mounting the ***.dmg to add some appls, it was not possible to unmount the disk.
A message shows me /disk in use, you cannot unmount/ ...
So to unmount disk before burning, I had to restart. 8(
2) Then Disk Copy, burn image from menu ... but after a short time Disk Copy quits referring about an error (?!?)
I try with another CD getting same bad result.
3) What to do ? I try Toast using Copy panel -> Image File option. It seems ok but ... no. After a while,
a never seen toast's message indicates /media error .../ with a couple of code's number and another
message /... writing failure/.
The same with another CD. FYI, problems are not with CDs because I used them later to burn without any problem.
So I try this last attempt with Toast: Copy panel
-> option "Image File" ... mount button and the CD icon appears on desktop.
-> option "CD/DVD Copy" and from list in main Toast window "read from Image File" ...
Wow it works. Just to burn. I didn't try to boot from this CD yet. I hope ... but I've enough for the moment.
Thanks for your nice info anyway,
Stefano
Last week I checked for a Panther (OS X 10.3) BootCD.
Looks like http://www.charlessoft.com/ has an update that works with Panther along with the older version for Jaguar.
Worked great on my Dual 867 I tested it on. I made one for my original Rev A. iBook Clamshell I run as a server but since it is running a few sites and many other services on my LAN, I have had no time to test it.
Posted by: Erik Gilchrist at June 23, 2004 09:03 PM