Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 19:21:47 +0300 (MET-DST) From: Federico Giacanelli Subject: System re-installing & 32 Bit addressing - SUMMARY OF REPLIES Hello, some week ago I posted a message about a Mac IIci with its System taking 14 MB of 20 MB total RAM. I received more than 30 replies! Thank you all very much, Info-Mac people! Now I post a summary of the replies I received, as requested by someone that wrote me. I will quote parts of the mails but i won't quote the author's name because I don't know if they want their name be written here. Anyway I know who they are and I thank again everybody. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is my original message: >Subject: System re-installing (Q) > >Hello, > >sorry if this is a FAQ, I'm posting for a friend that can't read the digest. > >Situation: Mac IIci, 20 MB RAM, connected to ethernet, in a local net at the >university and then to the internet. >The System takes about 14 MB RAM!! >We think there is something wrong with the system and plan to re-install it. > >The question is: will he lose the hard disk files so does he need to backup >it? I remember one can install the system without deleting other files at all. > >More: In the case of re-installing, what will happen to the old folders in the >systm folder, like Control Panels, Extensions, etc.? He has many non-Apple >extensions, wil he lose them or the new system will create a new System Folder >containing also the old files? > >Please reply directly to me and I'll summarize for the digest if someone is >interested in, > >TIA, >Cheers, > > Federico >giacanelli@to.infn.it The answer is that my friend's Mac has the 32 bit addressing turned off. He turned on the 32 bit addressing in the "memory" control panel and everything is got OK. Here is an answer about that: >The reason is that in 16-bit mode the Mac can only address 8MB of memory. >The system knows there is 20MB RAM out there so it blocks off the >inaccessible 12MB by claiming that it's using it for itself. In 32-bit mode >the full 20MB is addressable. > >Caution: while nearly all modern applications are 32-bit clean, some older >ones were written to the 16-bit addressing standard and will fail unless by >some intermittent lucky chance they get loaded into the bottom 8MB of >memory. You can't tell by looking at an app, so if try one and it fails >contact the publisher for an upgrade. The second part of my post asked about cautions needed when one reinstall the System. Well, everyone told me that a backup is not necessary but it is a good thing to do in *any* case. A System re-install deletes only the Apple files in the System Folder with the new ones. One needs only to backup screen fonts in the System document because a new System document will be created. Here are some replies: >Hello, >The following are some notes on how to re-install your system without I hope it is clear enough. > >To re-install a CLEAN system. >This can be done (w/o losing your old system) by following these steps: > > BE SURE TO HAVE A BOOTABLE FLOPPY (Disk tools) JUST IN CASE !!!!!!!!! > Start up with your extensions OFF (hold down shift @ start-up) > Open your system folder and create a folder called "Finder Folder" > Move the Finder into that folder. Your old system is no longer active. > Rename your old system folder to something else besides "System Folder" > Install your new system from your system installs. > Restart, and you'll be using the new system. > >If you have doubts and don't think that your problems are due to a 'bad' sytem >(and/or extension conflicts), just try doing a minimal install rather than >the huge 'Easy install'. > >To get your old system back, just move the Finder of the new system (into its >"Finder Folder"), to disable the new system, and put the Finder of the old >system back where it >belongs (in the System folder). You will know which system is active if >any by looking at your >folder's icons. >When you are satisfied with your system, you can move your extra CP's and >Exts back into the System Folder. >Good luck! ------------------------------ >If you really need to re-install the system files, take out the >"System"-file and the Finder out of the System Folder, and rename the >System Folder to something else. Now you can install the system software >without overwriting anything. After successfull installation you can drag >the necessary old system files into the new System Folder. >This is the secure and clean way. Of course you can also install over the >old System Folder without loosing additional files, but this is not >suggested. > >Good luck! >By the way: Making a backup before installing anything new into the system >is always a good idea! ------------------------------- >If you leave "Finder" and "System" files where they belong, only Apple >parts are replaced by the installer. But I suggest he moves System and >Finder out (to trash), renames the old System folder to anything else, >select another (valid) startup drive, empties the trash and restarts. Then >he can make a "clean" install - and copy files from the "old" system folder >back individually. ------------------------------- >You may have heard this by now, but a system reinstall will preserve all >your old extensions, control panels, etc. However I would make a back-up >of my System folder first as a precaution. > >If you have screen display fonts installed in your System FILE, my >experience is that they might NOT be carried forward by the reinstall; you >must open the System FILE yourself and drag the fonts out and into your >Fonts FOLDER. Usual disclaimer applies: I'm not responsible for ANY data loss or problem on your Mac. Thanks to you all, Cheers, Federico giacanelli@to.infn.it