Uh Oh...i Screwed Up Boot.plist

[Norad]

NOTE: Problem has been resolved. Thanks for everyone who tried to help =)

 

PROBLEM:

Deadmoo's X86 image was installed as dual boot with Windows XP. However, the user somehow screwed up the X86 partition and needs to reinstall it. He would like to retain Windows XP and not reinstall it.

 

SOLUTION:

Backup the first 512 bytes of the hard drive (the master boot record) using DD before writing the image. Later, restore the 512 bytes to restore partition information. That way, partition information stored in the boot sector is saved.

 

NOTE:

This is a repair procedure, not an installation procedure! It will only work if you have both OSes installed properly before X86 screwed up!

 

PROCEDURE:

1. Hook up the hard drive containing both OSes to a computer that has XP and deadmoo's image.

 

2. Back up the MBR with: dd if=\\.\PhysicalDrive# of=/bootsector.bin bs=512 count=1

 

PhysicalDrive# is the hard drive containing both OSes. Replace # with the appropriate value (this can be found by running compmgmt.msc and clicking on "disk management")

 

3. Write image onto hard drive. For me, it was dd bs=1M if=tiger-x86.img of=\\.\PhysicalDrive#

 

4. Once complete, restore the MBR using: dd if=/bootsector.bin of=\\.\PhysicalDrive# bs=512 count=1

 

5. Your hard drive should now have a fresh copy of X86 installed while retaining your XP partitions and any other partitions.

 

--Original Post--

Hey everyone,

 

This is my first post on OSX86 . I successfully installed OS86 native dual boot on my laptop, and was trying the "automatically boot in 1280x1024x32". I edited com.apple.Boot.plist so that it'll automatically start in that resolution. However, when I tried to save, I couldn't because it was write protected or something...

 

So in my total ignorance, I trashed the file, created a new one using the text editor, and plugged it into the SystemConfiguration folder. I rebooted...and now it can't find the file . I would REALLY like to keep dabbling with OSX86, but I don't want to re-install XP and OSX again.....

 

Is there any way to fix my problem?

 

P.S.- I'm a Windoze user who has just started trying Linux...please keep instructions simple. Thanks!

 

I also noticed that i can use the config= command at the Darwin boot to point to another Boot.plist file. The old plist which I trashed should still be in the trashcan. Is there some way for me to point it to that plist and maybe boot up? Where is the trash located?

Edited September 4, 2005 by Norad

[nadnerb]

the easiest way is just dd the image again, it will take you 15mins max

 

my guess is the file is there, but not authenticated since you didnt change the permissions when you placed the new boot file in the folder, therefore the system wont use it to boot.

you could try fixing it by using the -s mode, finding the file and running the chmod/chown commands on it. but im not sure if thats possible

[Norad]

Thanks for trying to help...all the flags including -s won't work. I guess that means I'll have to DD the image again. It's the lengthy XP + programs install that I'm dreading =(.

 

What is the PROPER way to edit com.apple.boot.plist? I can't seem to save even though it wasn't "read only" and I'm logged in as admin.

[nadnerb]

Thanks for trying to help...all the flags including -s won't work. I guess that means I'll have to DD the image again. It's the lengthy XP + programs install that I'm dreading =(.

 

What is the PROPER way to edit com.apple.boot.plist? I can't seem to save even though it wasn't "read only" and I'm logged in as admin.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

you wont have to reinstall XP, just a 15min dd job.

 

the proper way to edit the boot file? im not sure, i've never used mac or unix before the last few days so im not too sure.

 

but i think i know a way that works, and thats what i did.

 

-find the file u wanna edit

-drag it to your desktop

-edit it and save it

-drag the file from the desktop to its original folder

-a message will pop up, click authenticate and enter your password.

-a message will ask if you want to replace the existing file, say yes (actually i think this step comes before the last one, anyway, u get the idea)

-goto the terminal

-type sudo chmod 755 -R /blah/blah/blah/com.apple.boot.plist and press enter

-enter your password

-type sudo chown -R root:wheel /blah/blah/blah/com.apple.boot.plist and press enter

obviously replace the blahs with the real path

 

done

[Norad]

How do I DD the image without having it modify the boot table and erasing the XP partition? I thought that was impossible with the image...

 

I'm using this DD command:

dd bs=1M if=tiger-x86.img of=\\.\PhysicalDriveX

 

you wont have to reinstall XP, just a 15min dd job.

 

the proper way to edit the boot file? im not sure, i've never used mac or unix before the last few days so im not too sure.

 

but i think i know a way that works, and thats what i did.

 

-find the file u wanna edit

-drag it to your desktop

-edit it and save it

-drag the file from the desktop to its original folder

-a message will pop up, click authenticate and enter your password.

-a message will ask if you want to replace the existing file, say yes (actually i think this step comes before the last one, anyway, u get the idea)

-goto the terminal

-type sudo chmod 755 -R /blah/blah/blah/com.apple.boot.plist and press enter

-enter your password

-type sudo chown -R root:wheel /blah/blah/blah/com.apple.boot.plist and press enter

obviously replace the blahs with the real path

 

done

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Norad]

you wont have to reinstall XP, just a 15min dd job.

 

the proper way to edit the boot file? im not sure, i've never used mac or unix before the last few days so im not too sure.

 

but i think i know a way that works, and thats what i did.

 

-find the file u wanna edit

-drag it to your desktop

-edit it and save it

-drag the file from the desktop to its original folder

-a message will pop up, click authenticate and enter your password.

-a message will ask if you want to replace the existing file, say yes (actually i think this step comes before the last one, anyway, u get the idea)

-goto the terminal

-type sudo chmod 755 -R /blah/blah/blah/com.apple.boot.plist and press enter

-enter your password

-type sudo chown -R root:wheel /blah/blah/blah/com.apple.boot.plist and press enter

obviously replace the blahs with the real path

 

done

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I installed x86 successfully by doing this:

 

To prevent reinstallation, I used DD to copy the boot sector by using:

dd if=\\.\PhysicalDriveX of=/bootsector.bin bs=512 count=1

 

Then I DDed the image with:

dd bs=1M if=tiger-x86.img of=\\.\PhysicalDriveX

 

Finally, I restored my boot sector with:

dd if=/bootsector.bin of=\\.\PhysicalDriveX bs=512 count=1

 

Windows & OSX boot without problems!

 

When I followed your instructions on how to edit the file, I came upon problems:

 

When I typed sudo chmod 755 -R /blah/blah/blah/com.apple.boot.plist

It asks for password, then says "file not found". I replaced & checked my path...it doesn't find it for some reason

 

I completed the next step, then rebooted. However, every time I choose X86, it simply reboots the laptop. I tried all flags, and "display mode"="1024x768" but nothing prevents it from rebooting. Any suggestions?

[nadnerb]

did you try -s?

if it says file not found, cd to the directory and then use the ls command to see what files are there.

then run the chmod.... command with just the filename

 

another tip is when in OSX open the terminal, type sudo chmod -R 755 and then drag the file into the terminal window and it will automatically type the path, that way you know its correct.

[Norad]

did you try -s?

if it says file not found, cd to the directory and then use the ls command to see what files are there.

then run the chmod.... command with just the filename

 

another tip is when in OSX open the terminal, type sudo chmod -R 755 and then drag the file into the terminal window and it will automatically type the path,  that way you know its correct.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sorry for the late reply.

 

I think I found the error...the sudo chmod 755 -R is actually supposed to be sudo chmod -R 755...

 

However, i was messing with the folder access using "file info" beyond repair..time to DD again =(

 

EDIT: I stand corrected. IT WORKED!.....somehow. All 3 plist files are all under system read/write access, but groups are not all wheel. Also, preferences.plist has system set to only read.

 

On a side note, is this maybe why any customization I make (such as adding prograoms onto the dock, etc.) get deleted upon reboot?

[HyruleKnight]

So in my total ignorance, I trashed the file, created a new one using the text editor, and plugged it into the SystemConfiguration folder. I rebooted...and now it can't find the file  . I would REALLY like to keep dabbling with OSX86, but I don't want to re-install XP and OSX again.....

 

Is there any way to fix my problem?

 

Try using "-F" as a boot parameter, this bypassses loading the Boot plist file.

 

I also noticed that i can use the config= command at the Darwin boot to point to another Boot.plist file. The old plist which I trashed should still be in the trashcan. Is there some way for me to point it to that plist and maybe boot up? Where is the trash located?

 

I believe it is in "/.Trashes/", but I can't confirm that since I'm running XP right now.

[joelogic]

Try using "-F" as a boot parameter, this bypassses loading the Boot plist file.

I believe it is in "/.Trashes/", but I can't confirm that since I'm running XP right now.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Norad, If could edit your original post and put what you did to resolve the problem under the problem itself, I'll move this to the patches and fixes forum, perhaps someone else with the same trouble would benefit from it.

[Norad]

Norad, If could edit your original post and put what you did to resolve the problem under the problem itself, I'll move this to the patches and fixes forum, perhaps someone else with the same trouble would benefit from it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

My original problem was how to edit com.apple.boot.plist properly, but I'm not sure how I exactly did it =(. However, I'll post instructions on how to reinstall Deadmoo's image dual boot without formatting.

[judy]

My original problem was how to edit com.apple.boot.plist properly, but I'm not sure how I exactly did it =(. However, I'll post instructions on how to reinstall Deadmoo's image dual boot without formatting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The proper way to edit a write-protected file is using sudo and your favorite editor. Ie, open Terminal and type "sudo nano ", without the quotes, then drag the file from Finder onto the Terminal, and press Enter. If you prefer TextEdit, use "sudo /Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit ". Of course you can also type the path to the file manually instead of dragging it from Finder.