10.2 exec format error

[Muzukun]

ok, well I'm in my school's IT department and since I'm the only guy that uses a mac I'm sent out to do anything that involves a mac (and I am totally an end user, I can fiddle around with a PC just fine but with the mac I'm still new to it). Sooo yesterday I convinced a prof to run the software update on her powermac w/ OS X 10.2 long story short everything works fine till I leave... now when she tries to boot up a terminal msg comes along saying 'exec format error' or something to that extent. I've tried repairing the drives, I can't repair the permissions and I'm pretty sure the download didn't complete and that caused issues.

Long story short, what can I do to make sure this prof doesn't lose her data? If I run the OS X installation CDs will she lose her application data? Or is this like in windows where I can just reinstall windows and all the program file data remains intact? Thanks! ^-^;;

 

[robbieduncan]

You can do an install that will install a new copy of the OSX without touching the user data.

 

[Eniregnat]

You can use the Archive and Install Option, to install OS X, and not destroy previous data. Read on, because you might want to try to retrieve the data the teacher has first, and then re-install.

I might recomend hooking the Mac up using Target Disk mode, if there is another Mac around, and copying the files. You will need a FW400 cable.


Once you have fixed your imeadate problem, you might want to consider the following.

On Cloneing, if your interested.

• 
  If you can free up an external FireWire HD, I might recommend creating a bootable clone of a machine, to help fix problems, copy data, and replicate across different computers. (Similar to Ghosting a drive.)
  
  Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) is a good program. You unlimited testing, but if you use it, find a way to pay the guy 5 for the license.
  
  The program works for me.
  
  This is not a net-boot option, rather it creates a boot able clone that can then be replicated across all of your machines. CCC has saved my ass a few times.
  
  Another free OSX cloner is Silver Keeper will make a bootable copy of an OS 9, 10, or Windows 2k/XP formatted dirves (FAT32,NTFS,AFS,HFS,HFS+,UFS 1 to 1 copying. It basically just copies files regardless of disk format, less each formats limitations.)
  
  If you use Norton Ghost, then you might see the benefit of doing this. At worst, you can always use this drive to backup teacher’s data and to repair computers. Many would say OSX never goes bad, and should never be reinstalled, but things happen.

It is not wrong of you to insist on a backup policy that the facility start and maintain themselves. You might come up with one, get it approved, and then initiate it. You might have to help people and send them reminders, the burden shouldn’t be yours. Managing IT is a nebulous job description, and when things go wrong, your always held accountable. Even the error is PEBKAC.

 

[Muzukun]

Thanks a ton

This honestly sucked, I'm installing it right now with the archive setting and all sooo... I guess at the very least it's a learning experience for me. But still I have the nagging fear 'what if it does X, Y, or Z?'

But thanks a ton for the info wish the real mac guy didn't run away or whatever he would up doing...

 

[Eniregnat]

But thanks a ton for the info wish the real mac guy didn't run away or whatever he would up doing...

I work with PCs and Macs. It is really easy to become a "Mac Guy". Let us know how it goes.

 

[Muzukun]

it worked computer booted up nicely, dock had all the icons, desktop was like nothing had happened, me and the prof had a moment of laughing about it. Especially since she earlier told me that if she did lose her files it might hurt her chances at getting tenure (had to submit a presentation of all she had done at the college) no pressure eh?

 

[semaja2]

it worked computer booted up nicely, dock had all the icons, desktop was like nothing had happened, me and the prof had a moment of laughing about it. Especially since she earlier told me that if she did lose her files it might hurt her chances at getting tenure (had to submit a presentation of all she had done at the college) no pressure eh?

this is one thin i love about macosx and linux, how everything is actually in your home folder, like i recentlyt did it with a old box and reformatted the main partition etc, rebooted logged in and went WTF whats all this..seems it saved all my open windows