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How to delete System 9 from Tiger

Kashchei

Kashchei

macrumors 65816
Original poster
My wife's G4 iMac is getting a bit cramped since I set up my own account on this machine. I wanted to save some space on the HD by deleting System 9, something she once needed but doesn't anymore. I tried to move the system folder to the trash and got the error message "this operation can't be completed because item "system folder" is required by the system." Is there anyway to get rid of System 9 on this machine?
 
Not sure but it should be one of 2 ways:

1) boot up with your Tiger install disk and see if there is a way to remove it.

2) if the above didn't work, you will probably need to back up all your Tiger profiles and Apps and do a clean install of Tiger (without OS9 this time).
 
You must first stop Classic. Then drag the folder "System Folder" to the trash, then restart the computer, then empty the trash.

TEG
 
TEG said:
You must first stop Classic. Then drag the folder "System Folder" to the trash, then restart the computer, then empty the trash.

TEG
Click to expand...

I double checked to make sure, but Classic is not currently running and I'm still unable to place the system folder in the trash. I guess I'll have to do a reinstall without Classic. Thanks to both of you for all your help!
 
Kashchei said:
I double checked to make sure, but Classic is not currently running and I'm still unable to place the system folder in the trash. I guess I'll have to do a reinstall without Classic. Thanks to both of you for all your help!
Click to expand...

This certainly should not be necessary. Are you sure you're dragging the OS9 System Folder?
 
andy.barron said:
What TEG is saying is go to system prefs & disable classic there first.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I double checked. In the system preferences it says that "Classic is not currently running." And I'm quite sure that what I'm dragging to the trash is the system 9 folder rather than the Tiger folder (the former is technically named the "system folder" while the latter is just "system").
 
Isn't there a way to delete files through the Terminal? You just need to make sure it's pointed at the proper folder.
 
heatmiser said:
Isn't there a way to delete files through the Terminal? You just need to make sure it's pointed at the proper folder.
Click to expand...

heatmiser, you are psychic--I was just opening Terminal when your post came up. I'm so bad at Terminal, however, that I couldn't remember the command for deleting a file/folder.
 
andy.barron said:
its: rm 'filename'
Click to expand...

Thanks, andy.barron--that's what I thought I remembered. Here's what comes up when I type "rm" and then drag the folder to the terminal screen:

[SGC:~] kashchei% rm /System\ Folder/
rm: /System Folder/: is a directory
[SGC:~] kashchei%

I've seen posts deleted by the moderators that had bad unix commands in them that would delete everything on a drive, so I'm surprised to see that Terminal won't get rid of this folder without a second thought.

Any other suggestions?
 
He could have re-installed Tiger by now and be on his merry way.
But yes, it is curious that you can't just drag/drop delete it. Is it a sudo command in Terminal? Maybe he's got sudo disabled/locked.
 
andy.barron said:
did you try booting in safe mode & deleting?
Click to expand...

I did reboot into safe mode and got the same result (see long error message cited above). I haven't gotten out the Tiger installation disk since I'm not at home, but you are right--this would be the simplest way to tackle this particular problem it seems.
 
I was going to suggest that next! or boot from an external, then there is no way it can be being used.

Best of luck (its midnight here & I'm off from some zzz's)!!😀
 
In order to delete a folder structure in the terminal, you have to do:

sudo rm -rf [directory]

BE CAREFUL WITH THIS COMMAND. The Terminal will happily start deleting exactly what you tell it to as soon as you hit enter and type your password, so MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENTERED IT CORRECTLY.

In this case, it'd be:

sudo rm -rf /System\ Folder/

MAKE SURE YOU DO THE "\ Folder/" part, or else it'll start deleting your Tiger "/System/" structure.
 
killmoms said:
In order to delete a folder structure in the terminal, you have to do:

sudo rm -rf [directory]

BE CAREFUL WITH THIS COMMAND. The Terminal will happily start deleting exactly what you tell it to as soon as you hit enter and type your password, so MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENTERED IT CORRECTLY.

In this case, it'd be:

sudo rm -rf /System\ Folder/

MAKE SURE YOU DO THE "\ Folder/" part, or else it'll start deleting your Tiger "/System/" structure.
Click to expand...

It is safer, and POSTIX recommended that you,

sudo rm -rf "System Folder"

TEG
 
TEG said:
It is safer, and POSTIX recommended that you,

sudo rm -rf "System Folder"

TEG
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for this recommendation, which finally worked! At first, the folder still remained, but it no longer had its OS9 icon. This allowed me to throw away the folder as I would any folder.

Thanks to everyone for their help with this problem. This is a perfect example of why I love the MR community so much!
 
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