Optimizing System Performance

[Dronecatcher]

I've seen this so many times but recently whilst I was installing OS9 and Panther on my new G3, it was driving me nuts the amount of time it was taking. Often an update or app install would take under 30 seconds but the following "optimization" would take 15 minutes.
I'm guessing it was taking noticeably longer because of the 350Mhz CPU and I understand that it's updating prebinding - but why so long?

 

[eyoungren]

I've seen this so many times but recently whilst I was installing OS9 and Panther on my new G3, it was driving me nuts the amount of time it was taking. Often an update or app install would take under 30 seconds but the following "optimization" would take 15 minutes.
I'm guessing it was taking noticeably longer because of the 350Mhz CPU and I understand that it's updating prebinding - but why so long?

View attachment 753442

It's moving files around and making receipts, etc, etc.

It might help you keep your sanity the next time you see this to go to the Window menu in the installer and then open the log. Have it show 'Progress and Errors'.

Scroll down to the bottom and keep it there and you will see a live progress of what's actually happening.

Actually knowing what it's doing rather than relying on the progress bar helps.

 

[Dronecatcher]

It might help you keep your sanity the next time you see this to go to the Window menu in the installer and then open the log. Have it show 'Progress and Errors'.

Good tip.
Yes, I think it was just more painful on the G3 because of the low specs - hardly noticed on my other Macs.

 

[AphoticD]

Good tip.
Yes, I think it was just more painful on the G3 because of the low specs - hardly noticed on my other Macs.

It's a Panther thing. if you install Tiger on that G3, you'll hardly notice the process.

The actual process is the "update_prebinding" command. There's a great description of the process here: http://osxbook.com/book/bonus/misc/optimizations/#SIX

I haven't dug very deep into this, but my understanding is that Tiger reworked things under the hood which either A) Made this a mostly redundant thing or B) massively improved performance of the update process.

I really noticed this on my Sawtooth G4s when installing Panther 10.3.9 Combo update. It literally took over an hour to "Optimize".

 

[Dronecatcher]

It's a Panther thing. if you install Tiger on that G3, you'll hardly notice the process.

In all circumstances I'd install Tiger but due to low memory went with Panther. I've some cheap SDRAM on the way but given the G3's fussy nature I might stay stuck at 192Mb.