Troubleshooting Mac OS X 10.2.8: Working around the Palm Desktop 4.1 problem
Working around the Palm Desktop 4.1 problem We previously reported problems with the Palm Desktop 4.1 software under Mac OS X 10.2.8 (during installation) for some users.
Greg J Piper reports that this problem can be remedied by installing the missing components by hand from another system after the original install is attempted and "failed."
Other users report that they can successfully install the Palm Desktop 4.1 software when logged in as the root user. In order to enable the root user account, you need to use NetInfo Manager, located in /Applications/Utilities/NetInfo Manager.
Go to the "Security" menu and choose "Authenticate"; enter your administrator password. Then choose "Enable Root User" from the same menu. You will be asked to provide a password for the root user account.
Then go to System Preferences and select the "Login" pane, click on the "Login Window" tab and select "Show 'Other User'." Now logout, and log back in selecting "Other..." and then login as username "root" with the password you just gave the root account.
You should then be able to install the Palm Desktop 4.1 software without problems. It's a very good idea to disable the root user afterwards. You can do this by launching NetInfo Manager, then choosing Disable Root User from the Security menu.Resources
Same here...growl. Oh well, maybe 10.3 will solve everything. :D
The two are quite different.
I already have 4.1 installed so I want to know if I should update to OS X
10.2.8. I do not want to lose Hotsync.
I have not messed with my prior 4.1 install, but I updated to 10.2.8, and
everything works fine.
Same goes for me. I updated to 10.2.8, with Palm Desktop 4.1 already
on board and everything seems fine.
booting in OS 9 (if your Mac can do that), installing it, and then booting
in OS X to run it? Maybe that will work? Just an idea.
T
OK: I found a quick fix! I installed Palm Desktop 2.6.1 and ran it under the Classic environment. I'm syncing my clie right now. It'll do for the time being :)
Palm OS 4.1 over the old Palm OS 2.6.The 4.6 installer continued to
hang on install because the UNinstaller could not remove my old Palm
OS. I finally got it to work by moving my old Palm folder to the trash (
and NOT emptying the Trash) and then starting the INSTALL program
and once it started FORCE QUITTING ( Command-Option-esc) the
UNINSTALLER program only. The INSTALLER program then launched and
a full install suceeded. There seems to be a problem with the
UNINSTALLER portion of the 4.1 Palm OS. I have performed several
synchs with my Tungsten T now without any problem.
On a built-up-from scratch to OS X 10.2.8 2nd gen iMac, I
experienced the problem of stalling out near the end of the install,
and then getting the message that the software had not installed
successfully. I read the report about signing on as a root user, etc.
Tried that without success.
I decided to call Palm and after 30 minutes on hold, I got a PC
expert who was willing to try and help. After some gentle nudging,
he put me on hold so he could consult with a Mac tech person with
the following info:
The problem, they say, is with Stuffit. THEY said after a 10.2.8
install, Stuffit 8.0, Standard and Deluxe, even if upgraded prior to
the Mac upgrade, needs to be totally uninstalled and then totally
re-installed, including anything in OS 9 on that disk.
So, dutifully, I did a simple search from the Finder (Command+F),
found anything "stuffit" and carefully deleted it, all of it. Be careful
to do it in groups, because some of it is pieces of other files and
needs to be individually deleted. Just be sure it is all deleted.
Then, and only then, if you are a Standard user, download the
Standard 8.0 edition but do not install it, and then download the
updater to 8.01 for either Stuffit 8 Standard or Deluxe. Put it on the
desktop and don't worry if you get the message that it can't be
uncompressed due to your deleting the prior Stuffit files.
Now, install your version of Stuffit, restart, and then double-click
the compressed updater file for your version that should now be on
the desktop. After it is expanded, run the updater. Then restart.
Now, and ONLY after doing the NEW stuffit install, do a fresh, new
download of the latest Palm Desktop, including its expansion
(which uses that fresh Stuffit install you just did). Install it! If it stalls
or simply does not allow you to get past "go," then follow the
instructions of the previous post to log in as the root user, and once
logged in as the root use, navigate to the desktop of your User
name where you will find the Palm installer, and then try the Palm
Desktop installer again. It worked for me, surprisingly.
The key seems to be to NOT simply download the installer for the
Palm Desktop and try to use it if any remnants of the OLD Stuffit
exists. Though the Palm installer may LOOK fine after being
uncompressed, it is not, because it was expanded with an
"unhealthy" version of Stuffit, that is, the one that was installed
PRIOR to the OS X 10.2.8 upgrade. I have never seen such a
thing, that an installer would seemingly expand and look just fine,
yet, be, well, ill. I know Aladdin Systems (the fine Stuffit company)
is working on it, but now that I have seen it for myself, I must report
that it actually worked.
I hope this helps! The Palm tech told me that the Mac person with
whom he consulted told him about 30 similar calls were
successfully handled in this way.
Just be patient as this process may take well over an hour to
complete.
MrGadget's tip works perfectly. After clean installing Panther, I
uninstalled Stuffit 8, reinstalled Stuffit 8, then downloaded Palm 4.1. The
Palm install worked and all is well!
John
Hey! That worked for me, too!! Thank you so much because I
have been sitting here in disbelief that I couldn't use my Palm with
my new iMac.
This place, and you guys, rock!
Mark
workaround and have not been able to get the Palm 2.6-into-OS 9 trick
to work either. Amazing...Palm software does not support a new
powerbook. Wow.
- by magn0lia October 27, 2003 8:56 AM PST
- I believe the problem with stuffit is that it does not preserve the
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(14 Comments)executable bits on the files in the package when it unstuffs. To fix this,
go to terminal and execute:<br>
<code> chmod 755 "/path/to/wherever/Palm Desktop Installer/
Contents/Resources/Install Utility/Contents/MacOS/InstallerWrapper" <br>
(use the correct path for your situation).
This should allow the installer to continue.