[Macpartners] OS X & appletalk

[Ethan Signer]

A major problem for which both AppleCare and the Computing Help Desk 
were (after 6 weeks) unable to find a solution:

1. A G4 PowerBook, bought in March 2001 with OS 9.1 and then 
successively upgraded to OS 9.2.2 and OS 10.2.6, is unable (i.e. 
refuses) to open AppleTalk in OS X. AppleTalk will not open in 
Classic either, though it will open if the machine is booted in OS 
9.2.2. As a workaround, I can open AppleTalk in OS 10.2.6 by typing a 
command in Terminal (sudo appletalk -u en1) and, if Classic is 
running at the time, restarting Classic (i.e. if Classic is running 
the Terminal command isn't enough); I also have to redo this 
workaround if the computer goes to sleep and then wakes up again, and 
I also have to redo the workaround occasionally for no apparent 
reason.

2. A (graphite) iBook, also bought in March 2001 with OS 9.1 and then 
successively upgraded to OS 9.2.2 and OS 10.2.6, has no problem 
whatever opening AppleTalk.

3. An (opaque) iBook, bought this Spring with OS 9.2.2 and OS 10.1 
and then upgraded to OS 10.2.6, has the same AppleTalk problem as the 
G4 PowerBook (#1 above).

Apple says the system must be corrupted and I should wipe everything 
completely and reinstall, which I am understandably reluctant to do. 
But I find it surprising that 2 out of 3 computers should have 
developed this corruption, and that two computers set up the same 
(except for the PowerBook being G4 and the iBook being G3) should 
behave so differently.

I need AppleTalk to communicate with the LaserJet that all 3 
computers depend on (through AirPort) - any suggestions for 
correcting this problem besides a complete reinstall?

Thanks
Ethan



-- 
Ethan R. Signer, PhD
Professor of Biology Emeritus, MIT
Executive Director, The High Q Foundation
195 Hudson Street Suite 2B
New York, NY 10013-1895
tel 212/219-0347
fax 212/219-9554
signer at mit.edu