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A warning about custom boot images on new Macs System
Do not try using custom boot images if you are running Jaguar 10.2.3 build 6H28 that comes with new Macs. I just finished rescuing a new 12" Aluminum Powerbook after manually applying a custom Boot Image extracted from another BootX file that worked fine on a Pismo in 10.2.3 Build 6G30. The modified BootX file rendered the AlBook non-bootable as the System Restore DVD did absolutely nothing to boot the Mac, even though the writing on the disk clearly states: "To start up from Mac OS X on this DVD, hold down the C key as the computer starts up." All I could get was an OpenFirmware prompt and none of the boot arguments that I knew at least would work to boot the CD.

I had to mount it in target mode on the Pismo to restore the file from a backup. After that it started fine. But for those who only have 1 Mac handy this can be disastrous. Hopefully Apple will release a fix to address the problem with booting these things from the system restore disk using just the C key on bootup. But for now: You've been warned!

[Editor's note: The boot image is the picture that displays when first starting the Mac -- there's a process to do this described in this article on ryandesign.com's website. Regarding this specific problem, it may be possible that the booting troubles with the restore disk were also caused by the problematic boot image -- it's hard to believe Apple would send a batch of machines out that couldn't boot from their restore disks ... I think the general warning here is that when you're modifying low-level things such as the boot image, you're never quite sure what may happen (especially if Apple has revved the system software version!).]
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A warning about custom boot images on new Macs
Authored by: nvdingo on Feb 20, '03 04:30:56PM

i dont know if this is going to work on one of those machines with that build of 10.2.3
but when i upgraded to 10.2.4, my custom boot image stayed put, and didn't cause me any problems.

If anyone that has one of the newer machines, or the original poster can verify that it works on those systems after updating to 10.2.4, I am sure that there would be some people that would like to know.



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A warning about custom boot images on new Macs
Authored by: FenrisUlf on Feb 21, '03 01:40:34AM
Just as another caveat for users of Duality Theme manager....using custom boot images and login panels (and so on...) causes Duality to get confused and loop forever. I found that out after putting a custom bootpanel thanks to Visage, but wanted to try a new theme (I was back in Aqua at the time).....

Restoring the original boot images caused Duality to work again. I have verified this on 10.2.2 and 10.2.3, but haven't tried 10.2.4 yet (I assume the same behavior will occur.)


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A warning about custom boot images on new Macs
Authored by: DMCrimson on Mar 04, '03 12:04:17PM

original poster said "after _manually_ installing ...", so that does not involve Duality there. Besides, only theme switcher I've gotten to work is ThemeChanger, Duality 4 MS 3 just asked me my admin pass for a dozen imes and hogged CPU doing nothing.



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OT Themechanger
Authored by: dave1212 on Aug 29, '03 12:38:46AM

ThemeChanger works for me, right up to 10.2.6 currently, and the only reason I don't use it regularly is that some widgets in filter windows in Photoshop don't display at all. Some other places, the widgets are changed, but in these instances, they completely disappear.



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