Slow 10.3.2 Boot Fix Posted
The following is taken from Apple Discussion Boards here:
http://discussions.info.apple.com/[email protected]
The posts are as follows:
================================================== ==========
Topic: HOWTO: Slow 10.3.2 startup fix
Original Message ( Posted Dec 26, 03 9:43 pm )
Joachim Buechse
Joined: Dec, 2003
Posts: 26
Zurich, Switzerland
To reiterate the fix:
Open a terminal and type the following command all on one line:
sudo cp /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl /usr/sbin
Reboot twice. Startup performance should be back to normal.
credit to whom it belongs: the solution from AppleSupport was originaly posted by steven minnick in this thread. this arcticle is just a copy with technical explanation.
Why does it work?
BootCacheControl is called during the startup process to create a cache of files needed to boot (up to the point were the login window is displayed).
In the 10.3.2 version the executable is called from the /etc/rc script twice:
- BootCacheControl
- BootCacheControl tag
both times its called using a shell variable set in /etc/rc which points to /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl (and if this would not exist it would point to /usr/sbin/BootCacheControl.)
But there is another important call of the executable from the loginwindow process later:
- /usr/sbin/BootCacheControl autostop 15
Unfortunately the file /usr/sbin/BootCacheControl does not exist on a(ll) updated 10.3.2 system. Thecopy command above takes care of that problem.
Regards,
Joachim
iBook G3 300MHz; Mac OS X (10.3.x); 160 MB Ram
New!
RE: HOWTO: Slow 10.3.2 startup fix
( msg # 1.: Posted Dec 26, 03 10:44 pm )
Alan Somers
Level 3
Joined: Sep, 2000
Posts: 1810
Thanks for that. It works like a charm. One suggestion: add "-p" between "cp" and "/System..." to preserve permissions during the copy.
Anyway, I noticed people were posting times in the other thread, but I'll post mine here:
Before copy: 1 minute, 26 seconds from appearance of the gray Apple logo to appearance of desktop background.
First reboot after copy: 1 minute, 10 seconds to the same point.
Second reboot after copy: 31 seconds to the same point.
12" PowerBook G4 (Ed 1); Mac OS X (10.3.x); 640 MB RAM, 60 GB HD, SD, AE
============================
Worked like a charm for me.
Edited: there is a further discussion and possibly safer command as well as an undo command here:
Different Apple Discussion Thread
Edited to replace two underscore characters with spaces.
http://discussions.info.apple.com/[email protected]
The posts are as follows:
================================================== ==========
Topic: HOWTO: Slow 10.3.2 startup fix
Original Message ( Posted Dec 26, 03 9:43 pm )
Joachim Buechse
Joined: Dec, 2003
Posts: 26
Zurich, Switzerland
To reiterate the fix:
Open a terminal and type the following command all on one line:
sudo cp /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl /usr/sbin
Reboot twice. Startup performance should be back to normal.
credit to whom it belongs: the solution from AppleSupport was originaly posted by steven minnick in this thread. this arcticle is just a copy with technical explanation.
Why does it work?
BootCacheControl is called during the startup process to create a cache of files needed to boot (up to the point were the login window is displayed).
In the 10.3.2 version the executable is called from the /etc/rc script twice:
- BootCacheControl
- BootCacheControl tag
both times its called using a shell variable set in /etc/rc which points to /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl (and if this would not exist it would point to /usr/sbin/BootCacheControl.)
But there is another important call of the executable from the loginwindow process later:
- /usr/sbin/BootCacheControl autostop 15
Unfortunately the file /usr/sbin/BootCacheControl does not exist on a(ll) updated 10.3.2 system. Thecopy command above takes care of that problem.
Regards,
Joachim
iBook G3 300MHz; Mac OS X (10.3.x); 160 MB Ram
New!
RE: HOWTO: Slow 10.3.2 startup fix
( msg # 1.: Posted Dec 26, 03 10:44 pm )
Alan Somers
Level 3
Joined: Sep, 2000
Posts: 1810
Thanks for that. It works like a charm. One suggestion: add "-p" between "cp" and "/System..." to preserve permissions during the copy.
Anyway, I noticed people were posting times in the other thread, but I'll post mine here:
Before copy: 1 minute, 26 seconds from appearance of the gray Apple logo to appearance of desktop background.
First reboot after copy: 1 minute, 10 seconds to the same point.
Second reboot after copy: 31 seconds to the same point.
12" PowerBook G4 (Ed 1); Mac OS X (10.3.x); 640 MB RAM, 60 GB HD, SD, AE
============================
Worked like a charm for me.
Edited: there is a further discussion and possibly safer command as well as an undo command here:
Different Apple Discussion Thread
Edited to replace two underscore characters with spaces.
Comments
Apple Discussion Thread 2
The problem seems to be that the additional file generated by the first fix might conflict with future OS X updates. Hence the remove command. You'll have to read the thread fully to get the back and forth.
Edited:
Here is a summary of the commands (no line breaks):
1. Command creates extra file, speeds up boot times, but might screw up future updates:
sudo cp -p /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl /usr/sbin
2. Remove this command before installing any future OS X updates:
sudo rm /usr/sbin/BootCacheControl
3. Possibly safer command (but apparently not recommended by Apple Technical Support), uses link instead of copy:
sudo ln -s /System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext/Contents/Resources/BootCacheControl /usr/sbin
Edited to change two underscore characters with spaces.
Edited2: Be careful of copy paste operations with these commands. There may be some invisible control characters in the commands. They don't show up in 3 text processors I use, but show up in browsers sometimes. Best to copy by hand.
Thanks in advance!
Originally posted by tommy_thompson
Will this work on 10.3.5? After installing it, it starts up VERY slow. I even did a defrag on it in hopes that would help it- nothing improved. Ideas?
Thanks in advance!
It was my understanding that this particular problem was fixed in 10.3.3, but you can try the tip and see what happens.