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| Author | Invisible MacTCP file in Control Panels (System 7.1) (Read 35452 times) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bolkonskij
Administrator 1024 MB  Posts: 2023 
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on: February 23, 2024, 16:45
Interesting issue on my IIci running System 7.1. I used to have MacTCP on it for connectivity, after which I replaced it with Open Transport and later deleted the remnants of MacTCP in a cleaning up operation. Recently, I got rid of my PiSCSI and got a Wifi Modem instead. So now I wanted to go back to MacTCP for PPP. Here's the interesting part - I cannot install the MacTCP control panel into my Control Panel folder. This time, dragging it into the folder makes the IIci report the following error: Quote from: Bolkonskij's IIci You cannot copy "MacTCP" onto the folder "Control Panels", because an invisible item with the same name already exists in this location. Huh? Invisible file? Pretty UNIX-y, eh? I've had my fair share of errors in the 30+ years of using Mac OS but this one is new to me. Any idea what this could be (a hidden prefs file maybe?)? It's neither shown in Finder nor in e.g. the Extensions Manager. There also doesn't seem to be an option to overwrite it, I tried that from System 6 which reported that the file already existed and was skipped during the copying process (thank you! :-/ ) Since I don't have networking working on the IIci (which is what I was working on!) a solution that does not involve the downloading of a file manager would be preferable, since I'm on sneaker net (floppies) right now. Any idea on what causes the error and how to solve it with on-board means? |
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Last Edit: February 23, 2024, 16:48 by Bolkonskij
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cballero
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1024 MB  Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #1 on: February 23, 2024, 17:13
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Well, my friend, that's a bonafide 'Mac-pothole' right there if I ever saw one!  okay, now to actual solutioning ideas!  1. Try renaming MacTCP tobe able to add it to your Control Panels folder and then restarting your IIci (hmm, so jealous!  ) to see if the CDEV takes in that indirect fashion2a. (a bit slightly more involved workaround): a. Create new System Folder (aka, 'Test System Folder') b. Create an empty 'Control Panels' folder c. Move your MacTCP CDEV in first d. Add the other CDEVs from your Controls Panels folder e. Move the other items from your original System Folder on over f. Restart your IIci 2b. (less involved version, but may require a safe restart): a. Drag your Control Panels folder out of your System Folder b. (only if needed) 'Shift' boot with extensions off to move it out c. Create a new Control Panels folder in your System Folder d. Add your MacTCP CDEV to new Control Panels folder d. Add the other CDEVs from your Controls Panels folder e. Restart your IIci The second option forces whatever invisible file is in your System Folder to step aside and let you get your networking done  (hopefully, fingers-crossed)
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #2 on: February 23, 2024, 17:15
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That's some nice ideas @cballero Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try it out and will report back.
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #3 on: February 23, 2024, 18:11
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Anything that can serve a fellow Mac brother! Those were some of my software tools I'd use on the Macs I'd troubleshoot back in the day: if I can't go through one way, just carve out tunnels around the issue! 2a and 2b are the same fix done in two forms (usually I'll do something like '2a' and then I'll think-up an easier '2b', but such is life! lol  )
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MTT
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256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #4 on: February 24, 2024, 05:30
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Quote from: Bolkonskij: "Any idea on what causes the error and how to solve it with on-board means?"Not to the cause, but maybe for the solving part... My #1 go-to tool here (and I do use this tool a lot) is "Change File Visibility". It is part of the "UnhideTools" package. Ironically perhaps, because you were the uploader of that file. Anyway, drag the Control Panels folder onto the "Change File Visibility" icon. This launches a window showing the contents of that folder, both visible and invisible (if any). If this invisible MacTCP is in there, it will show up in the CFV window with an empty checkbox to the left of its name. If there, check the box associated with it and exit the program. Your invisible MacTCP file should now be visible and you can move it out of the CP folder to the Trash. If it's in use by the OS you may need to reboot before deleting. -You could also use ResEdit to look into the Control Panels folder to see if it is in there, open it and manually set the invisible flags to visible. But "Change File Visibility" is just so quick & dirty & cool
Last Edit: February 24, 2024, 05:34 by MTT
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #5 on: February 24, 2024, 08:16
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That rounds it up well, MTT especially if he already isolated the file from his System Folder because I know some things are hard to remove or delete when they are hidden like that!
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68040
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512 MB Posts: 950 68k - thy kingdom come, thy will be done !
Reply #6 on: February 24, 2024, 11:42
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People, folks, friends, Romans! Why so hard at work to reinvent the wheel? Both XtreeMac and Greg's Browser are ez on the resource foot print and make short business with any (sneaky) hidden files.
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #7 on: February 24, 2024, 14:25
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That's right, 68040! My beloved Greg's Browser tool does have the ability to view hidden files, I've just never turned it on because I think to myself, 'Why do I need it for?' so it's oft forgot in favor of specific tools to do the job.. graceful and mighty under the hood too, my favorite, 'cool' kind of tool indeed! 
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #8 on: February 24, 2024, 17:03
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This is actually turning into an even more interesting issue ... or beware the CDEV muncher! I was able to retrieve the MacTCP file from the Control Panels folder. It was indeed invisible. I noticed a strange thing - it lost its File Type. Not thinking too much about it other than witnessing a victim of data corruption, I threw it into the trash and copied the new MacTCP into Control Panels. It displayed nicely with the gang in there. Rebooted. Checked back with Control Panels. It's gone. The MacTCP control panel is gone. Again. I checked again and indeed, it was turned invisible and had its file type erased. What's going on here? Sounds like something very strange at work, never had anything like that happening before. Before you think I'm losing my mind, Knezzen is my prime witness, he has seen it too
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68040
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512 MB Posts: 950 68k - thy kingdom come, thy will be done !
Reply #9 on: February 24, 2024, 18:46
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Sound like somebody/something changing your file type/attritbutes at boot time.
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wove
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1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #10 on: February 24, 2024, 18:53
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Whoa! Whatever is going on has caused two people to loose their mind? This can only be do to malicious actions. See this is what happens when you do not have https. ;o (The above is purely tongue and cheek in the event there are any translation problems.)
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MTT
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256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #11 on: February 24, 2024, 22:41
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Quote from: Bolkonskij: "Checked back with Control Panels. It's gone."1). Make the CP visible again. 2). Check settings are how you want them. 3). Get Info on the CP and Lock it. 4). Reboot and check CP folder. No idea if locking the CP will affect its performance, but should prevent it from vanishing. 5). Check IIci over for virus. 6). Rebuild the Desktop Database. I've not experienced a vanishing MacTCP CP before, and I currently run two systems with SSW 7.1x (7.1.1 actually) both with MacTCP v2.0.6 installed. I recall reading that earlier versions than 2.0.6 were unstable, and easily corrupted, but don't remember the gist of why. Your MacTCP is which version?
Last Edit: February 24, 2024, 22:44 by MTT
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #12 on: February 25, 2024, 05:21
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Bolkonskij, I believe you have a RaSCSI that allows you to run other boot volumes, right? If so, perhaps a fresh OS install may help you test out your other volume's issue by rebuilding it one step at a time with fresh resources? (I'm sure no one these days has a hyper-optimized Mac OS System like 68040's! Someone recently talked over at the MG about experiencing virus-like issues with a specific file on their OS, so there may be something similar occurring with your Mac setup? I'll get the occasional frozen desktop we all have grown accustomed to, but this elevates your issue to a more concerning level. I also think like MTT advised that virus scanning could help rule out any malware foul play that's been lying dormant since years past.
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Bolkonskij
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Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #13 on: February 25, 2024, 07:19
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No virus, no re-install needed (after all, this is not Windows :-) ) Turns out this is a rare issue that happens when you had MacTCP installed, updated to Open Transport (OT) and you try to go back to MacTCP! Open Transport is the culprit it appears! As long as there is anything of Open Transport left on the system, it'll deactivate everything MacTCP it can find at the time of startup. I noticed that while I had deleted all the OT extensions, there was still stuff left that came with / is for OT (TCP/IP control panel, AppleShare etc.) One of 'em (or all?) must contain the kill switch that disables MacTCP. I also noticed, it's not solely focussed on taking out MacTCP - it does the same thing if you install an older version of the Network Control Panel that would work with MacTCP. So this is a prohibitive measure by Apple to avoid extension conflicts it seems to me. I can see why Apple decided to go that route to save them a bunch of support calls. But then I also find this a messy solution. I combed through my extensions and Control Panel yesterday to identify all the extensions that OT came with but I may not have found all yet. Ran out of time, will try again today. Granted, this is a special case. Usually there's not much of a reason to go back from OT to MacTCP if your Mac is capable of running it. (unless you buy a WiFi Modem ;-) )
Last Edit: February 25, 2024, 07:28 by Bolkonskij
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daptdore
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4 MB Posts: 6 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #14 on: February 25, 2024, 14:08
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I had a recollection that there was a tool to switch between Open Transport and MacTCP. Wikipedia's Open Transport page says it was a control panel called "Network Software Selector". Perhaps you deleted that in your original "cleaning up operation"?
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