Background
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Users running Drive Setup while started up from the CD sometimes receive a message that says: "Cannot modify a disk used by Virtual Memory. To turn Virtual Memory off, consult the Macintosh Guide."
When running Disk First Aid while started up from the CD, users sometimes
receive a message that says: "Some of the volumes you selected can't be repaired. You cannot repair the startup disk, the Disk First Aid disk, a write protected disk, a disk with open files, or any disk when File Sharing is active. You may still verify these disks."
Product Technical Support has confirmed that this problem occurs on any of the Power Macintosh 7200, 7500, 8500 and 9500 systems when started up from the Power Macintosh 7200 CD or 9500 CD version 2.0.
When the Power Macintosh 7200/75 and 7200/90 CDs were produced, and when the 9500/120 and 9500/132 version 2.0 CDs were produced, virtual memory was inadvertently turned on and set to 33 MB. This preference was stored in the System file on the CD. When users start up with the CD, the system software saves its 33 MB VM Storage file out to the user's hard disk. Since this VM Storage file is in use, Disk First Aid and Drive Setup are unable to repair or format the hard drive that contains the VM Storage file. Since the System file on the CD is write protected, the VM settings cannot be modified using the Memory control panel from the hard disk when started up from the CD.
Workarounds
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Keyboard commands
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Step 1
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Insert the CD-ROM disc.
Step 2
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Choose Shut Down from the Special menu.
Step 3
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Hold down the "c" key (lower-case C; if the keyboard has a physical latch for the Caps Lock key, make sure the Caps Lock key is in the "up" position).
Step 4
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Start up the computer.
Step 5
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Hold down the "c" key until the "happy Macintosh" icon appears.
Step 6
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Immediately release the "c" key and hold down either the Command key or the Shift key.
This process is rapid, lasting only about three seconds. Waiting until the "Welcome to Macintosh" screen appears before holding down the Command or Shift key does not work.
Holding down the command key at startup disables virtual memory, while holding down the Shift key at startup disables virtual memory and extensions. In either case, users are able to run Disk First Aid and Drive Setup on the their Apple hard drive.
Create a Disk Tools Disk
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Users can also create a Disk Tools disk from the disk images on the CD, and restart their computer from the Disk Tools Disk. Once started up from the Disk Tools disk, users are able to use Disk First Aid and Drive Setup normally.
Rename Hard Drive to Something Other Than "Macintosh HD"
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When starting up from the Apple Macintosh CD, the system file on the CD looks for a volume named "Macintosh HD" to store its virtual memory storage file. If the system cannot find a volume by this name, it ignores the internal hard drive, allowing Drive Setup and Disk First Aid to work normally.
Article Change History:
13 Mar 1997 - Changed distribution status.
03 Jan 1996 - Corrected several typos and misspellings.
22 Sep 1995 - Added an additional workaround.