TITLE
    System 7.x: Personal File Sharing That Will Not Start
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		12478
6/29/93
4/29/98
TOPIC

    After turning on file sharing with the Sharing Setup control panel, the Status window says, file sharing is starting up, but never changes to, file sharing is on. User can not restart or shut down because file sharing will not complete it startup sequence.

DISCUSSION

    File sharing will not startup because the invisible AppleShare PDS file is corrupt on one or more of the volumes attached to the Macintosh. Follow the steps below to erase the AppleShare PDS file so file sharing can complete the startup sequence:

    1) Turn file sharing off using the Sharing Setup control panel.
    2) Delete the Users & Groups data file in the Preferences folder.
    3) Restart the computer.
    4) Open the Sharing Setup control panel, and enter a new Owner Name, Owner Password, and Macintosh Name replacing any previous data. Be sure to use new or different names.
    5) Turn File Sharing on.

    NOTE: If the first 5 steps above resolve your problem do not proceed any further.

    6) Delete the invisible AppleShare PDS file at the root of any volumes that are mounted when sharing. You can delete the PDS file with ResEdit or a third-party utility that can view invisible files. Using the utility, click and deselect the Invisible checkbox of the file to make it visible on the desktop, and then drag the AppleShare PDS file to the trash from the Finder.

    In addition, both ClarisWorks and the Stickies Desk Accessory (DA) can be used to delete the AppleShare PDS file.
    • Using ClarisWorks, simply save a document titled "AppleShare PDS" directly to the root level of all shared volumes that are mounted (locked volumes not included).
    • With the Stickies DA, open a new Stickie, select 'Export Text' from the File Menu, and save to the root level of any shared volume that is mounted using the title "AppleShare PDS."
    In either scenario, a message should appear asking if the existing AppleShare PDS file should be replaced. Select "Replace." Once this is done, simply open the volume(s) where the "AppleShare PDS" file was saved (now visible), trash it, restart the computer, and start File Sharing.

    Note: It is necessary that the saved file be titled "AppleShare PDS" exactly and that the file is saved directly to the root level of the volume(s) in question. Saving the file "AppleShare PDS" to the desktop or any other folder and then trying to move it to the root level of the volume(s) will not work correctly.

    IMPORTANT: Deleting the AppleShare PDS file removes all access privileges assigned to folders. You will need to reassign access privileges to the folders.

    7) Restart the computer.

    8) Turn file sharing on. New AppleShare PDS files will be created and file sharing status should change from "starting up" to "on" after a short period of time.

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: System 7.0x-7.1.x
Sub Category: Troubleshooting

Copyright © 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.