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#1 2007-12-29 2:22 pm
- Deadmanwalking
- Not Dead Yet
- From: Kansas City
- Registered: 2001-04-12
- Posts: 2682
G3 iMac bootup problems
I inherited a G3/400 DV SE iMac. When it boots up I get the flashing question mark folder, the CD drive does not work and spits out discs. I tried using a external firewire HD and still get a question mark on startup. I'm not too sure what else to do besides getting an external CD drive and booting off from a CD there. Any other suggestions?
"I told you 158 times I cannot stand little notes on my pillow. 'We are out of corn flakes, F.U.' It took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Unger."- Walter Matthau, The Odd Couple
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Stack it!#3 2007-12-29 6:20 pm
- Funkey Monkey
- Il Maestro spettacolare
- From: On the podium.
- Registered: 2003-01-27
- Posts: 1467
- Website
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
The option key won't work.... I think. That's only for "new world" ROMs, which started after the B&W G3s.
LIkewise, I'm pretty sure that booting off an external FW drive isn't supported on G3 iMacs.
I have a 233 mHz G3 imac with a fussy CD-ROM drive, too. Sometimes I have to shove discs back in there a dozen times before the computer will boot off 'em.
I'm sorry to be a harbinger of such doom 'n' gloom. You might have some success if you can install the iMac's HD into a different computer, re-install OS 9 or X on it (up to 10.4) and then put it back into the iMac. I've done that with success.
I've also found that my 233 mHz iMac runs XUbuntu linux very well.
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#4 2007-12-29 6:43 pm
- Pariah
- James Carville Fan..
- From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
- Registered: 2001-05-24
- Posts: 18406
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
Often old CD drives stop reading disks because the optics have accumulated crud on them. Get one of those cleaner CDs with the little hairs on them that wipe the optics. It very well may solve your problem.
"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
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#5 2007-12-29 7:23 pm
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16030
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
I always thought they were just being bitchy.
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#6 2007-12-29 9:49 pm
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
Pariah wrote:
Often old CD drives stop reading disks because the optics have accumulated crud on them. Get one of those cleaner CDs with the little hairs on them that wipe the optics. It very well may solve your problem.
Indeed however over time cleaning becomes less and less effective.
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#7 2007-12-29 11:09 pm
- Deadmanwalking
- Not Dead Yet
- From: Kansas City
- Registered: 2001-04-12
- Posts: 2682
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
The person who gave it to me said she had brought it in to some place and they told her the drive would need to be replaced and cost $300! 
I just want to get it working for my mom so she can use it for her antique stuff ie inputting stuff on Appleworks
"I told you 158 times I cannot stand little notes on my pillow. 'We are out of corn flakes, F.U.' It took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Unger."- Walter Matthau, The Odd Couple
KKFI 90.1 Community Radio, Now Streaming.
Big Smitty, Brother In Law's Band
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#8 2007-12-29 11:34 pm
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
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#9 2007-12-29 11:48 pm
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
Funkey Monkey wrote:
The option key won't work.... I think. That's only for "new world" ROMs, which started after the B&W G3s.
LIkewise, I'm pretty sure that booting off an external FW drive isn't supported on G3 iMacs.
I could do both on my iMac DV 400. The DV SE 400 was the same system with larger hard drive & grey case.
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#10 2007-12-30 8:36 am
Re: G3 iMac bootup problems
I'm having similar problems – found this on the net
http://www.capecodgraphics.com/imac_firmware.htm
Useful startup tricks
These may help you diagnose and fix various problems with your iMac, including the firmware-related problems described here. Usually you should keep holding down the key or key combination until you see evidence that it has had an effect. Note that not all of these work on early firmware versions or on all early iMacs.
Extensions off: hold down <SHIFT> during startup to boot without extensions
System picker: hold down <Option> during power-on if you want to select which of the installed operating systems to boot
Rebuild desktop: hold down <Apple> <Option>
Eject CD: hold down mouse button during power-on
Boot OS X: hold down "x" to boot OS X (if installed)
Boot from CD: hold down "c"
PRAM reset: hold down <Option> <Apple> <p> <r> on startup and wait for the second chime before releasing. Warning! Do not try to reset the PRAM on a slot-loading iMac which has pre-4.1.9 firmware and has had an encounter with OS X, as this is likely to lead to symptom S4.
Open firmware mode: hold down <Option> <Apple> <o> <f> to enter open firmware mode on startup. This is the best way of finding out your firmware (Boot ROM) version. Make a note of the build version and date (4.1.9f1 BootROM Built on 09/14/01 is the latest). Type "mac-boot" without the quotes to continue with a normal bootup.
FireWire target disk mode: hold down "t"
Force power off: hold the main power button for a few seconds
Based on the findings of the report, my conclusion was that this idea was not a practical deterrent for reasons which at this moment must be all too obvious.
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