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TICKET ARCHIVE -> G3/500 Imac, Can't Load Os.
vnzppr - Jun 27, 2005 - 11:28 pm
I've got a G3/500 iMac, 256MB RAM with a 30G hard drive. The firmware version is 4.1.9. I bought the machine with no drive and no memory (so much for good deals). Pulled a good drive out of a G4 AGP machine and installed 256MB OWC memory purchased new. Here's the problem... I've initialized the drive but cannot get a 9.2 disk to install without the finder quitting right away. I get some very strange video too if I try to install OSX... broken words, various verticle and horizontal lines... sometimes some odd colors too. I tried installing a "loaded" drive and the machine will boot up, albeit slowly. The longer I work with it and the warmer the machine gets the more sluggish and crazy things become. In fact after about five minutes I start getting "quit and re-start" messages and nothing will cooperate after this point. I'm not sure where to start with this thing but I'm not afraid to tear it down as I've become pretty good at this sort of thing. I'm just not sure if I should be chasing down a main board problem or something on the video side. I'm open to just about anything but I really would like to fix this little beast. Thank you.
Rod Hagen - Jun 28, 2005 - 7:00 am
Mmm.
1) Are you sure about the firmware version installed?
2) what format did you initialise the internal HD in? HFS+ or something else?
3) Have you tried "zapping" the PRAM (hold down command option p r while starting up the computer.
4) what happens if you boot from a CD? Can diskfirst aid (OS9) or Disk Utility (OSX 10,2 or later) "see" the drive? If they can, do they report errrors when you attempt to repair the internal HD?
Cheers
Rod
1) Are you sure about the firmware version installed?
2) what format did you initialise the internal HD in? HFS+ or something else?
3) Have you tried "zapping" the PRAM (hold down command option p r while starting up the computer.
4) what happens if you boot from a CD? Can diskfirst aid (OS9) or Disk Utility (OSX 10,2 or later) "see" the drive? If they can, do they report errrors when you attempt to repair the internal HD?
Cheers
Rod
vnzppr - Jun 28, 2005 - 10:32 am
Hi Rod... thanks for the reply.
1)This whole problem revealed itself when I tried to load OS9
so I could check/upgrade the firmware version. I can rarely
boot-up with a system disk, OS9.2, without the finder quit-
ting. I ultimately installed the hard drive in a G4 Power-
Mac, installed OS9 and re-installed the drive in the G3. I
was able to start the machine once and the "profile" said
that my firmware version was 4.1.9. I really don't know if
this was accurate. As the machine warmed up it became more
difficult to do anything at all, including a boot-up. The
error messages were continual (restart-restart-restart!).
2)Drive has been formatted HFS+ or "extended", depending on
which utility I am using.
3)I have tried PRAM "zapping" a number of times. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference though. The longer the machine runs the more problematic it becomes.
4)If I can get as far as the disk utility(OSX) or disk first aid(OS9) I can "see" the drive. I've tried a "permissions repair" and a "restore" but it doesn't seem to help either. I've also tried setting the G3 as my "target" drive and doing disk repair with my G4 PowerBook. Still no help. Also tried CC-Cloning from a good working iMac to this one with no appreciable difference in performance. I've also
tried pulling the hard drive out of this same "good-running" iMac and installing it into my "problem child" iMac (essentially the same machines) but I continue to have the same problems with boot-up and continuity.
1)This whole problem revealed itself when I tried to load OS9
so I could check/upgrade the firmware version. I can rarely
boot-up with a system disk, OS9.2, without the finder quit-
ting. I ultimately installed the hard drive in a G4 Power-
Mac, installed OS9 and re-installed the drive in the G3. I
was able to start the machine once and the "profile" said
that my firmware version was 4.1.9. I really don't know if
this was accurate. As the machine warmed up it became more
difficult to do anything at all, including a boot-up. The
error messages were continual (restart-restart-restart!).
2)Drive has been formatted HFS+ or "extended", depending on
which utility I am using.
3)I have tried PRAM "zapping" a number of times. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference though. The longer the machine runs the more problematic it becomes.
4)If I can get as far as the disk utility(OSX) or disk first aid(OS9) I can "see" the drive. I've tried a "permissions repair" and a "restore" but it doesn't seem to help either. I've also tried setting the G3 as my "target" drive and doing disk repair with my G4 PowerBook. Still no help. Also tried CC-Cloning from a good working iMac to this one with no appreciable difference in performance. I've also
tried pulling the hard drive out of this same "good-running" iMac and installing it into my "problem child" iMac (essentially the same machines) but I continue to have the same problems with boot-up and continuity.
Rod Hagen - Jun 28, 2005 - 8:29 pm
Sounds like you have already tried just about everything I would have done myself, Eric.
I guess you have probably already tried a PMU reset? See http://mrjcd.com/junk/PMU.jpg if you haven't.
If you haven't already tried it "zeroing" the drive , rather than simply erasing, would be a normal step in troubleshooting something like this, but you have already tried a known good drive.
If you don't have a copy already you might want to take a look through the relevant iMac manual. You should be able to find a free downloadable copy at http://www.whoopis.com/computer_repair/#new
Some Imacs exhibit all sorts of weird problems simply because of a flat battery. PRAM simply continues to corrupt (not just reset) on every restart. THis is unlikely to be the issue in your case, but it might be worth at least checking the voltage.
The most probable explanation though, to me, sounds like a power supply issue, with a transformer that has deteriorated to a point where it can't supply the necessary juice when it heats up.
Cheers
Rod
I guess you have probably already tried a PMU reset? See http://mrjcd.com/junk/PMU.jpg if you haven't.
If you haven't already tried it "zeroing" the drive , rather than simply erasing, would be a normal step in troubleshooting something like this, but you have already tried a known good drive.
If you don't have a copy already you might want to take a look through the relevant iMac manual. You should be able to find a free downloadable copy at http://www.whoopis.com/computer_repair/#new
Some Imacs exhibit all sorts of weird problems simply because of a flat battery. PRAM simply continues to corrupt (not just reset) on every restart. THis is unlikely to be the issue in your case, but it might be worth at least checking the voltage.
The most probable explanation though, to me, sounds like a power supply issue, with a transformer that has deteriorated to a point where it can't supply the necessary juice when it heats up.
Cheers
Rod
vnzppr - Jun 28, 2005 - 9:48 pm
Power supply... there's a thought. Let me check that out and I'll let you know what I find. Thanks Rod.
Eric
Eric
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