imac dv 400 - rebuild?

[MasterofNone]

new to imac (infact only helping out a friend) but she has a imac dv 400. When she tries to boot up she just gets a prompt and powermac2 bootrom indicated at the top. After typing mac-boot she just gets an icon in the middle of the screen with a flashing ?.

Don't know any imac commands so not sure what to do with the commandline.

Tried booting whilst holding C and no joy. Also there doesn't appear to be a delete button on her keyboard so can't use command+shift+option+delete (also is the ctrl key the command key??)

any ideas gratefully received

 

[jimoblak]

When you Tried booting whilst holding C and no joy, did you have a System CD in the computer? Holding the C key is done to boot from the system CD.

The flashing icon indicates that the system folder on the Mac is screwy and needs a freshening. Only a system CD will help here.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[Zelandakh]

try command option (alt and apple) p and r. do it 3 times in a row and listen for the bong each time. then allow it to boot and see if your pram is fault.

 

[kjwoo]

You are booting into OpenFirmware, so you can find quite a bit of information on what's going on.

A handy command (among others) is 'printenv' -- this will show you a list of environment variables. The one you're looking for is 'boot-device', if I remember correctly.

If that is empty or looks malformed (it should start with 'ide' or 'ultra' and end in 'tbxi'), it may need to be reset.

Note that 'printenv' shows two columns -- the active configuration and the saved configuration. If the active configuration is botched, it is fairly straightforward to revert to the saved configuration.

Ample documentation on OpenFirmware exists on the 'net -- just check your favourite search engine. Note also that Macs are not the only machines that use it, so be sure to get a Mac-specific manual.

Cheers,

~kj

 

[MasterofNone]

Right, still no joy.

The printenv command showed that the boot-device was set to hd (should/how can this be changed to cd).

Had the system cd in the computer and booted holding c.... no joy. used the dir cd:,\ command and yes it is the system disc.

Now clasping at straws. Read on the net about boot holding ALT for a choice and yes this brings up a desktop type enviroment with a HD icon, a CD Icon a ronded arrow and a rh facing arrow. clicked cd and pressed arrow, booted into firmware. Tried highlighting HD and clicking arrow, again booted into firmware.

Anybody have any ideas??? or is the system dead???