O/S CD That came with system does not start...I get grey screen with

[geekgal]

The Original OS CD that came with the G#3 Mac I have does not start... the problem started when the hard drive did not boot... as it should. I get a grey screen with a small yellow folder flashing ? and a face...over and over again. I can hear the hard drive spin and I can also hear something going on in the CD player...but I can't get the CD to boot while pressing "C". What am I doing wrong??? Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[macgeneral]

Well it's certainly possible you've got something toasted on the motherboard of that machine.... if while depressing the "C" key and rebooting the cd doesn't launch the OS you've got a serious issue, not one that's going to go away on it's own or cheaply I suspect.

Is this a b/w G3 tower?

Give a little more info about your system and we'll see what we can do together on this one. If the CD drive will not launch that limits our choices.

Address and hardware upgrades, RAM additions, new Hard Drive, etc. Also it's usually a good idea to post the OS you "were" running and the MHz of your processor.

MacGeneral

 

[geekgal]

Sorry, I'm fairly new to Mac systems...the version is 9.1 or 9.01.. I got the system from a friend of a friend. Never owned a mac before. I am fairly skilled rebuilding PC's and the like.... never have worked on a Mac system before. There is a external floppy drive. Is there something I can do with the floppy to get more info about the HD or mainboard??? Yes I think it is a B/W G3 (I know for sure it's a G3). How can I determine the B/W part and what does that stand for? It's Blue, a very pretty blue....all I know really. IF the MB is toast..can I get a replacement board and rebuild or is it trash? Thanks for any help given.

 

[Ecaboodle]

You should really use the CD's that first came with the Apple Mac if you want to rebuild it.

For just the folder to be flashing when you reboot, or try to boot. I don't think it is MB, because it is understanding that it is looking for something to boot from.

I would open up the case and check that all the cables are sitted right. Checking the CD and HDD are plugged in. Have you tried unplugging the floppy. I have know USB devices on G3's to stop the machine from booting up. If you can't fix it in 20 minutes call someone who can.

 

[geekgal]

I have checked all cables and tried to boot with and also without the floppy drive attached. I get only the folder flashing everytime. Any suggestions why this is happening? Or what could be wrong? I am using the original CD's that came with this system. It's as though the CD and HD an not detecting.... IS there a floppy disk I can try??? THanks for any help given.

 

[macgeneral]

Sorry Geekgal that it's taken me so long to get back to you on this.

I have a few thoughts, some of which I do not care to post on this sight...

In the meantime...

Visually examine the surface of the CD's you are trying to start up from. If it's badly scratched or marred, it's possible the drive is too finicky to read it.

The B/W refers to "Blue and White". Sounds like the machine you are referring to. A blue tower with a hinged side panel for accessing the guts? Make sure the drive cables are properlly seated. Open the panel towrd you and the drive should sit in the right hand corner. This should be easy to do. Two cables...

You also want to reset the PRAM. Apple tech article located at

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

.
Basically start the machine (from power "off&quot holding down OPTION-APPLE-P-R keys. Five startup chimes, then release.

You can also reset the CUDA chip on the motherboard though I would try this mostly in a "will not power on" scenario rather than a flashing question mark scenario.
We can discuss this further if need be. You'll see the CUDA reset button(s) on the motherborad between the heat sink and hte clock battery.

Hope this helps...
MacGeneral

 

[macgeneral]

GeekGal,

Are you up and running with your G3 yet?

MacGeneral