G3 will not recognize Keyboard C key on boot

Question

I have 1999 G3 with 128M Ram running OS9X. I wanted to upgrade to OSX 2.4 and reformatted 12G drive to 2 partions, 8G and 4G. I did not read install notes and started install OSX on 8G partion and went away for a while. When I returned, had just gray screen with no keyboard or mouse response. Rebooted with processor reset key and now have gray screen with blinking folder question mark. After reading discussions, tried various key combos and nothing is recognized except Pram reset. Cannot boot from CD as C key not recognized. Now what?

Answer 1

We're obviously not dealing with an installation issue, but with a hardware issue. Whatever the issue may be I feel confident that it was not caused by the installation of Jaguar to an 8 GB partition. So, I believe that we can rule that out for the moment.
It may well be that we are dealing with a faulty keyboard, although that is by no means certain. However, it is the easiest part of the hardware to troubleshoot by simply trying a different keyboard. The OP reports that the keyboard is unresponsive and only resetting the PRAM worked. However, since that works, one wonders why other keyboard commands don't. In any case, it would be easiest to try a different keyboard, if one were available.
The 12 GB internal HDD to which the OP is attempting installation is the original HDD which came with the computer over 10 years ago. It may well be that the HDD has outlived it's useful life. This is a more likely scenario than a faulty keyboard since we know that these drives have an average life of about 5 years. The OP reports that during or after the installation operation something happened so that when the OP returned to the computer
just gray screen with no keyboard or mouse response. Rebooted with processor reset key and now have gray screen with blinking folder question mark.
This has the appearance of a failed installation. Note that the keyboard could not have caused a failed installation since the keyboard was instrumental in getting the installation started and would not have had an active role in the installation process after that. Nor could the installation have caused the keyboard to fail, as far as I can figure. The internal HDD might have, though. Thus, my first inclination would be to replace the internal HDD and try the installation again.
Of course, there may be other hardware issues that prevent booting, or makes the keyboard seem unresponsive. I do not have a B/W, nor am I familiar with the hardware to venture a guess. However, I have seen a number of topics that suggest that there might be peculiarities about the hardware. Besides, the hardware is old enough that it may have components acting up. Thus my suggestion to post in a forum where users who are familiar with the hardware and may have seen similar issues have an opportunity to consider and comment on the issue.
cornelius