IMac freezes at login screen for file server

Question

The machine: iMac (lampshade), OS 10.3.9
The symptom: During the boot/login sequence, the machine locks up at the login screen to the file server.
If I disconnect the network cable during the boot sequence, it will error but not freeze; I can later reconnect the cable and login without a problem.
Any ideas?
James

Answer 1

You may want to look at this similar post:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=690609&#690609
Heres what Mac Help said.
Open System Preferences and click Startup Disk.
If necessary, click the lock icon and type the name and password for an administrator user.
Click the icon of the system folder or system volume that you want to use, then click Restart.
IMPORTANT: When selecting a network startup volume, be sure you select a valid network startup volume and not a network install image. Choosing a network install image reinstalls your system software and may erase the contents of your hard disk. A standard network volume icon appears as a globe and Mac OS X system folder. When you select a network volume icon, a message appears in the Startup pane describing the volume. A network install icon appears as a globe with downward pointing green arrow.
Another way to select a startup disk is to hold down the Option key as you restart your computer. You'll see the available startup disks and can select one.
If your computer is on a network and a network startup volume is available, you can start up from the network startup volume by holding down the N key as you restart your computer.