IMac G3 won't boot - starts in Open Firmware
Hi there, I tried to install Debian PPC Linux on my iMac G3, it didn't install properly and now the machine only boots to Open Firmware. I would like to re-install Mac OS 9, I have the system software disc. Please could someone advise on how best to do? Thank you!!
Is this a tray or slot loading iMac?
I'll assume slot.
I forget what booting into open firmware signifies. :-(
It does seem like a reset situation.
Sometimes if volumes don't appear in Startup Manager (what you get when you hold down the Option key at startup), you need to reset the Mac's PRAM, NVRAM, and Open Firmware. Shut down the Mac, then power it up, and before the screen lights up, quickly hold down the Command, Option, P, and R keys, until the Mac has chimed twice more after the powerup chime. Then, before the screen lights up, hold down Command-Option-O-F until the Open Firmware screen appears. Then enter these lines, pressing Return after each one:
reset-nvram
set-defaults
reset-all
"The reset-all command should restart your Mac. If so, you have successfully reset the Open Firmware settings."
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1812?viewlocale=en_US
How to eject a cd from the internal cd drive:
eject cd
List of devices:
devalias
List of variables:
printenv
( nvram is the equivalent Mac OS X terminal command. )
Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
reset the PMU
http://mrjcd.com/junk/PMU.jpg
for slot loaders.
Try holding down the option key then power on. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your cd. Click on right arrow key.
I have ubuntu 6 .6 lts running on my iMac G3 600. there are some video setting to change.
Robert
Similar Messages
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IMac G3 won't boot after updating the firmware and upgrading the OS!
Hi! Everyone,
I have an iMac G3 333MHz (five flavors) which comes with 192MB of RAM and 6GB of hard drive. Originally, it was OS 8.5.1 installed, later upgraded to OS 9.2.2. Of course, the firmware has been updated by the appropriate method provided by the on-screen instructions before the installation of 9.2.2. After successfully updating the firmware and installing Mac OS 9.2.2, the system booted up and worked fine. However, after shutting it down and powering it up a few days later, I have encountered a critical problem:
1. At first, the iMac would chime and displayed a smiley-mac finder face.
2. No question mark appeared and the system halted because it stayed at the same screen for about 5 minutes! Also, the keyboard wouldn't respond. For instance, the LED signal light wouldn't light on when Caps Lock was pressed.
3. I assumed that this is just a typical crash and rebooted the machine via the "reset" button on the right side of the machine.
4. After restarting, well, no luck, the same condition. Therefore, I rebooted it again by using the method mentioned above.
5. The condition of sticking at the smiley-mac finder face occurred again! However, this time the iMac wouldn't chime and just displayed the mac face.
6. Another restart, well, it was getting worse... no chime and no smiley-mac finder face but a white screen.
7. I was frustrated then and shut the machine down forcefully by rebooting it again and pressing on the power bottom quickly before the screen appears. Also, I unplugged the power cord.
---------- After a few hours later ----------
8. Okay, I then plugged the power cord in and booted it up again, this time, it would chime but stuck at the white screen. => No smiley-mac finder face appeared!
9. Rebooted it again, the result was as same as step 8.
10. Another restart, the smiley-mac face finally appeared but still... stuck here and this time, no chime.
11. I then shut the machine forcefully by using the method mentioned above and let the machine rest for about a day with the power cord unplugged.
---------- After resting for a day ----------
12. I booted it up and it would chime, but no screen (the power button was orange, not green). I then forcefully shut down the machine.
13. Waited for about a minute and powered it up. This time, I tried to clear the PRAM, but no chime and gave me a white screen. => No luck! As mentioned, the keyboard's LED signal light wouldn't light on even though the Caps Lock key has been pressed.
*Note: The keyboard has been tested on the other computers and it worked. Also, I tried different USB ports to plug the keyboard in. => The USB ports were all in working condition， as I can know from the last successful start up.
14. Forcefully shut the machine down and tried to enter the Open firmware, no luck. It didn't enter and gave my a white screen.
15. Conclusion:
1) After resting for a while, the iMac would chime.
2) Rebooting too much times would cause the machine not to chime and leaded the screen to become white instead of the smiley-mac finder face.
3) However, rebooted the machine when the screen became white, the smiley-mac finder face would appear again without chime.
By the way, I could hear the hard disk spinning up so that means the hard disk is working.
Can anyone help me solve this problem? Is it related to the firmware update? Any suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks!
AndyOK, I will try replacing the PRAM battery. Also, the PowerMac G3 and the other iMac 233MHz had the dead batteries. They are still working though... Should I replace them along with the iMac 333MHz? In case of not replacing, will they malfunction in future times? There are some symptoms on this two machines: 1. iMac 233MHz - No chime and no sound when adjusting system volume (the bi sound is not available), but iTunes and other applications can still use the audio device and output the sound via internal speakers; 2. PowerMac G3 450MHz - Will chime but sometimes hard to boot: 1) Chime but no screen; 2) No respond after pressing the power button => the power signal light won't light on. Every time I experienced this, I would open its case, pressing a small button (not quite understand what it does... anyway, just works if system halted.) near the PRAM battery and wait for about a minute, then close the case, and it boots. However, I have to reset "Date & Time"...
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iMac that won't boot up! When power is switched on it chimes, Apple logo appears, then loading bar, then spinning wheel. Bar seems to load up and gets to around 25%, then reverts to the start again, gets to about 20% on the bar and then switches itself off leaving a black screen. Tried all the remedies on internet with no avail so would welcome some advice other than binning what is a relatively new computer. Earliest appointment Apple could offer was Thursday 17th, really useful for a business user _ not impressed,
You've probably tried this, but will it Safe Boot? Restart holding down the Shift key until you see the grey progress bar. You'll need to input your admin password during bootup. If it will boot you can then try to eject the disk using the various suggestions here that you haven't tried already:
http://osxdaily.com/2009/08/28/eject-a-stuck-disk-from-your-mac-dvd-super-drive/
Or this (not tried this myself, but if things are desperate): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7NYW9Dr448 -
27 inch iMac Intel won't boot up. Screen lights up, then shows a flashing file folder w question mark. What can I do to find the problem?
Please readd Apple's trouble shooting steps in Flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
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IMac G5 won't boot from CD drive, Please Help
My iMac G5 won't boot from the CD drive. There is no operating system on the hard drive so I want to install a fresh copy of Leopard. I have tried a couple different methods, but I keep getting the same end result. The first method I tried was booting from the CD drive by holding the C key during start up. The Leopard disc was automatically ejected after about 20-30 seconds. The second method I tried was booting the iMac to the "question mark file screen," which is when I inserted the Leopard disc. Usually on other Mac computers, this is when the computer will show the Apple logo and prompt you with the installation process. Not this iMac, it just ejects the disc shortly after I insert it. I'm not sure if it's the CD drive that is having the issue, the hard drive, or something else.
If you have any ideas, they would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
ChrisWhere did you get the CD from?
If it is from another Mac, it is probably specific to the hardware in that Mac and is not capable of boot your iMac.
Allan -
My iMac g5 won't boot up. The indicator comes on, but the screen stays black. Help!
Looks like you have both an Intel and an older iMac G5 PPC. Do you hear the chime on startup?
The chime is quite meaningful. It means the computer passed the P.O.S.T / Power On Self Test.
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/mac-101-whats-happening-when-your-mac-is-starting -up/
See
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1367 -
Upgrade from snow leopard 10.6.8 to montain lion on a iMac system won't boot getting a crossed out circle
Clean install OS.10.6.8 update it completly. May be you ignored some firmware update.
I have two incedents.
My thunderbolt port stopped working after upgrading to ML 10.8. I booted from external 10.6 , 10.7 still didnt work. Then i clean installed 10.6.8 and ran software update it updated the thunderbolt firmware and all is well now. This firmware update for some reason didnt show up in ML 10.8.
Secondly , when i upgraded my Brother's Macbook from 10.5 to 10.6.3 it would install but stuck with crossed out circle. Then i downgraded checked for update found an efi update , then the 10.6.3 worked fine. -
I have a 2 yr. old 23.5" iMac that won't boot up. Is there a history of power supply failure or mother board failure on these macines?
Have you tried resetting the SMC? Unplug power cord for 15 seconds. Plug back in and then press power button.
Here is the link for info about resetting SMC. -
I have a strange problem.
My 24" iMac 2007 won't boot. It won't boot either from CD/DVD or anything. It will display the white screen with the Apple logo, and the spinning wheel under it, until the spinning wheel will stop spinning. Using my old Linux knowledge, I find that it seems like it freezes on "Login Window Application". Before this happened the iMac would occationally freeze, creating strange wave-patterns across the screen.
I have tried the following:
1) safe mode - same result
2) reset NVRAM - same result
3) single user - I can fix the filesystem, delete loginmanager files - same result
4) boot from Apple CD - same result
Every time the computer hangs, the strange waves will appear on the screen. My guess it is the video card that's causing this - and I need to replace it.
Can anyone give me heads an idea to confirm my suspicion - or to find the real culprit?
regardsOK, thanks, that was a helpful reply.
Somewhere in my browsing, I gathered that any Mac OS install disk would have the AHT. After searching around, I found the CD/DVD.
After extended testing, the AHT says nothing's wrong, but I find two things strange:
1) the AHT tells me that my memory is 1 GB, while it is 2 GB.
2) the AHT tells me nothing about my HDD - as if it's not there.....
I make two conclusions from that; namely that one RAM block is faulty and the HDD is invisible seen from AHT. The latter would stress me immensely, if I hadn't seen the entire drive from single user mode before. There could be some faulty sectors though that would mean that the OS is behaving strangely.
Please advise on hints on where you would go next - anyone? -
Mac won't boot, starts with white apple screen and spinning wheel. Also has grey loading bar which disappears after loaded then stays at white apple screen.
Hi cybertoof,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like you're seeing a startup issue with your Mac, it's booting to a gray screen with an Apple logo. Try the suggestions in the article linked below, they will resolve most issues related to starting up your Mac.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
I hope this helps.
-Jason -
I have an iMac that won't boot up. Chimes, Gray screen w/ apple icon, spinning gear and progress bar at bottom, about 20 sec then shuts off.
Please HelpThe internal drive is malfunctioning. What backups do you have?
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Hi,
Since yesterday morning, I've been unable to boot my iMac into Mac OS. I've left it at the loading screen (apple logo + spinning wheel) for up to 2 hours, and it still won't boot. Tried restarting this several times, and nothing.
This morning I've started trying to find other solutions: I've tried to boot in safe mode (accepted the command, but still not getting beyond spinning wheel), I've tried the Apple Hardware Test (everything was fine, apparently), and I've reset the Parameter Ram (again, the command was accepted and the mac rebooted with the 2nd start-up chime, but not getting beyond the spinning wheel).
I also started in Verbose mode and it seemed to be hanging around the line: 'Warning - com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport declares no kernel dependencies; using com.apple.kernel.6.0'
Now, the only change that has taken place is that I installed a T-Mobile (UK) broadband USB stick, which worked but this has since been disconnected. I don't know if this has something to do with the problem, but even so, I can't get it booted to remove the software (like I'd do in Windows - sorry, a bit new to macs).
Any suggestions? Tried to call Apple Support, but they don't offer support for iMacs on Sundays!!
Thanks in advance!
Paulunfortunately, the disk repair didn't work.
In what way? It repaired successfully (or didn't find problems), but that didn't solve the problem? Or it failed to repair the disk?
I'm trying archive and install now - I hope that works because I don't want to have to erase (still saving for my Time Machine :[ )
Okay, now you're scaring me... are you saying you don't have any backups? If so, you shouldn't be doing anything until you've got your data backed up, if your problems aren't so severe that they interfere with that. Since you can't get the machine booted, you should boot from the Mac OS X install disk, run Disk Utility, then use the Restore tab to copy data from your hard drive to an external hard drive. -
Need Help with iMac 350 - Won't boot - keyboard or mouse not working!
Hello,
I've scoured the web looking for answers, and can't find any, so maybe someone here would be kind enough to help. I'm working on an imac 350 blueberry for my sister and I'm having all sorts of trouble.
She bought it last week, it started up (8.6 os) no problem. Powered up and down a few times, then all of a sudden, it won't boot. I'm currently getting blinking folder/happymac/question mark when trying to start up.
Here's the big problem - the keyboard and mouse do not work now. I've tried three different mice and three keyboards and no dice with any of them. I have the 8.6 CD from her previous imac (bondi), and I can hear it spinning, but there is no way to start up from cd.
I've also tried 2 other hard drives with the same results.
Tried resetting CUDA on logic board, taking out battery, no change. Bought new battery- no change.
I would love to at least get the keyboard working to see if I can even startup from cd, anyone have any clues on how to get it working? The strange thing is that the keyboard has a power on button, and it works to start the thing up, but dies when it tries to boot. Sometimes I just get a grey screen with the pointer icon, and I can move the pointer with the mouse for a second or two, then no response.
I appreciate any help or suggestions on locating the issues!
Thank you!When I said "but dies when it tries to boot" and "..then no response." I meant that the keyboard works to power up the computer, but won't work for anything else. So, I am figuring that the usb ports are supplying power to the keyboard and mouse, but the usb ports aren't relaying information from the keyboard or mouse.
How do you know the mouse isn't working? Won't you have to wait until later in the boot to tell?
The poweron key is a special case. I think that it works by lowering/changing the voltage on one of the usb cables. I read about this somewhere. Anyway, this function was eliminated from later usb keyboards and macs. Maybe a working power button doesn't mean what you think.
I would love to boot into open firmware
Could you try powering up from the machine? Is there a power button on the lower right of the machine?
Have you tried this key combo?
commandoption+of
The letters are in lower case. Hold all down then poweron the machine. I'd poweron from the machine as apposed to the keyboard.
You could try another usb keyboard.
We actually did boot up the computer several times with it upside down. Not for any reason, except it's become a real PIA to flip it over every two minutes to start it, then take it apart and boot again. When booting either upside down or right side up it shows the same thing - blinking folder w/finder icon and question mark.
Yes, I agree. You could try removing the clear plastic around the bottom of the machine. At least you will not have to slide in the carriage. Note. The tv portion will still be surrounded by plastic! Don't remove the plastic around the tv!
Hope I am not interfering with Richard and his comments.
Richard: Is this the orginal keyboard? When did Apple get rid of the poweron key from the keyboard? My iMac 600 didn't have the key and my iMac 233 does.
Robert
Robert -
Imac g5 won't boot from any Cd/DVD
Hey,
New member here.
I have an Imac 20" 1.8 Ghz PowerPC G5, running Mac OS X 10.4.9.
My problem is my computer won't boot from from any DVD or Cd, not the original system disc (10.3.5), not from a newer Imac system disc (10.4.7), not from a Disc Warrior 3.03 disc.
What I get from the Disc Warrior disc is a gray screen with white letters backed in black, saying
"panic (cpu 0 caller 0xooze49do): unable to find driver for this platform: "powermac8,1""
Plus other stuff written underneath it, looking like a log of how far it went.
When I try to boot from the original 10.3.5 DVD, it does boot up but doesn't work after that - it gets to the language to choose and stops.
When I try to boot from the 10.4.7 DVD, I get the gray screen, same results as the Disc Warrior cd.
I even copied my system folder (10.4.9) onto a firwire drive and start from that, but I get the gray screen again.
I zapped the pram, and reset the Open Firmware - still no dice.
Can anybody shed some light on this?!?
Many thanks!
RufmanjTo Apple Discussions.
Please check out the following thread which the original posted had the same error you had.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=4459207#4459207
You may find some helpful troubleshooting solutions in the above thread.
Make absolutly sure you are using the "DVDs" that originally came with the computer.
Also, see Knowledge Base Article; http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106805 Mac OS X: "Broken folder" icon, prohibitory sign, or kernel panic when computer starts -
IMac G4 won't boot, go into target mode, or verbose, or single-user.
Hi, I am completely flummoxed.
Yesterday I had my iMac G4 networked (via FireWire cable) to my MacBook Pro. I was copying about 14 GB of data from the MBP to the G4. The MBP indicated the copy operation was finished, but the G4 went into a spinning beachball, from which I could not escape -- couldn't force-quit, change applications, open terminal, or anything. So I (reluctantly) did a hard power-down.
When I went to restart the G4, I got a grey screen of death -- for about 2 minutes. Then the screen goes black for a second, then goes grey again, this time with the alternating folder-and-question-mark icon. Bad news.
Here is what I have tried so far:
* Won't boot into target mode -- if I hold down T at startup, the screen stays black (never gets to the grey screen, or to the FireWire icon).
* Won't boot into single-user or verbose mode -- if I hold down cmd-S or cmd-V, computer stays grey.
* Won't boot in safe mode -- ditto.
So my next idea was to try booting from a startup disk. But how to open the optical drive tray? (This is a tray-loader, not a slot-loader.) I pulled down the white external door manually, but do not see an emergency open pinhole inside. But there must be one, right?
Does anybody have any other ideas on how I can break into this thing, or what might have gone wrong with it?So my next idea was to try booting from a startup disk. But how to open the optical drive tray? (This is a tray-loader, not a slot-loader.) I pulled down the white external door manually, but do not see an emergency open pinhole inside. But there must be one, right?
I'm not at a G4 iMac right now, but other tray-load drives of that generation had a hole but ti's very low in the opening. Probably need a good light to see it.
Try starting the computer and holding the mouse button down while it's trying to boot. This is a startup shortcut to open the drive but may require that the system start to load, something with which yours is obviously struggling.
Does the iMac have the original Apple keyboard? Some third-party keyboards may not support the startup combos for safe mode, single-user, etc.
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