IMac wont start

Question

wheneve I start up the iMac G3, it just shows a gray screen. After awhile it shows a folder with the 2-faces-in-one logo on it in the center of the screen. it doesn't let me click on it or anything, and I dont know what its for. Also, if i start it up and hold down option, it shows 2 arrows- one pointing to the right and one going in a circle, and then the cursor is just a clock that spins and it doesn't stop. I tried starting from the OS 9 install disc but that didn't do anything, and I tried pressing command-option-p-r (which rebooted it), but that didn't seem to do anything. I can't get to anything. Can anybody help?

Answer 1

Hi Poo
The Picasso face - which I'm also assuming alternates with a question mark - indicates that the mac cannot find a valid system folder to start up from.
If you hold down the Option key on start-up you are telling the mac to look for any valid system folders and then to offer you the choice of which to use.
As it can't find one during the normal sequence, it's not likely to find one using that method either.
You will have to give it one.
In this situation (which is not that uncommon) the normal way is to stick a system CD in the drive and then to hold down the C key as soon as the Bong happens and keep holding it down until you get a smiley face.
Once the system is started you have to decide what to do next. Often it's just a case of repairing directories and then things are back to normal. Sometimes (but not very often) you may find that reinstalling the sytsem is required (don't go erasing the drive to do it though).
If you do get it started from the CD (which should be cery straightforward), have a look at the system folder (OS9 I'm assuming) and look to see if it has the Picasso face on it - or is it just a plain folder?
If it's the plain folder do this.
Open the system folder and locate a file called System. (It WILL have the Picasso face). Take the file out of the system folder and put it on the desktop.
Now close the system folder. In one quick motion, take the Picasso face from the desktop and drop it onto the CLOSED system folder. Do it quickly so that the system folder doesn't open as you mouse over it.
After a moment, the blank system folder icon will change to that of a folder with a Picasso face embedded in it.
Now close the HD and restart the Mac.
Post back and tell us what happens.