Strange lack of startup on original iMac

Ok, this may be a little old but.... I have an original (Bondi) iMac and it won't start up. I just have the icon folder with a blinking system icon/question mark. I can boot up off a CD, anything from 8.6 to 9.2 and it initializes and installs just fine. However same problem comes up, it won't boot up after installing. Now here's where it gets weird... if I throw in a CD and wait until the blinking stops and then pop out the CD it will continue to boot up, but off the Hard Disk. I am totally lost here, I've tried zapping the PRAM, and I'm not sure what else to do... Any suggestions?

Well, I gave that a shot, but to no avail, still just a blinking icon

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Transferring files from original imac AND external CD for old imac

I have an original iMac that has tons of files on it I would like to save. I created a LOT of materials when I was teaching and they are all on the old iMac. It also has two games I bought on floppy discs that I would really like to keep. I tried to load files on a Passport, but the iMac won't recognize it. I have two other old iMacs (not quite originals) as well, but they won't take the Passport either. They will both take a flash drive. I can take word processing files (I can't even remember the application at the moment) off the older one and convert them to Apple Works on the other one, then take the converted files to our iMac 9.1 and convert them to Pages. Then I put them on the Passport. It is a pain, but at least it works. I can also save the documents as pdfs and put them directly on the newer iMac and copy and paste in a Pages document.
The original iMac does not lend itself to any of this. What is the best way to transfer files? It seems like a very long time ago I tried to connect it to my newer iMac with an Ethernet cable but it wouldn't accept the cable. If I am remembering correctly I called Apple Support and they said it lacked something that would allow it to connect. I do not remember if I have tried a flash drive on it or not. I believe I did and it would not recognize it.
Also, does anyone know how I can manage to save a copy of the games? Since I bought them on floppies I can't reinstall them if something happens, but I believe it is within the law to make a backup copy. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. I do have an external floppy reader for the original iMac, but it only works on user created floppies, not commercial ones. If I can manage to hook up to a flash drive or another computer and I simply save the game application, will that be enough? Or is it not possible to know until I try? Will saving the application get all the necessary files?
My second question concerns the newer (but still really old) iMacs. My daughter would love to play some of the games she used to play on them, but the CD drives do not work. Does anyone know where I can get an external CD drive that we can attach to these old iMacs so she can enjoy her games? The computers work fine; she just can't insert the CDs, because it's next to impossible to get them out again.
I believe on the "newer" two we are running OS 9, at least on one of them. I do not recall the OS on the original, but it is whatever it came with. OS 8, perhaps? It has been probably half a year since we fired it up.
I appreciate any advice and help anyone can give me. We really like these old iMacs, which is why we still have three of them. If we can save the files off the original iMac, we would still keep it so we could play our two old games from time to time. :-) I would part with one of the other old iMacs, but I really need to get the files first, and since it won't take a Passport I'm wondering if I'm stuck putting files a few at a time on a flash drive. Do you think it would take an ethernet cable? It seems like I tried to connect to my newer iMac but I couldn't get the computers to recognize each other. I followed all the steps for sharing, but I still couldn't get it to work.
Thank you so much.

Have you formatted the Western Digital Passport drive as a Mac OS Extended (HFS+) volume, or is it factory-formatted for PCs? If the oldest iMac is only running OS 8, it can't recognize HFS+ volumes. It was OS 8.1 that introduced that feature. Additionally, the version of the USB support files (which is somewhat OS-dependent) on the iMacs hard drives affects what will or will not be recognized by those older computers. With each successive release of the USB Adapter Support, the database of supported devices was broadened. The easiest way to transfer the contents of the iMac's hard drive is to physically remove it from the computer and connect a USB-to-IDE adapter directly to it. These adapters come with an external power supply to provide the 12 & 5 volts needed to power the drive. The data connection block is designed to fit either a 3.5" hard drive or the smaller 2.5" laptop drive, as well as newer drives that connect via SATA. It has an included USB cable that connects to a standard USB port, enabling direct reading/writing/file transfers from the hard drive to the computer to which it's connected. These adapters are not Mac-specific in terms of design, so you can buy one at a PC store and use it. For the purpose of identifying such an adapter, here's one that's often recommended in these Forums, carried by Other World Computing. As I mentioned, this adapter is not platform-specific, so you can buy/use a less expensive one sold by PCs stores. I bought one for $15 from Micro Center (PC store), and it has worked with Macs and PCs. As for removing the hard drive from the old iMac - and I assume that it's one of the original models with a tray-loading optical drive (as opposed to the slightly newer ones that have a slot-loading optical drive), you can find directions for accomplishing that if you do a web search. The link that I had for one site (that was good for years) is no longer valid. The iMacs that have a problem ejecting disks are undoubtedly slot-loading models. There are two wide rubber rollers inside those optical drives that grip the disk to pull it in or feed it out. Over time, the rubber dries out, causing the rollers to lose their natural gripping capabilities. If those iMacs have a FireWire port on the side, I'd suggest an external FireWire optical drive. Today, the only type you'll find is a DVD±RW drive, which is more than you need for your intended purpose. A basic CD-ROM drive isn't manufactured/sold anymore. Other World Computing has a few FireWire optical drives, but their least expensive model sells for about $100. Obviously, that costs more than the value of the entire iMac at this point, but the drive will also have USB connectivity as well. You may find other uses for it with your other computers (Macs & PCs), especially if they don't have a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, or DVD±RW drive. As for transferring a program itself, there could be other associated files. You'd want to check the Extensions and Control Panels folders for any that are named to likely indicate being a part of the program's installed files. The Preferences folder will probably have a file that has saved game settings, but a new one would be created when you run the program in another supported computer. Depending on the age of the program - and you indicated that it was on floppy disks - its compatibility with newer, pre-OS X releases might be limited. The external USB floppy drive that you use with the older iMac should read commercial floppy disks, but it will not recognize the older 800K (Double-Density) Mac-formatted floppy disks. They're disks that typically format as 720K floppies in a PC, but the variable-speed FDD in older Power Macs was able to fit an extra 80K of data onto those disks. A standard 720K "PC" floppy disk should be read by that drive, but it can't recognize an 800K "Mac" disk. A 720K/800K Double-Density floppy disk only has the slide-lock hole at one corner, while a High-Density (1.44 MB) floppy disk has an additional hole at the opposite corner to differentiate it from the older type.

I have an original iMac running on 10.4.11. I am kicked off the internet because it is asking for a Keychain password - I do not have a keychain password.

I have an original iMac running on 10.4.11. Suddenly I could not sign on to my browser, although I was connected to the internet - with 4 bars. I would get signed on and then get kicked off because Safari was requesting a Keychain password. I never used keychain so did not have a password.
Eventually i tried to reload the original software, but am niow unable to get the computer restarted and startup disk is in the machine. I have tried to start by holding down the "C" key, but after the apple comes on it reverts to a "Darwin message"

Try holding down the option key then power on. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your hd. Click on right arrow key.
What does the darwin mesage say?
Run hardware test.
The orginal iMac had a 15inch crt screen.
To eject the dvd.
power off your machine. hold down your left mouse button. power on your machine. This should eject the cd.
Eject cd
Here is a web page on twelve ways to eject the cd.
http://www.osxfaq.com/dailytips/01-2003/01-16.ws
On a PowerPC-based Macintosh (but not an Intel-based Macintosh), you may use Open Firmware to eject a CD or DVD disc when normal methods for ejecting it have not succeeded.
Immediately after the startup sound, press and hold the key combination Command-Option-o-f. Enter commands:
eject cd
mac-boot
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106752

Where can I get an EPSON printer for the original iMac?

Where can I get an EPSON printer for the original iMac?

You should look for an Epson Stylus Color 740 or the higher-end 900 or 980, which are about 12 years old now. All have USB connectivity, and while the 900/980 is a better/faster printer, it's harder to find the ink tanks for it at the usual office supply stores. Ink tanks for the 740 series seem to be more readily available, without a special order. There were Mac versions of these printers (the 740i and 900i), with blue/ice housings that were color-keyed to match the fruit-colored "blueberry" iMac and Blue & White G3 mini-tower. There was no Epson printer that was color-keyed to the original Bondi Blue iMacs.

Shared photos/videos not appearing in streams on originating imac, only icloud icon

I share pictures and photos to icloud from Aperture 3.5.1. The photos and videos are available on other devices that share the same icloud stream, but in Aperture on the originating imac, when I look in the "icloud" section at the photo streams, I see the streams, as named by me, but I don't see the actual shared photos oir videos, only an icloud icon. Again, the other devices see the streams and photos fine. Only on the originating imac is there a problem. If I share a photo or video from one of the other devices onto icloud, the imac can access the item with no problem. It's only this one aspect of sharing from the imac that's giving me problems. Any insight?

since the png I attached no longer shows up, here is the image again

HT3964 Hi folks, I own am IMac 27" running OS X 10.8.2. The optical drive has stopped working in that it accepts the disc but spits the CD, DVD even my original iMac install DVD back out, after attempting to read the disc. Any of you kind folks any ideas?

Hi folks, I own am IMac 27" running OS X 10.8.2. The optical drive has stopped working in that it accepts the disc but spits the CD, DVD even my original iMac install DVD back out, after attempting to read the disc. Any of you kind folks any ideas?

Have you tried one of those CD cleaning Discs yet?
Have you done a PRAM reset, CMD+Option+p+r...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
In fact, do 3 in a row, takes a bit of time.

How can I eliminate the annoying sound effect at startup on my iMac?

How can I eliminate that annoying sound effect during the startup on my iMac?

Sorry about high-jacking your thread! Just occasionally some of us lapse into humour to keep sane.
Please post back if you don't feel you have had a proper reply to your question.

Aperture and original iMac G5

I have an original iMac G5 (1.8GHz) from 2004. I just download the Aperture hardware test app from Apple and was really disappointed that it reported that I cannot use this application.
Apparently my graphics card does not meet the minimum requirements.
My iMac is not that old and I can run Motion, DVD Studio Pro, Soundtrack Pro and Final Cut Express quite happily. I imagine these applications would be faster on a Quad G5 but that is a compromise I am prepared to take.
I appreciate that this application is taking advantage of new hardware to maximise performance but I wish I could use Aperture. I guess that is $499 of lost revenue to Apple.
If anyone from Apple is reading this: please can you find a way for this application to run on my iMac G5 (even if it is a bit slower, or has a few less features) - e.g. Aperture Express.
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 1GB RAM

I too was quite upset by the incompatibility of Aperture to my Dual G5 1.8 GHz -- I thought I had a machine that would last at least 4 years. Alas, I didn't give up too easily. I researched what would be an appropriate graphics card to install to get this program running properly and came up with the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro. Cool. Uh... not cool - this card has two spiffy DVI connectoers that don't work with my 20" Apple Display Cinema.
Groan... here we go again.
But wait! there's another work around. Buy an adapter for over a hundred dollars that the ADC can inconveniently be converted to a DVI monitor. The adapter is large but works fine in my situation, it adds another 5' of cable to the already long ADC cable, but no huge complaints here because the thing actually works. No power button on the front of the monitor anymore, and it takes a USB connection away from me that I have to work around, but it works!!
Now I am enjoying learning all this new stuff on a program whose capabilities I have triplicated with Phase One's Capture One Pro, and Photoshop's CS2. I am trying to find the ultimate RAW processor and they all, so far, have their unique selling features and idiosyncratic characteristics. Lot's of work to do!

ALS Power Supply in original iMac G5?

I currently have my iMac in for service, and am wondering if I should stop them from ordering the wrong part, if it is the wrong part. My iMac G5 is an original iMac G5. And the genius bar ended up choosing the Ambient Light Sensor iMac G5 power supply (the second generation, not the first) as a replacement to order. I just noticed this getting back from the store tonight looking at the receipt.
So the question is, will that power supply work in the older iMac G5 if it is in the U.S.?

Have a look at the parts list here, they are very specific that the Ambient light power supply is only for the AL machine. I would call and ask them politely if they are doing the right thing and perhaps they will realise that they are two diffent machines witn two different power supplies.
Please let me know the upshot,
Miriam

Blank grey screen on original iMac

Hello World
My 6-years daughter has been enjoying using her original iMac (Bondi Blue, 233 mhz, 96 Mo RAM, Mac OS 9.2) for three years now, without any problem.
Until yesterday. I had to plug the old boy to the net to update Quicktime (5 to 6), because some program needed to - which went perfect, but that's not the point.
Bringing it back to my daughter's room, I found that it wouldn't boot again, and kept stuck to a blank greyish screen (that was after the normal "boing" sound). The case seemed hotter than usual. I let it cool for a moment, and it finally accepted to boot up normally - just to freeze some a few minutes later.
This morning, all went well after a good night of sleep, but the iMac freezed again after some time
This time I found :
- that the case was very hot,
- that I couldn't stop the iMac (keyboard seems not to work) even by pushing the on/off button (I had to unplug it)
Any clue someone please ? We're so sad my daughter an I, the iMac is not far from being buried in our backyard along with "Red the fish"...
Really sorry for the long message, thanks to you patient readers !

PRAM battery dead.....maybe...
Unplugging your Mac from it's power source causes the battery to discharge as it tries to maintain PRAM settings and the Macs clock. If you have done this before, or often cut power off to your Mac via a power strip or wall switch, your battery may be depleted. Since it's not a rechargeable battery it'll need to be replaced. You can also check it with a voltmeter.
Even if you haven't done it before, this disconnect may have been enough to kill it, if it was weak to begin with.
I would check it first. When mine went, I had no response from my Mac at all; just a light on my power button; absolutely no boot at all. Also, try the PMU reset mentioned in the faq.
Check out things in Texas Mac Man's Battery, PRAM, PMU tutorial on the subject. His tutorial is a little dated (don't believe it even mentions G5's) but the info in it, except SMU not being included, still applies. The SMU link is for a late G5 Tower. Early G5's use PMU reset, as shown in the tutorial. The battery for late G5 + G5 iMacs and earlier iMacs, Mac Minis and Intel Tower Macs is this one.
The later Mac info was included for other readers. Your Mac uses the tutorial info.
DALE

Where are Specifications for original iMac G5?

The subject pretty much says it all. Why isn't there a link on Apple's Specifications page for the original iMac G5? There is a technote on how to tell the two models apart at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301724 but only the newer model has a link to its Technical specifications. I like to have this information on hand for easy access.

Here are the details of the first iMac G5 on Apple's site.

Microsoft Word and original iMac

hi. my microsoft word is not working anymore on my imac - the original iMac. I have gotten tips in the past on how to fix this but none of them work and I do not have the original CD anymore. i have os 9.2. I have files that I need to access on the imac. I have some knowledge but not a ton on what I need to do here. I would like to know which Microsoft Word program will work with Mac Os 9.2 and how I go about getting more RAM for the iMac.
Also, where do I purchase both? Thanks very much.

What version are you trying to run right now?
I have MS office 2001 and it works great. the previous version, I think it was version 5 worked fine too. I have no idea where you would buy either anymore to be honest. They are old programs at this point.
More ram is perhaps easier to deal with. ramseeker.com or crucial.com can point you to the correct ram.

Original iMac crashes and doesn't start

I have the original iMac from like 4 years ago, I do not have the original software disc, I have newer mac's with the install disc, theses are intel, dueo disc.
I get the happy Mac chime when I start, I did run the original hardwear tester CD, everything is fine (it did take a long time on the memory test)
computer hardly ever starts when it does it crashes soon after. (dark grey dialogue box in center of screen)
Could this have anything to do with installing newer intel core dueo disc after completly erasing the original system softeware ?
Could it be that the memory has gone bad ? I've reset pram, switched and removed accessories, etc etc.

First, you should identify your iMac model more precisely. The "original" iMac had a translucent blue-green case with a CRT display inside, but it does not sound your model is THAT old, especially if it was new when you got it "4 years ago."
Here is a list of all the iMac models.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index-imac.html
If you can identify your iMac model precisely, or at least more closely, you will get more helpful responses. One key distinction is whether it has a PowerPC (such as "G5") processor, or an Intel processor. You are posting in the category for the iMac G5 (PowerPC not Intel).

Have original iMac; MS Word 2001 keeps crashing - What to do?

hi. I have the original iMac. Just as of today, MS word 2001 keeps crashing. it is saying that an error of type 2 has occurred. tips on what to do? thank you!

That's unusual, Word should have its own preferences. Is there anything else unusual about your copy of Office? e.g. have you lost any fonts that should be there? Maybe try trashing the Component preferences.
If the worst comes to the worst I take it you have Office on CD? One of the nice things is that it contains an Uninstall program to wipe all trace of Office from your Mac so you can effectively start again with a nice clean installation. I bet you've probably got lots of e-mails and things stored in Entourage that you don't want to lose? Well, all messages are stored in a particular folder which you can drag your messages from (as one single clump, not thousands of individual messages, that would be a nightmare).
I've done this in the past when I had a problem with my installation of Office that I could not solve. It worked fine and really didn't take very long to do.
I wouldn't touch the Diskwarrior CD, not because its bad, but because its the wrong tool for this particular job I feel.
I quite like Office, there are things you can do with it very simply that are a pain in the @ss to do with Appleworks. But I prefer to write in Appleworks, then cut & paste into Word. Maybe I'm weird, but Appleworks has a cleaner design which I can only guess makes writing easier subconsciously.
Also (and I'm really going into overkill if I wasn't before), there is a very nice book on Office 2001 by David Pogue, published by Peach Pit Press. I got my copy a year or two ago on eBay and its quite handy. Did you know for example, that you can squash all your e-mails in Entourage down to a nicely compressed size to save space on your hard drive? It also makes Entourage perkier if you're the kind of person with 10,000 e-mails in your inbox. To do this, simply hold down the space bar when you double click to open Entourage and away it goes. All those e-mails are as accessible as before, but now they'll contain half the calories

What if the original iMac used to sync iPad is no longer available?

Is there any way to sync the original iPad. To update on other than the original iMac?

Sync Your iOS Device with a New Computer Without Losing Data
http://www.howtogeek.com/104298/sync-your-ios-device-with-a-new-computer-without -losing-data/
 Cheers, Tom

Strange lack of startup on original iMac

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