Won't mount

Question

Hi all, my G3 was acting sluggish so I decided to zap the PRAM and rebuild the desktop.... Well, the PRAM cleared OK, but as I was using TechTool to delete/rebuild the desktop, it froze. Now the machine will NOT boot up. It starts up; loads the extensions; loads the clock; but the screen is blank and I have a very tiny little black bomb as my cursor. Any ideas? I know my HD might be going because it's getting awfully slower and slower. I was able to boot from the system CD and the HD mounts there. What can I do? The option/command doesn't seem to work. How can I rebuild the desktop again to see if that is why I'm having this new issue. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi Diane,
Sorry, I was typing my last response and didn't notice you last request until now. Here's what to do if the key sequence, referred to around here as a "PRAM zap," doesn't get you a boot.
It occurs to me we don't know which variety of Beige G3 you have. It can make a difference in upgrade options but, more basically, affects opening the case. There are three "form factors for Beige G3s. All share the same basic logic board layout once you get inside, but all open differently. The variants are Desktop (DT), Mini-tower (MT), and All-in-One (AIO). If you need to know how to get the the logic board, holler.
Let's assume for now that you can get at the logic board. Look at this handy logic board diagram. Again, this is a MT diagram but, for the purpose at hand, the boards are all the same. It is a map to where things are on the logic board.
Note the upper left corner of the diagram; there is a small button marked "CUDA rest button." It's just outboard of the last PCI slot. Open the computer and find the button. The word "reset" is printed in small letters on the board by the button.
Unplug the computer and touch the metal case of the power supply to drain any static charges from your fingers; then remove the battery (ref: the battery info page I referenced earlier). The "cage" holding the battery is not as fragile as it looks. The only reason I see for such a robust battery holder is to keep the battery in place should the computer fall from a 10-story building 8^D. If the card in the PERCH slot is long and overhangs the battery, you may have to remove that card to gain better access to the battery.
With the computer now off wall power and the battery removed, press and hold the CUDA reset button for 20-30 seconds. This is best accomplished with a non-conductive probe. I like a chopstick for this (that explains why there is a chopstick in my Mac repair kit--it ain't for lunch breaks).
Then replace the battery and make absolutely sure that the card in the PERCH slot is firmly seated. It is easily bumped even if not removed, and that causes some of its many connectors to lose contact. A malseated card here can make the computer act very, very dead. Replace the battery and its cage, close and latch the case closed, and then plug it back into the wall outlet.
Now its time to power up and see if this procedure helped. If it did, lots of minor settings like date and time, mouse settings, and key repeat settings will be reset to their default. You can then enter your desired settings using the control panels.
Here's how this procedure, known as a CUDA rest, works. The computer's Parameter Random Access Memory (PRAM), holds the hardware configuration, boot drive location, RAM info, plus someuser-preference settings. At boot, the computer goes to PRAM to get these settings before starting to load the OS from the boot drive.
If the boot info data in PRAM is corrupted by a bad battery or other causes, the computer may not boot.
Both the PRAM zap (keyboard method) and the CUDA reset (just described) flush the corrupted data from PRAM. The difference is that the keyboard zap clears only the upper 128 bits of PRAM data; the CUDA reset is like a laxative that flushes all the data. The idea is "out with the bad; in with the new."
On the very next startup, should the computer find PRAM empty, it politely goes to the ROM DIMM (next to the three RAM slots), where Apple engineers have wisely stored factory PRAM defaults that will always start the computer, moves that fresh data to PRAM and the boot continues. Very cute system.
A CUDA reset is wise after installing a new battery, or adding hardware items like new hard drives, PCI cards, even RAM. It gives the computer a fresh start, free of potentially corrupting data.
I realize this operation sounds complicated, but it really take less time to do it than to write about it.
Well, that about covers it. I hope this is all that's needed to get you up and running. If it turns out to be the battery, I can give you some tips to make sure the new one lives to a "ripe old age." There are things that the user does that can reduce battery life to months. By the way, most of us old Beige drivers around here recommend a fresh battery every three years--even in the absence of problems--because of the Beige G3s unusually strong reliance on clean PRAM data.
I think I need a power nap! Keep us posted.
Allan
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