Boot Failure iMac G3 400MHz, goes on firmware mode :S

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Boot Failure iMac G3 400MHz, goes on firmware mode :S

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a second hand iMac G3, 400MHz processor and 128mb ram, 10gb harddrive. I've always wanted a Mac just for the fun of it, and i finally got it. I dont think this imac is dead, but i'm having trouble on boot. It is not booting the traditional way, it is going down to firmware boot.

It gives this info:

MacOS: Boot Failure! (0xF3C481F6)
Mac OS: parcel initialization failure - bad checksum

Then i have 2 choices from the firmware for booting or shutting down 1. mac-boot command and 2. shut-down command.

So, i give it the mac-boot command; in starts showing the mac face for a few seconds, then it displays this message below of it:

/pci@f2000000/mac-io@17/ata-4@1f000/disk@0:5,\\:tbxi

after maybe a minute it finally displays the face and ? symbol; typical of not finding the system. Problem is that, even starting the imac with the system disc on it and pressing "c" at bootime, it still goes to the firmware thing...

Is there a way to tell the imac "hey dont boot at firmware, boot at cd!!" ??

Oh, by the way...during the "/pci@f2000000/mac-io@17/ata-4@1f000/disk@0:5,\\:tbxi" message I can still press the "alt" key and it shows me the retry arrow, the system harddrive labeled "Lorelai's comp", the system CD and the straight right arrow.... i try clicking on the harddrive and also on the CD icons to try to boot, but it only refreshes the screen changing from the traditional blue/purple background to a red-ish background and arrow/drive's buttons get funny colors...

i dont know what is going on....i dont think the imac is dead....i guess it has to do with that firmware booting default thing...

please help....
thanks in advance.

imac G3, Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Apr 25, 2008 9:06 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 25, 2008 10:52 PM in response to luiguiv

Try starting up with the Option key held down. This should give you Startup Manager. If that works, select the disk in the optical drive.

Or try resetting PRAM. Some startup parameters are stored there.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

It is possible that the PRAM battery is dead. That can cause startup issues. They look like this.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item-specials/Newer%20Technology/BAA36VPRAM/

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Answer 2

luiguiv Author

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Apr 25, 2008 11:45 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Hi Kenichi,

i've checked the battery and it is DEAD! :O so i took the other battery from my other imac and it is at 3.6V good 😀...now, when going On on the ither imac, i did the reset-nvram and reset-all comands...but when imac restarts, screen is black...no picture or sound of any activity...it only gives the power-on chime after the reset-all command but thats all....

i've tried doing the option alt+pr thing too, but it does the same thing...

am i doing something wrong? or should i check something else?

thanks in advance.

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Answer 3

Apr 26, 2008 12:19 AM in response to luiguiv

You can try pressing the PMU button to reset power management.

http://mrjcd.com/junk/PMU.jpg

Be sure to follow the directions, and only press it ONCE.

Other than that, I can't think of anything else to try. The CRT iMacs tend to develop problems with the video board. The symptom is an initial startup followed by powering off with an orange power button.

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Answer 4

luiguiv Author

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Apr 26, 2008 10:15 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Hi again Kenichi,

Question: I've done that procedure yesterday, but i pressed the button for only 1 second 1 TIME 🙂....can i make the procedure again despite if i did it 1 time before? or doing it again will crash the iMac forever?

About the black screen i told you before, here's the thing...if i place a battery on it and reset the nvram via keyboard commands or firmware commands, at the restart then is when the imac goes on black....BUT if i remove the battery, leave it there for a minute or 2, and then power it on, it goes to the firmware state again, ofcourse with good video on it....i dont think it has a video problem...but i dont understand why when making the reset procedures with a battery on the iMac this black-non starting screen keeps going...

Thanks in advance.

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Answer 5

Apr 26, 2008 11:16 AM in response to luiguiv

As long as you have attempted a restart in between, it should be OK to press the button again.

However, based on your description, that may not be the problem. I don't think you have a video problem either, since video does work when it goes into open firmware.

Are you sure you are putting the battery in in the correct direction? Sorry if that's a silly question...

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Answer 6

luiguiv Author

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Apr 26, 2008 11:29 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

hi,
uhmm, yep battery is placed in the right way...

BUT what i did yesterday with the PMU button, was using the bad battery...which is the same of doing it without any battery 😀....so, im gonna give it a try again with the good battery and post back right away

be right back 😀

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Answer 7

luiguiv Author

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Apr 26, 2008 11:50 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Ok, this, is driving me crazy....

did the PMU procedure with the good battery on...same thing....

afeter powering on, computer went AGAIN on firmware mode...so, i did the reset-nvram and reset-all thing, and after restarting and give the chime, same thing: it is not starting, only black screen...:S

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Answer 8

Apr 26, 2008 11:58 AM in response to luiguiv

Have you tried booting to a Mac OS installation CD since installing the new battery?

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Answer 9

luiguiv Author

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Apr 26, 2008 12:16 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Hi Kenichi GOOD NEWS!!! :O

Well, i guess the PMU procedure and the nvram reset procedure worked too...

As i couldnt get ahead of that black screen, i remembered that with PCs when ram is dead the behave the same way, black screen...so i was intrigued about the status of the Ram modules...so, i took them out, both, and replaced with the ram modules from the other imac and voila! the sicky iMac is in good shape, booting from harddrive and all 100%....so, now im gonna get down to check what of the 2 modules is the bad one or if both...so i guess i'll have to spend a little money on that dead battery and on some ram 😀

Thanks a lot Kenichi, you're the best!!!!!!!!

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Answer 10

Apr 26, 2008 12:45 PM in response to luiguiv

Good job figuring it out...!

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