powerbook g3 pismo dvd drime doesn't boot

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powerbook g3 pismo dvd drime doesn't boot

Hello. The dvd drive in the powerbook pismo is properly installed but when I put in a CD, the dvd drive doesn't work. I can hear the disk moving inside the driver but nothing comes up on the screen. The driver symbol does not show up on the screen. I have tried many cds. I was trying to update my OS to 10.2 and restarted the computer by leaving the OS 10.2 cd inside the driver and I held the "C" button but no options came and there was no installations. The normal OS screen came up. I don't know whether the dvd drive is broken or it is the powerbook that does not have the drivers installed. The dvd drive has been in the powerbook since it was bought and the powerbook hasn't been used for a number of months. Please advise. Thank you.

powerbook g3 Bronze keyboad, Mac OS 9.0.x

Posted on Aug 5, 2008 4:39 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 6, 2008 6:09 AM in response to dinesh123

The CD/DVD drive in the G3 Powerbooks were problematic and many failed. When the drive in my Pismo failed to operate properly, I heard the sounds you described. But I was able to easily fix it.

See *How To Resurrect a Failed Laptop Disc Drive* @ http://macosx.com/forums/howto-faqs/290895-how-resurrect-failed-laptop-disc-driv e.html

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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Answer 2

jpl

Level 7

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Aug 5, 2008 7:49 PM in response to dinesh123

dinesh,

Welcome to the Discussions.

The first step is to reset the PRAM; wait for three startup chimes before releasing the keys. After the Lombard starts, try again to boot the CD.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

When booting to a CD or DVD, the Lombard uses its built-in firmware to access the optical disk and then begins loading the software, so it doesn't matter what is on the HD, if anything.

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Answer 3

dinesh123 Author

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Aug 6, 2008 5:58 AM in response to jpl

That didn't seem to work. I heard the three times and I let go off the keys. However, the symbol for drive didn't show up. When I restart with the OS 10 cd inside and I hold the "C" key, there is a blank gray screen. When I eject the cd, then the normal Mac OS 9 booting takes place. When I don't hold the "C" key, the normal booting takes place. Any other advice? Thanks.

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Answer 4

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Aug 6, 2008 9:22 AM in response to dinesh123

dinesh,

I misread your specs on your powerbook; you have the Pismo (as stated in your subject line) and not a Lombard as I stated. This won't make any difference regarding your problem, but there is one additional startup procedure you can try that the Lombard lacks. When restarting to boot an optical disk, press the 'option' key, not the 'c' key; this will bring up the Startup Manager. You should see your HD icon and also the CD or DVD icon; select the optical disk and click the 'forward' or 'continue' arrow.

If the CD or DVD is not in the Startup Manager window, or it won't boot to the optical disk, you probably have a failed optical drive. You can try what Tom suggests and see what happens.

If you have another Mac with built-in FireWire ports and which supports the OS you are trying to install on the Pismo, there is another way to install the OS on your Pismo.

Please post back if this a choice you have and describe what other Mac you have.

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Answer 5

dinesh123 Author

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Aug 6, 2008 5:29 PM in response to jpl

Thank you. That worked. I had to open the drive. I heard some rattling sound and it turned out to be a small screw that binds the small chip to the plastic cover that has two screws in it. Even though it was plugging into the Mac properly and seemed to display the properties, it wasn't totally working. I guess with the screw tightened it was properly fitting into the Mac hardware. Thank you again for your help Jpl and Tom. The graphics of OS 10.4 aren't as close to good as the one on a Studio display. Anything that would improve the graphic on this pismo?

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Answer 6

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Aug 6, 2008 7:30 PM in response to dinesh123

dinesh,

Nice work on your part; Tom's suggestion was right on the money.

Whichever Studio display you have, and there are many, it will be superior to the Pismo display in brightness whether it is a CRT or LCD; LCD resolution (number of pixels) will also be greater if the display is a 17" or larger. Just not much you can do...

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