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User profile for user: Pirate Queen
Pirate Queen Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Power Mac 5500/225

I have an old Power Mac 5500/225 and cannot get it to boot up. When I turn it on, I get a flashing ? mark. I no longer have the start up disc for it. Does anyone have an idea for me to try? I don't want to put a lot of money in this computer, but would like to retrieve some of the info on the hard drive. I've had the hard drive rebuilt once already. My local Apple store won't even look at it.

Power Mac 5500

Posted on Sep 26, 2008 12:54 PM

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User profile for user: Jan Hedlund
Jan Hedlund
User level: Level 7
22,309 points

Posted on Sep 26, 2008 1:22 PM

The flashing question-mark indicates that the computer is unable to locate a valid system folder.

You could try to reset the PRAM to begin with. Having the voltage of the internal battery checked could also be a good idea.

The Disk Tools PPC ( here) should work as a startup disk for your Power Macintosh 5500/225. Please note that another Mac (with a floppy drive) and Disk Copy 6.3.3 (the Make a Floppy command in the Utilities menu) will be needed in order to produce a properly sector-copied floppy disk.

If necessary, it is possible to remove the hard drive and place it in an appropriate external (preferably FireWire, or perhaps USB 2.0) enclosure. This would allow access to the hard drive from a modern Mac.

Jan
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User profile for user: Jan Hedlund
Jan Hedlund
User level: Level 7
22,309 points

Sep 26, 2008 1:22 PM in response to Pirate Queen

The flashing question-mark indicates that the computer is unable to locate a valid system folder.

You could try to reset the PRAM to begin with. Having the voltage of the internal battery checked could also be a good idea.

The Disk Tools PPC ( here) should work as a startup disk for your Power Macintosh 5500/225. Please note that another Mac (with a floppy drive) and Disk Copy 6.3.3 (the Make a Floppy command in the Utilities menu) will be needed in order to produce a properly sector-copied floppy disk.

If necessary, it is possible to remove the hard drive and place it in an appropriate external (preferably FireWire, or perhaps USB 2.0) enclosure. This would allow access to the hard drive from a modern Mac.

Jan
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User profile for user: Dr. Power User
Dr. Power User
User level: Level 1
6 points

Oct 9, 2008 9:55 AM in response to Pirate Queen

Pirate Queen,

I see this is an old mac computer, and i would like to help out here.

Try looking on eBay for Mac System 7.5.3, Mac OS 7.6, Mac OS 8.0 or Mac OS 8.1
If you have no luck, try these following steps.

If you have a PC with a Floppy drive (or even a new mac with a usb floppy) Download the following for the floppy.
System 7.5NAD - Sys 7.5 Network Access floppy - if it does not boot, or you only have a mac that is your one, you will just have to keep searching on ebay for a CD - the versions i am talking come out very rarely on ebay.

hope this helps

Dr. Power User
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Power Mac 5500/225

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