DEFAULT CATCH! @ start up

Question

Level 1

16 points

DEFAULT CATCH! @ start up

Now have you ever heard of this one? I haven't. And I've been MAC forever! When I turn on my MAC (and this just started since I downloaded & installed hp printer software), the following appears and looks like something out of pre-PC:
DEFAULT CATCH! code=fffffff6 at #SRRO=ff80b648 $SRR1=00006030
APPLE powerbook 3,2 4.1.8f5 BootROM built in 03/32/01 at 11:49:53
Copyright 1994-2001 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved
Welcome to OPEN firmware, the system time and date is: 00:22:41 10/30/05
To continue booting, type "mac-boot" and press return.
To shut down, type "shut-down" and press return.
ok
)/>_
So, I did, then got a screen with verticle black lines, then it kicks into normal start up!!
WELL, DID YOU EVER?!
If you say "reboot with disk repair disk" you better send me one, 'cause all my disks went with the wave in Hurricane Katrina and I don't have ANY disks!
Other than that, all's fine.
HELP!!

Posted on Oct 29, 2005 7:31 PM

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Answer 1

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Oct 30, 2005 7:04 AM in response to MacNana

Hi MacNana,

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Hold down the Option+Command (Apple) PR keys, boot/restart your PB while continuing to hold down those four keys, and after you hear the startup chime for the second time, release the keys. That should reset your PRAM and resolve the issue.

If the issue persists, while you're booted into Open Firmware, just after the prompt, type in:

reset-nvram

then press return, then type in:

reset-all

and press return. This should restart your PB and it should go back to starting normally.

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Answer 2

Oct 30, 2005 5:03 PM in response to tjk

Hi, I also got on the same problem, and I'm wondering if it has some to do with Tiger instalation.
Everything was perfectly good before instaling Tiger, I did a clean instalation, erase and install, it was working, I got a few software updates, including the tiger combo.
When importing an video to an external HD with IMovieHD, got Kernel Panic, and after reestart that happens.
Already followed the topic instructions for NVRAM reset, but it goes to ligth grey screen with apple logo and stay forever.
Tryed to use the original software restore, but not get any news.

Any other Ideia.
PS. by the way, I got a family pack for my tiger, and the other powerbook crashes too.

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Answer 3

MacNana Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 30, 2005 8:20 PM in response to tjk

Thanx for your prompt reply. Tried all methods mentioned. Should have remembered those, but didn't! Thanx for reminding me. However, they didn't work.

I thought this happened because I installed the HP printer software; however, I also downloaded & tried to install PB Firmware Update 4.2.9 not paying attention to the fact that I had to have a 550 MHz or better. I have a 500 MHz. Whoops! Could this be the problem?

More Help, please.

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Answer 4

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Oct 30, 2005 8:34 PM in response to MacNana

I also downloaded & tried to install PB Firmware Update 4.2.9 not paying attention to the fact that I had to have a 550 MHz or better. I have a 500 MHz. Whoops! Could this be the problem?

I strongly suspect it is the problem, but I have no idea how a PB would act under those circumstances, nor what to do to resolve the issue. If it were me, I would try to install the proper firmware update, 4.1.8, and see if that made any difference.

Note that you must be booted into OS9 in order to install the update.

Post back about the message you get when trying the update.

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Answer 5

MacNana Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 31, 2005 9:34 PM in response to tjk

Hi. Booted into OS 9. Tried to pick up the updater, but got the message to insert disk. Don't have disk ... Tried booting into OS X and running updater. Didn't work ... said I had to boot up OS 9. Have a real Catch 22 here. Would it be better to reinstall OS X (if I had the disks) to rid me of this whole problem?

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Answer 6

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Oct 31, 2005 10:09 PM in response to MacNana

Tried to pick up the updater, but got the message to insert disk.

It would help if you described step by step exactly what you tried. No disc is necessary for updating firmware properly.

Tried booting into OS X and running updater. Didn't work ... said I had to boot up OS 9.

That is correct.

Would it be better to reinstall OS X (if I had the disks) to rid me of this whole problem?

Not if the wrong and/or lack of proper firmware update prior to installing OSX is the issue. Still, subsequent to that, if I had followed all directions properly and nothing else works, that would probably be my next step.

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Answer 7

MacNana Author

Level 1

16 points

Nov 1, 2005 9:06 PM in response to tjk

Your patience is astounding. Here's the step by step. Just did it again.

Booted PB from Open Firmware using "boot-mac" into OS X.
Opened Safari > Apple discussion> read your notes.
Closed Apple discussion.
Closed Safari.
Went to FIND > firmware (it popped up on OSX desktop)
OS 9 automatically loaded and presented this message:
"The PowerBook Firmware Updater does not work with Mac OS X. Please restart from a local hard disk with Mac OS 9 installed, and use the PowerBook Firmware Updater again." Clicked OK.
In OS X > System Preferences > Startup Disk > MAC OS 9.2.2 on HD > Restart.
Screen appeared: DEFAULT CATCH! (et al)
Entered "mac-boot" & clicked return
Screen appeared: vertical dark lines
Screen appeared: Happy Mac icon, reversed color images (all black)
Selected Apple menu > recent apps> PB Firmware Updater >
Image appeared: "Please insert the disk PowerBook Firmware Update (image of two disks exchanging info). Clicked "cancel">
Selected Apple menu > control panel > start up disk

MAC HD: System: Mac OS X 10.3.9 (Build 7W98) > RESTART.

Screen appeared: DEFAULT CATCH! (et al)
Entered "mac-boot" & clicked return
Screen appeared: vertical dark lines > normal Mac OS X screen booted up.

I await your kind suggestions. MacNana

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Answer 8

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Nov 1, 2005 10:19 PM in response to MacNana

Hi MacNana,

In OS X > System Preferences > Startup Disk > MAC OS 9.2.2 on HD > Restart. Screen appeared: DEFAULT CATCH! (et al)

This is the part that's significant to me; just so I'm clear, you went into Sys Prefs>Startup Disk and clicked on 9.2.2 to select it, then clicked on Restart, and you got the same DEFAULT CATCH! result?

If so, boot from your install disc, and at the first screen go to Installer Menu at top left, select Change Startup Disk, select 9.2.2 System Folder, and click Restart button.

If it boots into 9, run the firmware update. Post back with results.

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Answer 9

MacNana Author

Level 1

16 points

Nov 3, 2005 7:28 PM in response to tjk

Perhaps we should put this discussion away for the time being. In my original message I wrote:

"If you say "reboot with disk repair disk" you better send me one, 'cause all my disks went with the wave in Hurricane Katrina and I don't have ANY disks!"

Somewhere, somehow, I will find some disks to install from. It may take a few weeks. Willing to wait?

MacNaNa sends

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Answer 10

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Nov 3, 2005 10:08 PM in response to MacNana

Somewhere, somehow, I will find some disks to install from. It may take a few weeks. Willing to wait?

Sorry, didn't remember about the discs; I read dozens, sometimes 100+ posts in a day, so don't remember all details of each one, and don't always take the time to read back through a whole thread if I don't think I need to.

I use email subscriptions to any thread I post in, so whenever you post back again, I'll get an email. And I'm usually patient. 😉

In the meantime, you could try to boot into Safe Mode.

Also try Single User/Verbose Mode and run fsck.

As I look back at your original post, I also see you're running "4.1.8f5 BootROM," so it appears that your firmware is updated; however, if the update was not done properly, I have no idea what the effects might be. The only other thing I can suggest, prior to finding your discs, is to get rid of that HP printer software and see if that makes any difference.

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Answer 11

MacNana Author

Level 1

16 points

Nov 4, 2005 7:19 PM in response to tjk

YOU SAID: As I look back at your original post, I also see you're running "4.1.8f5 BootROM," so it appears that your firmware is updated; however, if the update was not done properly, I have no idea what the effects might be. The only other thing I can suggest, prior to finding your discs, is to get rid of that HP printer software and see if that makes any difference."

MacNana SEZ: You're right about the 4.1.8f5. I didn't notice that. Or, maybe I'm learning from you! I printed out the info on Safe Mode, fsck, resetting PMU. I'll study those, tinker around when I have a chance and get back with you in about two weeks, anyway. Well, we are just starting to clean out our house (10 ft of Katrina water) and I think my hubby wants me to do dirty work instead of trying to fix my Mac! I'd rather do the Mac! See Ya later ... MacNana

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Answer 12

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Nov 5, 2005 5:09 PM in response to MacNana

Well, we are just starting to clean out our house (10 ft of Katrina water) and I think my hubby wants me to do dirty work instead of trying to fix my Mac! I'd rather do the Mac!

I think I can understand both sides of that! 😉 Sorry to hear about your house and good luck with the cleaning. At least you made it through safely.

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Answer 13

MacNana Author

Level 1

16 points

Nov 18, 2005 3:53 PM in response to tjk

Thanx for your good wishes! And, you're not going to believe this, BUT:

Took a break from cleaning up from Hurricane Katrina and decided to install the software for my new Epson CX7800 3-in-One. Did that. Then had to shut down and get busy on the house again. Two days later, I was going to show my brother-in-law (latent PC person) what my start up screen looked like. Low and behold, Ms TiBabe booted up with the normal screen!!! Can you believe that?! Well, I'm operational again. I'm on borrowed internet right now because our neighborhood doesn't have cable, internet or land lines installed yet ... but we'll get there. Tell APPLE that I need software. Do they have soft HEARTS? ummmm.... Thanx for your help. Judy Holder

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Answer 14

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Dec 3, 2005 9:44 PM in response to MacNana

Hi Judy,

So after a couple of weeks, how are things, both with the seemingly rejuvenated Ti and with the house?

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