Imac G3 won't boot: Clicking Noise and then a file with question mark: HELP

Question

Imac G3 won't boot: Clicking Noise and then a file with question mark: HELP

Hi

I'm new to being an iMac owner (Slot load graphite 400mhz 13gb). I used to use them for design stuff, but have resently bought one (YES...off of ebay).

When I turn it on: It makes a load clicking noise from the front of the machine (I think), and then pops up a folder icon which flashes between the Mac face and a question mark.

I've looked around the web before troubling anyone with this question.

A few things came up but nothing concrete. Included a lose HDD cable (although I don't know how to fix if it was that).

I have original restore dics etc

PLEASE HELP...I'd really appreciate it

Thanks

iMAC G3 400MHz 128MB of SDRAM, 13GB Ultra ATA hard disc drive

iMAc G3

Posted on Dec 13, 2005 6:02 AM

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Answer 1

Wade Peeler

Level 6

10,906 points

Dec 13, 2005 9:52 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

It can't find a drive with an operating system installed to boot from. Has this computer ever worked for you since you bought it? Can you boot from the CD that came with the computer (by rebooting with the 'C' key held down)? Are your disks OS 9 disks or OS X disks?

Check out this article.

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Answer 2

Dec 13, 2005 10:02 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

Hi

Thanks for your help/interest. I really appreciate it.

I have OS9 discs for iMac DV models: 'Software Install' and 'Software Restore'.

I can boot them with C held down but when I go to restore or install, it seems to want me to install onto the CD (Which is impossible & pointles)...so doesn't seem to recognise a HDD.

I just pluged in a 20gb external, and it then recognised that and I installed the OS9 to that, but from reading around, I can't boot off an external USB2 device, or at least without Tiger.

I'm kinda assuming the HDD may have got damaged in transit.

Does that sound like a resonable idea behind the problems?

Also, if it is that, would a PC HDD work in a MAC? or does anyone have one they want to sell cheap 20gb - 250gb? feel free to email me: NOT4U2Touch@hotmail.com

Thanks

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Answer 3

Ron JACKLE

Level 7

33,451 points

Dec 13, 2005 10:21 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

not4u2touch@hotmail.com...

"I can't boot off an external USB2 device, or at least without Tiger."

That's backwards... Mac OS 9.1 to 9.2.2 is bootable off of USB -- Mac OS 10 is not. (There isn't any prerequisites, 9 is fine to boot on its own)

However the USB device must be Apple Mass Storage compliant to boot into those versions of Mac OS 9.

...Ron

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Answer 4

Wade Peeler

Level 6

10,906 points

Dec 13, 2005 10:29 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

If it's not seeing the hard drive, I would open Disk Utility to see if it can see the hard drive. I think Disk Utility is on the OS 9 disk (or it might be called Disk First Aid; it's been a while since I've used OS 9). You might also check for a loose hard drive cable; maybe it's just disconnected.

You should be able to use these instructions to check if your hard drive has a loose connector.

If that's not the problem, you might need to replace the hard drive. Any IDE/ATA drive will do, although you may have a limitation where it can't see a drive bigger than 128GB. Do not get an SATA drive; it won't work.

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Answer 5

Ron JACKLE

Level 7

33,451 points

Dec 13, 2005 10:43 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

Actually I doubt it is the cable, because there would be no clicks present without data throughput, just a faint spinup from the HD

Now back to the 10' rule...

...Ron

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Answer 6

Wade Peeler

Level 6

10,906 points

Dec 13, 2005 10:48 AM in response to Ron JACKLE

I just thought it was worth checking before going out and buying a new hard drive.

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Answer 7

Dec 13, 2005 10:55 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

Thanks for all the help and interest in my problem. I'm new to this forum, but am a member on other hobbies/interest forums, and try to help people, and am not used to asking for help myself, so am seriously appreciative.

The 20gb external I'm trying to boot off is and Archos 20gb MiniHD with a Hitachi drive, so possibly not compatible.

I tried the aid doctor thing, and it didn't seem to pick up a drive. I've also just taken it apart (Not a very computer technical person) and the cable seemed plugged in.

I'm hoping I can boot off the external. I'm going to try now, and I'll let you know

Thanks again

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Answer 8

Dec 13, 2005 11:08 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

Hi

The clicking noise is strange, it's not like a hard drive, it sounds like 2 bits of light plastic being clicked together a few times.

Disk First Aid: Only recognises the 'USB (v2.0.2)' & 'iMac Restore CD'. So looks fairly conclusive that it's dead.

Thanks for the advice about the replacement drive. I probably would have got a SATA, as I know the shop down the road in Nottingham www.cex.co.uk has second hand maxtor 200gb SATA drives, but I don't think has ATA.

Any idea how I can try to boot off of the external? Where abouts I tell the iMAC to boot the OS off of that drive?

Thanks for all your help, and sorry to be a pain

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Answer 9

Wade Peeler

Level 6

10,906 points

Dec 13, 2005 11:35 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

You would have to have the OS installed on that external drive first. If you do, then after booting from the CD, you can set the startup disk from the Apple menu: Control Panels->Startup Disk.

I think you could also boot with the option key held down, and then it will give you a choice of detected startup systems to boot from.

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Answer 10

Dec 13, 2005 11:55 AM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

GENIUS........Thanks to all your group help. The iMac has life. Running OS 9 from an external drive. Think It's a little risky to continue this way, so best go and get an internal drive tomorrow.

Thanks for all your superb help 😉

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Answer 11

Ron JACKLE

Level 7

33,451 points

Dec 13, 2005 12:09 PM in response to not4u2touch@hotmail.com

...

Does the external contain a Blessed "System Folder"?

You can tell that by the Mac "['{']" icon on the folder named "System Folder" (Case sensitive). More on the blessing rituals, at the below link.

FYI--- System Folder refers to Mac OS 9 ; System refers to 10.x. (Case sensitive, as that is how your HD sees it and boots from it.) I prefer to use System (folder) for Mac OS 10 as the parenthetical is descriptive.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042

...Ron

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