iMac OS 8.5 Boot Issues - Install/Format HD/Select Startup Disc?

Thanks AppleIIFreak,

Not too sure about the specs on my machine. It is an iMac G3 - small hard drive (2GB, I believe).

I did find something in the Manuals section - the iMac Emergency Handbook which might prove useful.

I have toyed with Macs before - and this is my first one. I do support for a product that is used on Mac/Windows about 50/50 - so I hate not knowing anything about them 🙂. Also, trying to get in with a web company in a support/programming position - so I'd like to say I have some experience.

I go through your suggestions and the Emergency Handbook and let you know how it goes.

--Dave "Safety Boy"
http://geocities.com/steimle4/

Just might be a hardware issue. Here is what I tried this morning:

Reblessed system, booting from install CD.
System Error on reboot - address
* Occasionally on this error, the system will not reboot then the "reboot" button is pressed. Power button non-responsive. Have to shut down the old fashioned way - yank the power cord.

Startup from Install CD with no extentions.
Initiated HD, 1 partition, Mac Standard.
Rebooted system.
Began Installation with "recommended installation" for all items.
Reboot - same flashing icon.

Boot from install CD, address error.
Reboot with no extentions.
Erased HD (Selected HD Icon | Special -> Erase Disc)
Reboot with install CD
Ran Disk First Aid on HD - checked out fine.
Initialized with 2 partitions:
- 3GB MacOS Standard
- 3GB MacOS Extended
Ran disk First Aid - no problems.
* On a lark, I ran Disk First Aid on the Install CD and got the following:

Problem: Custom icon is missing,452,328
Problem: Custom icon is missing,453,327
Volume iMac Install needs to be repaired.

Began Installation again anyway...
Selected Clean Install from Select Destinations | Options
Recommended install.
Reboot. Address error. Same problem...

iMac G3 Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

iMac G3 Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier

BTW: Installing everything from the OS disc, then will see how useable the system is with the install CD as the boot disc.

Here is some info on my machine:

Mac OS 8.5.1
Mac OC ROM 1.2.1
Built-In Memory: 256MB
Virtual Memory: Off

--Dave

Hmm... Not sure if it is universal. Running a HD test right now, and can't seem to unmount/eject the CD.

I may be able to zap the pRAM on next reboot, though my keyboard does not always seem to respond.

Should I be seeing any messages or display during POST on a Mac?

--Dave

I just might have it! PC maintenance 101, but thought I would check since so many things are reversed for me with Macs...

Tried to zap the PRAm, but had no luck with the keyboard at startup. SO... I thought I'd remove the battery, return it, and it would be reset. Now for the fun part.

I figured I might as well look at the drives. They both behave properly, save that the HD will not boot. It looks as though somebody had been inside the machine. Checed the jumpers on the cd and hd... Hard drive is set as slave, and cdrom as master. Now, on a PC, this is all wrong - is it so on Mac as well? Hmm...

--Dave

Well, since I had it opened up...

Switched the jumpers to master for the HD and slave for the CDROM... of course, now it will not boot from CD!

Well, set both drives to Cable Select... Not happy.

I am thinking that the iMac has 2 IDE buses... two cables... maybe seeting both to Master.

I am through for today though. Thanks for all your help.

--Dave