After trying to backup my hard drive i can't get my G4 quicksilver to boot. I get the old icon of a folder with a split face that alternetes with a flashing question mark

Question

Level 1

0 points

After trying to backup my hard drive i can't get my G4 quicksilver to boot. I get the old icon of a folder with a split face that alternetes with a flashing question mark

My G4 won't boot. I have tried holding down the c key to boot from a 10.3 disc and it doesn't boot. I keep getting the icon of a folder with a split face that flashes to a question mark. I know that usually means that the startup drive can't be found, but I have 2 good drives i have tried to boot with and it won't start up. Any ideas from out there/ Thanks in advance.

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), PowerMac Quicksilver

Posted on Feb 5, 2012 11:51 AM

Reply

Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 5, 2012 12:13 PM in response to gigzilla47

Does it boot into any of these modes?

Holding Option/alt key at bootup.

Holding SHIFT key at bootup.

Target mode...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...

/sbin/fsck -fy

Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.

(Space between fsck AND -fy important).

Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

We might get clues with verbose mode...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492

Reply

Answer 2

gigzilla47 Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2012 8:10 AM in response to BDAqua

I tried resetting the PRAM and I get a screen that shows a padlock on the left, an open box in the center, and an arrow pointing to the right on the right. I have no idea what this means or what to do next, Can you help me. Is this an indication that the G4 might be saved?

Reply

Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 6, 2012 9:43 AM in response to gigzilla47

OK, the lock means you have Firmware Protection enabled.

Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.

Force Removing Password Protection

1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.

2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).

http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

Reply

Answer 4

gigzilla47 Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2012 12:24 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks so MUCH.... I have the G4 running on the 10.3.9 drive... I should explain that this whole mess started when I tried to copy a drive running 10.5.8 onto a larger drive via Carbon Copy Cloner. The process seems to have screwed up all 3 drives. Now I sometimes get a screen asking me to log in with my password, then it says Welcome to Darwin??? Do you know what that is? Also, when I pulled a Dimm to unlock the Firmware I cannot seem to add it back... the computer freezes up on the blue startup screen.

Any advice on what has happened? Can CCC be the culprit? Thanks for the help

Reply

Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 6, 2012 1:18 PM in response to gigzilla47

I doubt it's CCC's fault, possibly a bad DIMM, or slot, or corrosion in the slot.

How large is the drive? Which G4? Some can only handle 128-123 GB Drives. Is it an old drive?

So we know more about it...

At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac, then click on More Info, then click on Hardware> and report this upto but not including the Serial#...

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: eMac

Model Identifier: PowerMac6,4

Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.2)

Processor Speed: 1.42 GHz

Number Of CPUs: 1

L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB

Memory: 2 GB

Bus Speed: 167 MHz

Boot ROM Version: 4.9.2f1

If you don't know the model, find the Serial# & use it on one of these sites, but don't post the Serial# here...

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php

How to find the serial number of your Apple hardware product...

Reply