Ok I attempted the command and all I get is "can't open boot mac-io/ata-4@1f000/@1:9,\\:tbxi"
I forget how the tray loading pata connection is configured. I could be that the tray loader has two pata controlers. Do
List of devices:
devalias
List of variables:
printenv
and see if you can identify a second controller. If so, the drive would be master.
Is there any way to use the command area to check if the hdd is still working?
Do not know. You are in a Forth programming environment.
Also , the only disk I have is a os 9 disk.
Is the disc a full installation cd? It should not be a machine specific cd -- not grey.
Near the bottom of page on the left will be the 9 cd image.
http://www.20thanniversarymac.com/software.htm
I can understand if the mac wants an 8.6 disk to boot from but I dont have one.
Might be 8.1. According to Richard, it wants the orginal cd shipped with the machine.
Is there a mac equivelent to a windows boot disk available?
This sort of software is included on the startedup disc.
Is there any sort of command that will identify what specifically the flashing question mark is for?
It means that it could not find a valid startup media. If you could put an OS, you could run disk utility.
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Could try Ubuntu. I've run Ubuntu on an iMac g3 600 -- a slot loader.
I have read where the Ubuntu folks recommend running the lastest firmware before installing Ubuntu.
Try the option key boot for the slot loader.
You boot an Ubuntu or a Kubuntu CD the same way you would the Mac install CD.
Tray
If no cd/dvd is in the drive and you want to put in the install cd:
Putting in the install cd
For a try loading cd/dvd drive, you hold down the button when you are powering on the machine. The tray should open up. Hold down for awhile may take a few more seconds than you expect. Sometimes it opens up and closes quickly. Be quick with getting in the cd/dvd. ( This is from working with an iMac g3 tray loader.)
For both the tray loading and slot loading iMac G3 you hold down the c key when powering on.
Slot
Try this: Hold down the option key when you poweron. This will bring up the startup manager. Press the cd/dvd button to eject try. Insert cd/dvd. Click rescan arrow. Click on cd/dvd. Click on right arrow. ( I think that this is your best approach. )
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106178
re-partition harddrive
While sparsely documented 10.4.11 contains terminal commands to re-partition a hard drive with out destroying the data on it. This was introduced as part of the boot camp effort.
Mac OS X - Nondestructive Partitioning
http://www.ffnn.nl/pages/articles/apple-mac-os-x/nondestructive-partitioning.php
Nondestructively Resizing Volumes
http://www.macgeekery.com/tips/cli/nondestructively_resizing_volumes
Here are bdaqua comments:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11438193#11438193
Ubuntu
The Ubuntu folks stopped supporting the power PC a while back. You will have to install an older version of Ubuntu.
You need to modify xorg.conf. See:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=219532
Mac G3 modem install Howto
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=355205
You will have adjust adjust xorg.conf. See these instructions:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=234437
I was able to get the last official versions of Ubuntu working on my G3 600.
6.10 Edgy Eft,
6.06 Dapper Drake
I used the alternate install and did the alterations noted above.
These versions are listed at the very bottom of the page.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCDownloads
Robert