User profile for user: Gerald Chew
Gerald Chew Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

PowerMac G4 Manual Eject?

The startup disk on my PowerMac G4 got reset so I'm attempting to use my Install Disk to restart my computer. The problem is that I have a wireless keyboard and mouse and neither are responding. Thus, I can't eject my disk drive.

Unfortunately, I also can't figure out how to manually eject the drive (i.e., I can't find the paper clip hole).

This is one of the old G4 towers.

Help? Thanks.

PowerMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Jul 19, 2006 12:36 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Don Archibald
Don Archibald
User level: Level 10
101,685 points

Posted on Jul 19, 2006 3:01 PM

Hi, Gerald -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

If your machine is an old (original series) G4s, then it has an eject button on the front of the external (bezel) door for the CD drive.

Try this - restart or boot - immediately start pressing that button rapidly. There is a short window a few seconds long during the boot process when the drive is energized, but before it has spun up and recognized there is a disk in it. The door eject button should work at that point.

***

Alternate - locate a corded mouse, one good for use on a Mac. Plug it into a free USB port. Restart or boot - immediately press the mouse button, keep it held down - that's a hardware command to the Mac to eject all removable media during boot.

***

If the problem is that it keeps booting to the install disk, use the Startup Disk control pane (Apple menu > System Preferences) to reset the boot volume to the hard drive.
View in context
5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Don Archibald
Don Archibald
User level: Level 10
101,685 points

Jul 19, 2006 3:01 PM in response to Gerald Chew

Hi, Gerald -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

If your machine is an old (original series) G4s, then it has an eject button on the front of the external (bezel) door for the CD drive.

Try this - restart or boot - immediately start pressing that button rapidly. There is a short window a few seconds long during the boot process when the drive is energized, but before it has spun up and recognized there is a disk in it. The door eject button should work at that point.

***

Alternate - locate a corded mouse, one good for use on a Mac. Plug it into a free USB port. Restart or boot - immediately press the mouse button, keep it held down - that's a hardware command to the Mac to eject all removable media during boot.

***

If the problem is that it keeps booting to the install disk, use the Startup Disk control pane (Apple menu > System Preferences) to reset the boot volume to the hard drive.
Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

PowerMac G4 Manual Eject?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up