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Helpful answers
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Feb 16, 2014 7:32 AM in response to guillaumefromsomewhereby Allan Jones,★HelpfulDid the computer boot normally with an Apple keyboard? If not, or you don't know, I doubt the keyboard is part of the problem. The icon means the computer cannot find a vaild startup volume.
Common causes:
- The OS is missing from the hard drive
- The hard drive is removed or dead
- the system folder is corrupted
- Because the computer was off wall power for a longer time than the internal backup (PRAM) battery could survive, the computer forgot where to find the OS.
Try starting by holding the SHIFT key during boot. Hold until you see a desktop before letting go the SHIFT key. If you get a desktop, immediate go to System Preferences > Startup Disk and make sure the internal hard drive is selected.
As the PRAM batteries are likely dead if these have been off wall power for more than a week, leave teh computers plugged into wall power if yo uget them going, at least until you cn repalce the batteries.
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Feb 16, 2014 7:13 PM in response to Allan Jonesby guillaumefromsomewhere,I am not using an apple keyboard simply because I dont have one , I am using a wireless standard keyboard so maybe the emac doesn't regognise it, though it should. I have installed Ubuntu 13.00 on the HDD from another computer to try and fix it, and it boots on other computers, but I now know that I need to respecify the Boot disk. This is such a simple thing to do but its just finding the key to get past that first window. I tryed the Shift key but did not work.
Could you please give me a list of eMac hotkey's that can be used before OS boot from a standard Windows keyboard?
If nothing works I will get a cable keyboard, and if still not working then I will try to get a cheap apple keyboard.
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Feb 17, 2014 1:10 AM in response to guillaumefromsomewhereby Jan Hedlund,Hi,
>I am using a wireless standard keyboard so maybe the emac doesn't regognise it
Installation of driver software may be required. Do not expect any wireless device to automatically work with a Mac unless guaranteed to do so. In a case like this, use a wired USB keyboard (a PC keyboard should be OK) and a wired mouse to begin with.
>I have installed Ubuntu 13.00 on the HDD from another computer.
Is it a version for PowerPC?
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCDownloads
>a list of eMac hotkey's that can be used before OS boot from a standard Windows keyboard?
Could the following article be of interest?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970299
If/when starting from a bootable CD, press and hold the C key.
Jan
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Feb 17, 2014 7:32 AM in response to guillaumefromsomewhereby Allan Jones,★HelpfulA wireless keyboard is likely unsupported. Bluetooth was an rarely installed option in eMacs becasue there weren't that many BT devices in 2002-2005. The only way to get a wireless keyboard to work is with a USB Bluetooth dongle.
Even then, some at-boot keyboard commands may not work from any non-Apple keyboard. The two Apple USB keyboards shipped with eMacs were models were the very common M7803, and the newer A1048. Both show up on the used market for not much money.