Is it possible to "jumpstart" my iMac with my iBook? I don't see why not?

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Level 1

9 points

Is it possible to "jumpstart" my iMac with my iBook? I don't see why not?

Ok as you can see I have an iMac G3 350 mHz that runs Panther. The other day when my sister was on it, it froze up and subsequently kept getting stuck on startup, going no further. I stuck in Panther disc 1 and Verify and Repair weren't helping. I bought an iBook the other day with the main purpose for getting it being I in theory could use it to jumpstart the iMac should it fail again and sure enough on the day the iBook came the iMac did what I just mentioned. This morning I connected the two with an ethernet cable and held down opt while starting the iMac in an attempt to Network start the iMac c/o the laptop but no dice. How do I set this up? I don't see how it could be a problem as both this iBook and the iMac run 10.3.9. Could someone give me the lowdown on how I can set the iMac up to jumpstart via the iBook in the event of failure. It's a real PITA to have to keep going back and reinstalling all my software and settings every time the iMac goes down.

iMac (CRT), iBook G3 500 mHz, Mac OS X (10.3.9), 350 mHz G3, 1 GB RAM, Clearwire Wireless Broadband @786kbps Epson C40UX printer

Posted on Mar 23, 2007 7:04 PM

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Answer 1

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Mar 23, 2007 7:47 PM in response to MrSteve1337

You might try starting in verbose mode to see if you get any error message:
command-v
just after power on.

See other possibilities here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459

...

You could also look at console messages. Use the console application:
Applications > Utilities > Console

There are a lot of log files around. Not sure which ones to look in.

....

What did you do to get the machine running again?

Robert

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Answer 2

MrSteve1337 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 23, 2007 11:51 PM in response to rccharles

I still haven't got it running again, but when I do its usually a combination of completely erasing the HD, running verify/repair several times, zapping the PRAM and NVRAM via the firmware, leaving it off and unplugged for the greater part of the day and installing the OS and everything else from square one. Naturally all that gets old very quick and I hope to in the future to be able to connect the iMac to this iBook I now have to jump it long enough to repair whatever went bad in the iMac. I am actually working on this right now as I type and it has already kernel paniced twice as I'm working to reinstall Panther.

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Answer 3

MrSteve1337 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 23, 2007 11:55 PM in response to rccharles

If I could access console, that would mean the OS runs good enough for the computer to work so I wouldn't even be posting this question in the first place.

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Answer 4

Mar 24, 2007 5:16 PM in response to MrSteve1337

It really sounds like you have a bad hard drive. Is it the original drive?

The boot-up using the iBook won't be reliable (I'm surprised it works at all) because the two machines will need differing specific boot files. Once the iMac has a reliable system, you can clone it to a seperate partition of the iBook for emergencies.

I think you are going to have to get a new, reliable hard drive.

David

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Answer 5

MrSteve1337 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 24, 2007 8:04 PM in response to David Jenson

No, it is not the original HD it is a larger one I installed about 2 months ago. I did try starting it up in verbose mode and it said the video ROM was going bad, but what should that matter so long as the rest of it works. It would be ridiculous if just that would be enough to make the iMac fail so comprehensively but after all the surprises this machine has given me I wouldn't be at all surprised. This iMac have severely eroded a lot of my confidence in Apple and while it isnt enough to make me go for a PC, it is still highly disheartening.

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Answer 6

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Mar 26, 2007 8:50 AM in response to MrSteve1337

Sorry, but there is no way to boot the iMac 350 MHz from any iBook.

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Answer 7

MrSteve1337 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 26, 2007 9:08 AM in response to Duane

Ok, but do you have any tips to make my iMac less consistently FUBAR? Did Apple intentionally install an intermittent self-destruct module in the 350 mHz G3 iMacs? I'm just being facetious here, but it seems every other time I try to make an upgrade or some token improvement to the iMac it behaves as if it is making a concerted effort to say in effect "F#*% you" I mean just when I get it running nice and reliable, it delivers me another kick in the nuts and fails in some other way.

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Answer 8

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Mar 26, 2007 9:48 AM in response to MrSteve1337

I have an iMac 350 MHz which is very stable and just keeps chugging along.

It sounds like you may have a failing hard drive or motherboard. You could replace the hard drive and see if your troubles go away.

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Answer 9

MrSteve1337 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 28, 2007 6:54 PM in response to Duane

The HD is brand new and I installed it personally. If the motherboard is bad than I am totally screwed, no?

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Answer 10

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Mar 29, 2007 6:10 AM in response to MrSteve1337

If the motherboard is defective, it will need to be replaced.

There is one last ditch thing you can try. There is a slight chance that a dead PRAM battery on the motherboard is causing your problems. It would certainly be worth a try before ditching the iMac or replacing the motherboard.

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