333 imac not starting up

Betty Fooz · May 2nd, 2003, 07:41 PM

I have an imac 333 that will start-up. I have tried everything possible ( I think ). I heard that there is reset button on the motherboard, is this true?

MACSPECTRUM · May 2nd, 2003, 08:08 PM

do u have a boot CD?
is your iMac running OS 9?
do you have any utility CDs?

turn on iMac, wait for, I assume, flashing question mark on system folder icon in middle of screen

insert OS 9 boot/install CD-ROM

does iMac boot?
if so, can you see the internal hard drive on the desktop?

if you can see the HD, do you have an way to make a backup?
if yes, copy ALL your data to backup device
if not, run the Apple Disk First Aid program on your OS 9 boot CD-ROM

what does it report?
what does it fix?

awaiting your replies.

Betty Fooz · May 2nd, 2003, 08:24 PM

the cd drive doesn't even try to load any disc. I tried pushing command+option+p+r to rstart three times and that didn't get the drive working. So I guess the main problem is to get the cd drive working first. Thanks for any help you can give me.

donut

MACSPECTRUM · May 2nd, 2003, 09:41 PM

it is a slot loading iMac i assume
and the CD won't even go into the iMac when the iMac is powered on?

please confirm

Fink-Nottle · May 2nd, 2003, 09:42 PM

Hi Donut,

Firstly, Macspectrum's advice is all good... let us know precisely what the symptoms are. From your post, I'd say the most likely explanation is that the HD has blown. When this happens, it often prevents the CD drive from working as they share the link to the motherboard.

Let us know the answers the macspectrum's questions... but if you boot to a 'flashing ?' and can't boot from the CD, I would start by opening up the unit, disconnecting the HD and attempting again to boot from the CD. iMacs are a HUGE pain to open up by the way and I've had to persuade many an errant screw out of the shell. Good luck!

dthompson101 · May 2nd, 2003, 09:54 PM

There is indeed a reset button on the inside of the motherboard for the machine. Chances are that you don't have to reset this, as usually a manual (soft) reset of the PRAM works fine.

You could always try the open firmware reset at boot and see if that makes a difference.

Betty Fooz · May 2nd, 2003, 10:16 PM

donut again, the machine is a tray loading imac. When I load the cd in it makes a rrrr sound and that's it...nothing. I keep getting that annoying "?" disk flashing. what started the whole thing was it had os10.2.4 and it belongs to my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law god bless her heart tends to erase files for no reason or moves them. Anyways she tried to put on game for my daughter (which required classic) the computer was saying it couldn't find classic. I found the os9 start-up folder in system preferences and tried to start the computer up in classic. Now I don't know if she erased something or what, but it wouldn't reload. I tried to start-up in osx using the control panels menus off of the os9(cd) but it wasn't there, all that was there was os9cd and network. I then went home for the night. I went over the next and she left the computer on all night with the "?" flashing, she thought the computer would eventually find it. Now the cd drive won't even register that there is a cd in there. So I am starting to think the only way out of this is to reset using the switch on the mother board, or trying to disconect the hard drive from the drive like someone(i am sorry i forgot your name) suggested.

donut

MACSPECTRUM · May 2nd, 2003, 10:42 PM

try this.
insert boot CD into iMac
turn off iMac, via power switch if possible, pull power plug if necessary - make sure power is off, not just asleep

turn on iMac and immediately depress the "C" key to try and engage the CD-ROM

hold down shift key once happy face is up to disable all extensions, faster boot and avoids any potential issues.

taking apart an iMac is something that I don't wish upon anyone.

keep us up to date

Betty Fooz · May 2nd, 2003, 10:45 PM

I have already tried this and it doesn't work. thanks though.

MACSPECTRUM · May 2nd, 2003, 10:55 PM

i guess it's time to;

NOTE: only engage in a. if no longer under warranty

a. get a screwdriver and start playing computer techie - be careful of the iMac case, the plastic can be brittle after being "cooked" for a while - the iMac gets quite warm

b. take it to your local mac shop