Posted on 12/04/2004 7:19:56 AM PST by Gone_Postal
I have a problem with my Apple G3 and after a day of pulling out my hair, It dawned on me that the best place to have my questions answered is right here.
I had gotten my G3 when it was brand new, than gave it to my son, who after a few years gave it to my other son. The G3 having gone full circle I have it again.
The problem is I can't get it to boot, I have OSX and the update to it. When I start the system with OSX the installer never comes up, when I start the system with the OSX update the installer starts and proceeds untill it ask were to install it then says Hard drive dimmed because no preveice OSX installed.
I also have OS9 with the update and when I start the system with that I get a grey screen with a blinking icon,....the mac face to a question mark.
I would really apprectate any help to resolve this I want to use the mac for recording with pro tools
Clearly you're imagining this, because we're regularly assured around here that Macs are 100% problem-free.
Here's how to fix your problem:
1. Unplug your Mac.
2. Take to nearest trash receptacle.
3. Go buy a PC.
Yeah, this must be a problem with you, not the computer. But if it helps, my Windows computer booted fine today.
the mac is unpluged right now and I am using a PC for now
You didn't mention if you'd tried booting it from the installation OSX CD that came with it. Have you tried that?
First thing I'd do is get some free anti viral and spy ware programs off the web and clean it up. I've got three kids and a community computer; it gets so loaded with crap that it barely turns on. It'd be worth a shot.
The question mark is a sign of not having a 'blessed' system folder.
I'd boot from the system disk, run disk first aid, at least, and try again.
If you have any higher grade disk repair software (tech tool, norton, disk warrior), I'd give them a shot first.
Following that, if the G3 has never had OSX on it, I'd check re: firmware updates, minimum version of OS9 needed, etc.
Good luck.
Buy a Windows-based platform.
And if all else fails, get Jobs over to sprinkle holy water on your hard drive ;)
Whoops. Posted to the wrong person. Not enough coffee.
Try again...
The question mark is a sign of not having a 'blessed' system folder.
I'd boot from the system disk, run disk first aid, at least, and try again.
If you have any higher grade disk repair software (tech tool, norton, disk warrior), I'd give them a shot first.
Following that, if the G3 has never had OSX on it, I'd check re: firmware updates, minimum version of OS9 needed, etc.
Good luck.
And ignore the heathens.
One possibility: newer versions of OSX require built-in USB. Is the G3 an older model, with ADB ports?
It has USB built in along with firewire
Well, so much for that.
Usually if you can't get it to boot from the CD, it means your computer needs to go to the shop. Before you do that however, you might want to call Apple's Tech Support hotline @ 1-800-SOS-APPL. If it isn't under warranty or the Apple Care program, you might have to pay for their help. Or, you can go to http://www.apple.com/usergroups/find/ and see if anyone there has any suggestions for you.
Our problems are vastly more elegant than yours.
;-)
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