Imac G3 won't boot

3 days ago my 1999 slot loading imac g3 350mhz 128mb of ram froze. after restarting it i got a screen with a floppy disk with a blinking question mark.

I tried to reinstall MacOs 9.2 but got the same thing after installing. I also tried MacOs 10.1.3, 10.4 but they wouldn't even boot the installer. Linux for ppc didn't work ether.

I tried switching hard drives and replaced the clock battery but that didn't work.

if anyone can help please say something.

This almost always means the computer can't find an OS installation to boot from. Swapping the HD was a good idea.

Are you reinstalling OS 9.2 from a CD? Does the computer recognise the CD...and does the OS install appear to go normally & finish to completion?

- Nick

Maybe the drive connector cable needs replacing?

pigoo3 said:

This almost always means the computer can't find an OS installation to boot from. Swapping the HD was a good idea.

Are you reinstalling OS 9.2 from a CD? Does the computer recognise the CD...and does the OS install appear to go normally & finish to completion?

- Nick

Click to expand...

yes OS 9 was reinstalling from a CD and looked like it install perfectly except it wouldn't boot the installed OS after.

ferrarr said:

Maybe the drive connector cable needs replacing?

Click to expand...

this can't be it because i also tried installing to usb

the computer works fine booting from the os 9.2 installer but won't boot anything else

Have you tried doing a PRAM reset??

Or maybe some of the other suggestions here:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mac+G3+reset&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

And I think the old trick of powering down, and unplugging the power and leaving it that way overnight, then power it up a try again the next day sometimes works with those Macs.

It can't hurt to try but does take some time.






- Patrick
======

I'm sure given the age iMac G3's...we're all a little bit rusty with how to troubleshoot them. Once we get our collective thinking caps on...as long as there's not some sort of serious hardware failure involved...I think we should be able to get this old-warhorse working again.

- Nick

I'm sure given the age iMac G3's...we're all a little bit rusty with how to troubleshoot them.

Click to expand...

How true Nick!! ;D

I have a bit of a nagging thought that those Macs could do such a thing when their PRAM battery got too low. They use the pretty standard 1/2 AA 3.6V battery that most computer places sell and shouldn't cost much more than $10.00, if that.

PS: They can be changed through the access door normally used for replacing the RAM with the Mac face down on a towel etc., and with the help of a long screwdriver to loosen it, and one of those extension parts thumb operated grabber tools to grab it and lift it out and to lower the replacement battery into place, and force it into the clips with the screwdriver blade. Most $Stores stock them.
Do make note of battery polarity before removing the battery if you go that route.




- Patrick
======

pm-r said:

How true Nick!! ;D

I have a bit of a nagging thought that those Macs could do such a thing when their PRAM battery got too low. They use the pretty standard 1/2 AA 3.6V battery that most computer places sell and shouldn't cost much more than $10.00, if that.

PS: They can be changed through the access door normally used for replacing the RAM with the Mac face down on a towel etc., and with the help of a long screwdriver to loosen it, and one of those extension parts thumb operated grabber tools to grab it and lift it out and to lower the replacement battery into place, and force it into the clips with the screwdriver blade. Most $Stores stock them.
Do make note of battery polarity before removing the battery if you go that route.




- Patrick
======

Click to expand...

i just replaced the pram battery

Try to reset your Mac's PRAM. All you need to do is to shut down your Mac, then power it up, and before the gray screen appears, quickly hold down the Command, Option, P, and R keys, until hear the startup sound for a second time. If it does not work well then your next step is to reset your Mac's NVRAM. This steps sometimes work and there are no major risks of trying it out.

I fixed it turned out the cd drive i was installing from was dead.

Nice work. That didn't even occur to me.

timm said:

I fixed it turned out the cd drive i was installing from was dead.

Click to expand...

Hmmm…??? Strange considering what you said earlier:

timm said:

the computer works fine booting from the os 9.2 installer but won't boot anything else

Click to expand...

Oh well, at least you got things fixed.




- Patrick
======

pm-r said:

Hmmm…??? Strange considering what you said earlier:





Oh well, at least you got things fixed.




- Patrick
======

Click to expand...

Exactly my thinking?