Indigo imac no booty!?!

[edsdesk]

First imac here, first mac ever. Not sure of model, but there is no manual eject hole by disc slot.

Problem: Powers up, sounds like data moving in HDD, but it stops at a little mac icon then shows a little floppy with a blinking "?".

Is this a wiped disc? Or is this a SCSI problem? Can I get into CMOS SETUP in a mac? If so HOW??

Also note, I have tried to insert various discs, (CD's and DVD's) non seem to even want to start (don't they get pulled in about halfway?), and I don't wishh to insert them any forther than I can pull them back out. I do not have a disc for any MAC OS, but I'm guessing the machine likes 8.x thru 9.x.

Whehther or not it is a DVD model remains to be seen!

I copied these from the plate:
M 5521 DHHS CODE CH
EMC # 1857
SN#YM031ARXJAU

If they indicate what model it is, it might be helpful, I was told it is a Indigo 400mhz version, came from an art gallery office, as is, cheep but filthy! Has no books or discs at all, but pro kbd and hockeypuck mouse.

I'd hoped it might need a reset or something simple, and if needed I have a seagate 50gb LVD SCSI drive, but I'm confounded by the lack of CDrom drive function, as well as the blinking "?" .

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

[Buzz]

Hi edsdesk,

First, Macs are not PCs :) There is no CMOS SETUP for a Mac.They impy do not operate that way.

The blinking quetion mark means that the Mac can not find a boot volume or folder. This could mean a few things.... 1) the boot folder (system folder) is there but there's a problem withthe boot sequence recognizing it. 2) There is no boot volume/folder or 3 the boot volume/folder is badly damaged and the Mac can't use it to boot up.

In any of these cases you need a boot disk/CD for the Mac. There's really no other way to get around it.

Chances are the Indigo iMac has a CD/DVD ROM in it. to boot from a Mac CD (yes it has to be a Mac CD) insert the CD before boot. hold down the C key on the keyboard and then boot up the Mac. That should force the Mac to boot from the CD.

One thing to try is to wipe the Priority RAM on boot. That's the little bit of RAM that contains clock, date color settings, etc. Hold down the P, R, Option and Command(Apple) keys when the Mac boots up. You'll hear the chime. Keey the keys pressed until you hear the chime 5 times then let go and see if the Mac will boot up.

Without a boot disk, there's really little more I can suggest.

The blinkign question mark also indicated the iMac is running some flavor of OS9 since the Indigo iMacs could not run OS8.6 and OSX would have a different screen.

[edsdesk]

thanks, I wish I knew how to guess the correct OS here, but I've been told that any later version install disc will rewrite over what ever is here. Two people said panther is the way to go.

It looks like they deleted things to sell the machine (I hope)

The chime trick didn't change a thing, I guess that means the OS (or its remains) are useless.

Next stop, fleabay!

[Buzz]

Panther is a good OS but you need at least 512mb of RAM to really get it to run well.

Installing another OS won't necessarily wipe the drive. Youcan do what's called a Clean Install. Which will leave the current system untouched and install a second operating system on the drive. All the Mac OS installers have this option.

[edsdesk]

That is a good idea, but I still have no idea how much drivespace there is, some of these came with teensy weensy little drives. I think I can scrounge up a pair for 512 around here... if I can find an affordable panther or jaguar version. I wish I knew of some way to identify this rom drive...CD or DVD capable (?) It seems critical since some OS sets are DVD only.

[Buzz]

If it looks like this model....

http://www.lowendmac.com/imacs/350.html

It's a CD ROM only. No DVD support. That model also came with a 7gb Hard Drive.

[edsdesk]

Is is true that I cannot use the 56k dialup modem in this machine after an upgrade? Original 9.2.1 is now updated to 9.2.2 and it has absolutely no way I can find to get this modem working!!

i dont have a 9.2.1 disc of any sort, nor an external modem of any kind!!

HEEEEEELLLLLPPP:eek:

[Buzz]

Internal modem should work fine Ed. Hmmmm.... I'll do some digging. I can't imagine why it wouldnt' work though. 9.2.2 was the last release of OS9 and to the best of my knowledge it was designed for complete suppor tfor all Mac models which had a usb connection in them. This includes all iMac models. Liek I said I'll do a little digging and see if I can find anything on the internal modem problem and get back to you as soon as I can.

[edsdesk]

Thanks buzz, it's possible that the previous owner(s) had a prior network arrangement that obliterated the modem controller. I can't tell, and I don't have the original admin password (yet) but I'll try to get it. There's several past users, and it looks like a variety of hookups, can't yet decipher all this stuff. It's all big city networks, now defunct users.

I have dialup here. and ( please don't laugh) aohell only. And no doubt lots of updatesto do if I ever can log on.

Why donesn't the modem even show up in control panels???? What are these mac folks thinking?

Thanks again, Ed

[edsdesk]

It is now OSX 10.1.3 and still no modem!! Shouldn't it at least show up in hardware? 9.2.2 is in a folder in the desktop!! sheesh! this is whack

[Buzz]

Yeha if there is an internal modem it'l show up in teh system profiler whether it works or not.

[edsdesk]

In OS 10 modem (handset symbol) is on the bar on top right (inactive, but opens), but It's not in system properties. I'm guessing it should be between kybd and mouse in the HDWR row..


Yesterday a box said something about "cant find modem because can't find controller (???)

Dial tone tests good in cable, but never gets in to this machine. The rj11 jack looks ok too.

What is that 2nd little reset botton with "v" for?

[edsdesk]

The modem was unchecked in extensions, in the underlying 9 version!! It took me a freekin day to find it !!

[Buzz]

Glad you got it working ed.. thing is.. that OS9 extension shouldn't have effected OS10.1.x. That part is odd.

[edsdesk]

I still can't find how to turn it on in 10.1.3. I get into system extensions, all names abbrv. and nothing will open! It is pointless gibberish!

[Buzz]

It'll actually be listed in System preferences (From the Apple menu in the upper left corner or from the dock), the network preference pane in OSX

[edsdesk]

Nope, it's never appeared in there, I'm guessing it NORMALLY shows up between keyboard and mouse ?



I think it failed to load when the underlying 9.x.x didn't have it installed. That has now been fixed, and it's working...



Do yuo think I can repair the harware build with the original install disc 10.1.3 at boot? OR should I see if the system restore set (4 discs) will find and install it? Should the restore set be used if the partition is not actually damaged?

I gotta quit using "partition"....I gueSs it's called a "folder"!

Ed

[edsdesk]

It (the modem) does appear as the last tab in the network box there. It seems to be selected right, same as in 9. It simply cannot be found. Maybe I need a later version of aohell too.

I'll check back soon

[edsdesk]

SEEMS THAT ALL PROGRAMS MUST BE REWRITTEN AFTER AN UPGRADE, AND AN UPDATE IS A HOAX!

I think that this is the last mac I will ever own. I now remember all the advice given me prior to this romp.

I can't install 10.3.3 either, seems I need another "firmware" upgrade (hoax). Having spent two days trying to download/install stuff, I quit.

Why, after all these years, is the prerequisite "stuffit" STILL NOT INCORPORATED? and.....why is it not FUNCTIONAL?

[Buzz]

Ed, Macs are no different than PCs. When Windows XP was released, software had to be upgraded to work with it. OSX is no different. And Firmware updates aren't hoaxes. They are ways that Apple helps you keep an older system alive for longer periods of time. MOST if not all the issues you are experiencing are from trying to run 2004 software on a 2000 iMac. Don't blame all Macs for your unfamiliarity with them.

[edsdesk]

Yes, Buzz, you are right, I have found three things...

You can't upgrade this system beyond where it is (10.1.3), there is no firmware update, regardless of what the OS 10.3.3 tells you.

You can't install 10.1.5 either, since it will not download completely on dial-up modem, and also requires non existent firmware upgrade.

If explorer is damaged in such clumsy attempts as mine, the entire OS, IE and AOL must be reinstalled in the 9.x.x partition to work on the web again!

Thanks for your patience, I now have a functioning 10.1.3 machine, with a functioning 9.2.2 underneath, I should be happy with it as it is!

Ed (Laura-Li-Loo) Hart :wave:


Seuss Rulz!

[Buzz]

Which firmware update is it that's needed do you know?
Do you know what firmware the iMac has currently (Apple system Profiler will tell you)?

If OS10.3 is telling you that you need a firmware update then there is one available. Other wise the installer would say that your Mac is not supported. The trouble comes when actually trying to FIND the firware update. And youre' right, over a dial up it can be troublesome since Apple is in the "broadband" mindset anymore with 20+ mb files to download.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75130

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60458

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75111

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120048

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58178

A chart of firmware updates:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117


it looks to me as though you may need the 4.1.9 update which is my first link above.


And firmware installation instructions which have to be run from OS9.x
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60385

[edsdesk]

got it up to 10.3.5, after a real aol ordeal.

Next...I'll look into hardware!

Thanks for your help and patience :wave:

Ed

[Buzz]

I'm glad it's worked out Ed. Thanks for letting me know.