what does this mean?

chris041067 · 01-01-2004, 08:47 PM

when i start up in panther..first an icon with an earth on it comes up, then a folder with a flashing question mark..what do these things mean? is there a way to make them go away?

DeltaMac · 01-01-2004, 09:00 PM

Does your system continue to start and get to the Finder? If so, you need to make sure that your Startup Disk is selected properly (in System Preferences) If your system is not starting at all except for the flashing question mark, a good first step is to boot with your Panther install CD in the drive, while holding the 'C' key. You'll boot to the OS X installer. At the language selection screen, click on the installer MENU, choose Disk Utility. When that opens, click on your drive. then click on the Repair button, something may be repaired. When that completes, then click repair permissions. this will take several minutes. If no major errors are reported (such as 'encountered a problem that cannot be repaired) then QUIT the utility, and Quit the installer, and let the system reboot, check the Startup Disk to assure it is appropriately set for your system.
Any Major problems, let us know here.

chris041067 · 01-01-2004, 09:08 PM

thanks for the help - somehow my startup disk had been changed to search for a network volume - i was able to change it back to osx.

I also had another problem - it probably shouldnt go here but im going to put it here anyway to see if anyone can help.

When i start up my iMac 400 mhz DVSE, the little smiling mac comes up, it waits a minute or so, goes to a blank grey screen, then just stops. Nothing else happens. I have tried and tried everything i can think of but nothing seems to work. I cant even get it to shut down without just unplugging it. I tried startin up from the cd, but that freezes too...

DeltaMac · 01-01-2004, 11:19 PM

Have you changed any hardware recently?
(memory, external devices of any kind)
How long has this been happening?
guesses - failing HD - bad RAM - dead battery
Batteries die in these old iMacs...
Try an NVRAM reset
NO external devices, except keyboard w/mouse (in keyboard)
Hold Apple-Option-O-P at power on
you'll get a light grey screen with dark text
type reset-nvram and press enter
you get an OK
type set-defaults and press enter
you get an OK
type reset-all and press enter
system will reboot
now try to boot to a startup CD by holding letter C (CD in drive)

chris041067 · 01-01-2004, 11:27 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by DeltaMac Have you changed any hardware recently? (memory, external devices of any kind) How long has this been happening? guesses - failing HD - bad RAM - dead battery Batteries die in these old iMacs... Try an NVRAM reset NO external devices, except keyboard w/mouse (in keyboard) Hold Apple-Option-O-P at power on you'll get a light grey screen with dark text type reset-nvram and press enter you get an OK type set-defaults and press enter you get an OK type reset-all and press enter system will reboot now try to boot to a startup CD by holding letter C (CD in drive)

1) yes i installed an airport card, but that wouldnt work so I took it out.

2)it just started happening yesterday.

3) will reseting everything like that erase anything as far as files or preferences i have set?

4) which cd should i start from?

chris041067 · 01-01-2004, 11:39 PM

i tried holding down apple-option-o-p and i still just get to a blank grey screen

mervTormel · 01-01-2004, 11:48 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by DeltaMac ...Hold Apple-Option-O-P at power on you'll get a light grey screen with dark text type reset-nvram and press enter you get an OK type set-defaults and press enter you get an OK type reset-all and press enter system will reboot ...

Hold Apple-Option-O-F at power on

to boot into Open Firmware

chris041067 · 01-02-2004, 12:06 AM

nope, didnt do anything. when it restarted it did the same thing again, blank grey screen. And just for kicks i tried typing mac-boot from there and that didnt do anything either. Anything else i can try?

DeltaMac · 01-02-2004, 08:37 AM

thanks, mervTormel! My bad - Opt, Apple, O, F for sure.

the Open Firmware screen will be light grey(almost white) with small black text. Is the screen you get totally blank? no text at all?
Do you hear a startup sound? (bong!)
Have you tried a P-RAM reset (hold Opt-Apple-P-R keys during power up) you should hear a startup sound every few seconds for as long as you continue to hold those 4 keys. Let that repeat about 5 times. Any bootable CD can be tried, (good one is your MAC OS install CD, or your iMac restore CD, but try again to boot to that CD. (again holding the C key)
Try reseating the memory (was the Airport card really removed completely, including the adapter bracket that the old iMac uses?)

01-01-2004, 08:47 PM	#1
chris041067 Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 39	what does this mean? when i start up in panther..first an icon with an earth on it comes up, then a folder with a flashing question mark..what do these things mean? is there a way to make them go away?

01-01-2004, 09:00 PM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,531	Does your system continue to start and get to the Finder? If so, you need to make sure that your Startup Disk is selected properly (in System Preferences) If your system is not starting at all except for the flashing question mark, a good first step is to boot with your Panther install CD in the drive, while holding the 'C' key. You'll boot to the OS X installer. At the language selection screen, click on the installer MENU, choose Disk Utility. When that opens, click on your drive. then click on the Repair button, something may be repaired. When that completes, then click repair permissions. this will take several minutes. If no major errors are reported (such as 'encountered a problem that cannot be repaired) then QUIT the utility, and Quit the installer, and let the system reboot, check the Startup Disk to assure it is appropriately set for your system. Any Major problems, let us know here.

01-01-2004, 09:08 PM	#3
chris041067 Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 39	thanks for the help - somehow my startup disk had been changed to search for a network volume - i was able to change it back to osx. I also had another problem - it probably shouldnt go here but im going to put it here anyway to see if anyone can help. When i start up my iMac 400 mhz DVSE, the little smiling mac comes up, it waits a minute or so, goes to a blank grey screen, then just stops. Nothing else happens. I have tried and tried everything i can think of but nothing seems to work. I cant even get it to shut down without just unplugging it. I tried startin up from the cd, but that freezes too...

01-01-2004, 11:19 PM	#4
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,531	Have you changed any hardware recently? (memory, external devices of any kind) How long has this been happening? guesses - failing HD - bad RAM - dead battery Batteries die in these old iMacs... Try an NVRAM reset NO external devices, except keyboard w/mouse (in keyboard) Hold Apple-Option-O-P at power on you'll get a light grey screen with dark text type reset-nvram and press enter you get an OK type set-defaults and press enter you get an OK type reset-all and press enter system will reboot now try to boot to a startup CD by holding letter C (CD in drive)

01-01-2004, 11:39 PM	#6
chris041067 Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 39	i tried holding down apple-option-o-p and i still just get to a blank grey screen

01-02-2004, 12:06 AM	#8
chris041067 Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 39	nope, didnt do anything. when it restarted it did the same thing again, blank grey screen. And just for kicks i tried typing mac-boot from there and that didnt do anything either. Anything else i can try?

01-02-2004, 08:37 AM	#9
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,531	thanks, mervTormel! My bad - Opt, Apple, O, F for sure. the Open Firmware screen will be light grey(almost white) with small black text. Is the screen you get totally blank? no text at all? Do you hear a startup sound? (bong!) Have you tried a P-RAM reset (hold Opt-Apple-P-R keys during power up) you should hear a startup sound every few seconds for as long as you continue to hold those 4 keys. Let that repeat about 5 times. Any bootable CD can be tried, (good one is your MAC OS install CD, or your iMac restore CD, but try again to boot to that CD. (again holding the C key) Try reseating the memory (was the Airport card really removed completely, including the adapter bracket that the old iMac uses?)