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Beige 266 flashing drive thingy.

post #1 of 31
6/29/02 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 
Well, already ran into a problem.. I had just overclocked successfully to something around 290 mhz, and was restarting for the second time, and a disk drive icon comes popping up with a question mark.. And the system stays there while the hd spins up and down. Tried booting from a cd but I cannot get past this screen. So, any insight here would be nice.. Thanks.
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1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
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post #2 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:04pm
It's looking for a start-up disc is all. You should be able to start up off a cd if you hold down the apple and c key. It's sounds like you've tried to start off the disc....maybe try again.
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post #3 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:08pm
I've never had a problem with the diskdrive with a question mark, but i've had a floppy witha question mark. perhaps we are just running different OSs.

Try this:
  • Make sure no cables came loose while you were mucking about in there.
  • Make sure external equipment is properly connected and on.
  • check for SCSI conflicts.
  • Rebless the System Folder.
  • Check for extension conflicts.
  • Reset the PRAM.
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post #4 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:14pm
  • Ebby
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Overclocked? I also have a beige G3. (Hint, hint). You might try to undo the overclocking, or clock it down a bit. Maybe it can't handle that speed anymore. It should start up off CD? That may be a bad CD, or *gasp* damaged hardware. Have you changed drives or messed with jumpers? Hey, you may try to set the CD to master. Hope something works. :cool:

EDIT- Yea, what that guy said. Except extension conflicts won't occur because the system hasn't loaded.

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]</p>
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post #5 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:16pm
Thread Starter 
Yes, I meant the flashing floppy drive.. I do not have any scsi devices either... Tried the C key many times, and it did not work. Zapped Pram at least 7 times. What is this blessing system folder thingy? Lol. All I can say at this point is it is driving me CRAZY. And yes I have checked ALL of the cables many times.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
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1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
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post #6 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:19pm
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Ooh, what about bad Ram? Would bad ram cause this?
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post #7 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:20pm
Thread Starter 
Oh yeah.. It is clocked back at the original speed. Still nothing. I have done absolutely NOTHING to the drives at all.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #8 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:21pm
Thread Starter 
And yep I have checked the ram. It is all fine. (Used it in my PC, tried using just one dimm etc)
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #9 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:24pm
  • Ebby
  • RIAA's Most Wanted
That sucks. My Beige G3 died 4 weeks ago. (The hard drive broke) and I still havn't got it working. (Facing $350+ in data recovery.) How many Hard drives do you have? Could you swap one out for another?

EDIT- My only other suggestion is to remove all 3rd party stuff. (cards, drives, and external stuff) to see if it works.

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]</p>
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post #10 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:28pm
Thread Starter 
I have another (unformatted) drive that I tried on it.. Same thing.. Spins up and back down.

EDIT-
Tried removing USB card.. Maybe will even try sound card here.

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Jeremiah Rich ]</p>
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #11 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:32pm
  • Ebby
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Sounds just like my drive. Spin up, but clicks, and spins down. This problem may be beyond me, since I don't know what killed mine. (But scratch the idea of replacing the drive with the new one. I failed to mention that BOTH my drives died that way)

EDIT- Sound card for a beige G3?

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]</p>
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post #12 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:37pm
Thread Starter 
Well, it is the card on the board. This is a dt, and the MT's have all of the tuner stuff on them too. And it can come out. But I have scratched that idea. I just now tried removing the drives from ALL of the other channels.. Same thing.. I tried putting a random disk in the floppy drive, and it had some weird x on the screen, and spit it back out. Obviously it is trying to boot from there, and does not seem to be recognizing the cd rom drive...
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #13 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:41pm
try reseating the IDE cable connectors on the motherboard. I've notice that when working on those machines, just due to the way it opens, that those connectors have a tendency to become unseated.
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post #14 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:46pm
Thread Starter 
Done that. Even tried different cables. No cigar. Grr. Now I reclocked it back to 266, I am not getting any display at all. Argh.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #15 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:48pm
  • Ebby
  • RIAA's Most Wanted
EDIT- Whoa! stop touching your computer. It's getting pissed!

Wow, I never thought of that cable-looseness thing. Something to remember. However my (Ebby's) problem is genuine. I used a firewire to IDE bridge and it can find all my drives except the stubborn 2.

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]</p>
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post #16 of 31
6/29/02 at 10:55pm
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CABLES! What kind of cables to you have? 40-PIN or 80-PIN? 40-PIN only work with ATA-33 drives.
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post #17 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:01pm
Thread Starter 
Yep. 40 pin. Now if I clock it to 292 OR 266, no display.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #18 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:06pm
Thread Starter 
Ok. Now I got the stupid display back. (It was a connector on the monitor) I am now trying a VERY old 3x NEC scsi cd rom drive to boot from. Anything I need to know about how to use it or boot up from it? Thanks.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #19 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:08pm
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AAgghhh!!!

I'm sorry. Someone else has to take over. I have no clue as to fix your problem, (or whatit is for that matter)



EDIT- wait a second. Is it actually booting now?

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]</p>
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post #20 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 
Nope. When I turn it on with the cd drive connected, it sits there right before the flashing floppy thing comes up (and never appears) and when I have it disconnected, it does the same darn thing that it did when I started this thread.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #21 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:21pm
[quote]Originally posted by Jeremiah Rich:
<strong>Ok. Now I got the stupid display back. (It was a connector on the monitor) I am now trying a VERY old 3x NEC scsi cd rom drive to boot from. Anything I need to know about how to use it or boot up from it? Thanks.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You should be able to boot from the CD just by holding down C on the keyboard.

Once you have been able to boot from the CD, you can try to rebless the system folder. To do this:
  • Boot from the CD
  • Open the System Folder
  • Double-click the system suitcase.
  • After the suitcase opens, close the suitcase and the System Folder windows and restart the computer.

If this doesn't work, try this:
  • Drag the System suitcase and Finder out of the System Folder.
  • Close the System Folder
  • Put the System Suitcase and Finder back into the System Folder.

The wierd x thing you were talking about was the computer trying to boot from the floppy and not finding the software.

I'm sure you did this, but make sure the connectors are securely connected to the HD and the motherboard. Sometimes they look connected but are still loose.

Hope this helps.
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post #22 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:22pm
[quote]Originally posted by Jeremiah Rich:
<strong>Nope. When I turn it on with the cd drive connected, it sits there right before the flashing floppy thing comes up (and never appears) and when I have it disconnected, it does the same darn thing that it did when I started this thread.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Are you booting from the original CD? That is, not a copy? If a copy isn't burned correctly, you aren't going to be able to start from it...
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post #23 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:27pm
Thread Starter 
It is the ORIGINAL OS9 cd. Booted from it just last night when I first got the system. Then I went back and just installed X by booting from it. And it ran fine up until when I first posted this message. The fact that it will not even boot from the SCSI interface sure is strange.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #24 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:49pm
Thread Starter 
Ok. Not much headway here, but I unplugged the IDE cable from the hd, and it stays "spun up". So it sure SEEMS like it is the bus that is at fault.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #25 of 31
6/29/02 at 11:52pm
[quote]Originally posted by Jeremiah Rich:
<strong>Ok. Not much headway here, but I unplugged the IDE cable from the hd, and it stays "spun up". So it sure SEEMS like it is the bus that is at fault.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't know what to tell you then. I don't know much about the bus, and I've already told you everything that I have learned when fighting with mine. Is it possible that the CD is damaged?
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post #26 of 31
6/30/02 at 12:12am
Thread Starter 
Not at all. Just checked it on my machine. Tried that AND the OSX cd. It seems to just not be reading the cd drive. Maybe I will try an IDE card sometime or something. All I know is this is really really strange. It seems to always want a floppy disk, but of course it should be able to boot from a cd. Maybe someone will have some ideas tomorrow, as it is late. (At least it is here)
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #27 of 31
6/30/02 at 1:17am
It's not that it wants a floppy disk, if i am understand you correctly. The flashing floppy is just an icon that was inherited from the days when you had system floppies instead of CDs. The flashing floppy is just telling you that the computer cannot find the system software. BTW, I dug out the "Emergency Handbook" that came with my beige G3, and all of the suggestions that are in it have been mentioned here. The final suggestion is to reinstall the system software. (Not that you would be able to without the Cd drive, but for what it's worth...)

Good luck.

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Stroszek ]</p>
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post #28 of 31
6/30/02 at 12:31pm
Okay, my info for you. You installed X? NOT GOOD! After upgrading the OS on any mac it doesn't like to boot off of any cd older then the OS on the drive. Holding "C" is the yuppie way of booting. Have you tried, Apple + Option + Shift + Delete? (this is a force boot command). Also did you try powering everything down, removing the battery and reseting the motherboard (with that little switch).
When it's my turn to be God you're going to be in real trouble...
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post #29 of 31
6/30/02 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Ok. I also tried booting from the OSX cd. No go. Tried the apple option shift delete thing. Once again: no go. Tried all of the other things you mentioned again. Still no success. Tried even switching channels to see if it could read the cd. Nope. Once again I will reiterate: argh!
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #30 of 31
6/30/02 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 
YES!!!! I tried the apple shift delete option thing while disconnecting the hd. And it booted from the OSX cd. Now I put the hd back, and it appears to be working. Thanks a bunch for all of the help!
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
post #31 of 31
6/30/02 at 1:19pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry for all the topics. I had another road block.. Removed the OSX cd and restarted.. Started showing the message "Cannot open" over and over.. Neways, I put the OS9 cd back in and started up from it. Then changed the startup disk back to the harddrive and it seems to be working great. Once again thanks so much for the help.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
1 Peter 1:6-7
Powerbook G4 12" 1.33ghz, 60gig hd, 1.25 gigs ram.

Powermac G4 "Sawtooth" 400 mhz, 80gig hd, 384mb of ram, Rage 128 Pro graphics.
Reply
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