[genep]

My iMac DV slot loader has degenerated to the point of not recognizing the CD drive. I believe I may have been the cause of this but am not sure what I did to cause it nor how to fix it. I am running OS 9.2 with an updated hard drive (60GB). I tried to run Norton Utilities 5.0 Speed disk to optimize the disk but started to run into problems (errors, bad media). All Norton and Disk First Aid checks showed everything was fine. But now the disk runs extremely slow (like each disk access take seconds, therefore just booting takes 20-30 minutes). Well, I had been booting from the 9.2 install CD and Norton's CD trying to figure out the problem. I had zapped pram already. I started up the iMac with an object (pencil and book) holding down the shift key to boot without extensions and went to dinner. When I came back the system was beeping and complaining. Subsequent attempts to boot had the harddrive repeatedly giving a thunk sound like it was trying to access an illegal/invalid block. So I found that I could no longer boot from the CD, the c-key no longer is recognized. I then disassembled the iMac and reset the Power Management unit on the logic board. No help. I then went into Open Firmware and reset nvram. No help. Obviously, the keyboard is still working since Open Firmware cmd-opt-o-f works. I also tried cmd-opt-shft-del to cycle to the CD. And I tried cmd-c to indicate the CD.


So, I seem to have done something where the firmware is not recognizing the CD any longer. I can only extract CD's by hitting the button inside the slot with a paperclip. Reinserting them doesn't seem to help.


Any suggestions would be helpful at this time. Once I can boot from CD again, I plan to reformat the drive and do a clean install (unless someone has a better suggestion).


Thanks,
Gene

[andi*pandi]

very similar problem here. iMac rev b w/sonnet upgrade choked when I plugged in my iPod. I rebooted and it wouldn't find the system, flashing ?. I booted from Norton, ran it several times (fixed major errors) until Norton said it was clean then restarted.

Again with the ? mark. Then I remembered this happening once before, and the solution then was to re-bless the system folder.

Have you done that? It may work for you, but not for me. Sigh.

I attempted to reboot from Nortons, and it got halfway thru and there was an error. I attempted to boot from my original imac disk. Same dice. I tried every system CD I had, even on an external CD drive, even my iPod (which has my system backup on it) with same results. (Forget the error message now. I think invalid parameter.) Grrr.

Finally the Techtool Pro CD would boot. I ran diagnostics. Aside from a few bad creation dates, Techtool Pro gave clean bill of health. I reblessed system folder (took system out and replaced) and happily rebooted.

Now it won't even boot from the Techtool Pro CD. I would happily reinstall the system if I could only get it to boot from anything. I don't want to wipe the disk as my backup is a few weeks old.



Any suggestions from anybody? How can I boot from another external device? How can I connect my hard drive to another computer to get the info off?

Don't have budget to buy new shiny imac right now. Do have brand new hard drive waiting for install, but want to get my data first.

[ThisGuy]

one thing to try is disconnecting the cable from the drive to the logic board and reseating it to make sure it is getting a good connection.

[genep]

Well, it turns out that I just couldn't be without a computer for the length of time it was taking. So I bought a new iMac 17", very nice. I got it at CompUSA which had an Apple employee on site. He was extremely helpful during my purchase. I asked him about my problem of not being able to access the CD for boot purposes, he suggested holding the option-key only and then you should get an option on the screen to select the boot device. I haven't tried it yet because I was too busy setting up my new iMac.

Does anyone else have experience using the option-key selection. I still have to fix my old iMac (which will now get delegated to the oldest son).

thanks,
Gene

[andi*pandi]

well, that's very nice for those who can afford it!

(we need a jealous smilie.)

Ok, you're forgiven. From searching this thread, I've found a few other things. You may want to search for these things (usually posted by victor marks, who rocks, but isn't reading this thread!)

rebless system folder

reset CUDA switch

I'm going to try for the CUDA tonight. If that doesn't work, it's pure data recovery time.

[genep]

Well, I know more about Open Firmware (OF) now. I've tried resetting the nv-ram (supposed to be same as PRAM reset), I've put setting back to default, and still can't get to the CD for booting. I've held down the option key for the OF system picker (or whatever its called) and get a very cryptic screen: there's a circle-arrow on the left and a right arrow on the right. The circle gives a busy cursor for a while and returns. The right arrow returns immediately. Neither seems to have an affect. Does anyone know about what these symbols mean?

I've also read that PRAM/nv-ram can be difficult to really clear sometimes and a suggestion is to remove the battery for 10 minutes - 24 hours (quite a range in suggestions). Does this ring true with anyone?

I also tried booting while holding the t-key, this is supposed to boot from a firewire device. All I have is a CD-RW with a OS9 boot disk but I can't get that to boot either. Anyone ever get a firewire CD to boot off an iMac slot loader? Is this the right way to do it?

I'm still trying to recover this perfectly good slot loader (well, execpt for this problem).

Hoping for some more help,
Gene

[andi*pandi]

ok, I haven't tried anything yet with mine (it depresses me to look at its poor black screen) but I have been doing some reading.

Apparently, one of the symptoms of a bad PRAM battery, in addition to resetting dates and such, is refusal to start from CD!

So maybe just install new PRAM Battery! I ordered one here.

Maybe it's just a $7 problem!

[genep]

So, I tried removing the battery and even shorted the terminals together to ensure PRAM was completely cleared. It still wouldn't boot from CD.

But.... when I disconnect the hard drive I can boot from the CD just fine. I know that the HD is 0 and CD is 1 on the ide chain. I can't switch the 2 physically (connectors are different). Is there some other method to reverse the 2 in the ide chain? Does anyone know what may have happened to the HD (like a driver issue)?

Still stumped!
Gene