[Klennop]

I have a 350mhz 6GB 128MB iMac runnin OS9.?. When I try and start up the machine, a screen comes up and it shows a folder in the center of the screen where a question mark and the mac face flash on and off between each other(if I remember correctly). It doesn't show anything on the desktop but that single folder with the flashing icon, no hardrive icon, etc. I have tried zapping the PRam with no luck. Then I tried to get the machine to boot up off of a Norton CD and it will not boot up from the CD. So now I have my Norton CD stuck in the drive and the computer will not eject it. I tried holding down the mouse button to get it to eject with no luck. It is a slot style. Any ideas on how to fix this beast?? Also if I have to try and find a replacement part, how can I identify my imac from all the others.

These are the numbers I got off of the back:
Family # M5521
825-4845-A
Serial #

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[rubberduck77]

This page from Apple support might be useful for you:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58465

For the question mark, this indicates that no start volume was found. Either your iMac has "forgotten" which was his start-up drive or there is a problem with the harddrive.

Afte you manage to get the stuck norton CD out, try booting off the Apple system CD that came with your iMac by pressing the "C" buttonwhen you switch the computer on and release only after you definitely know that the iMac does indeed boot off the CD Rom.
Then you can use the Apple disk utility to find out wht's happened to your harddrive.

Hope this helps!

[rubberduck77]

Originally posted by Klennop:
Also if I have to try and find a replacement part, how can I identify my imac from all the others?

Oh, and for the replacement parts: Nearly all macs use off-the-shelf parts nowadays, at least for stuff like memory or harddrives. So in case your hardrive is really broken, you might be able to replace it with a standard IDE drive you get at some PC store or online. If you do a search on these forums here, you will probably find instructions as to how replace the harddrive in a slot-loading iMac. CD Drive might be more complicated, but again, doing a search here might yield some results.

[rubberduck77]

In case you need to replace your harddrive, I found these instructions:
http://www.macworld.com/2001/10/bc/howtoimac/

[Klennop]

Thanks so much for your help, I have always had G4 towers at my workplace and they always had the little hole by the CD drive. I didn't want to try and shove a paperclip into the CD slot without knowing where exactly to put it. I got the Norton CD stuck in it by trying to boot off of the disc in the beginning, so I am not sure if my mac will boot off of the system disc, since it wouldn't do it for Norton. But hey now I can at lest get that disc out and give it a try. We have a spare hard drive here at work from another iMac so I will try and replace that tonight also.

Thanks Again

[rubberduck77]

Glad I could help! And good luck for your iMac still being bootable.

Hey, I had to help you since I was myself living and studying in Madison, WI last semester, so Wisconsin rang a bell

[Klennop]

The little iMac is now purring like a kitten. I got the CD out and then I booted off of the OS9 CD. Then I used the disc fist aid and it repaired something with the harddrive. I am going to hang on to the x-tra hard drive I have just in case it turns out to be a reoccurance.

Thanks Again!!!

[Captain Obvious]

Originally posted by Klennop:
The little iMac is now purring like a kitten. I got the CD out and then I booted off of the OS9 CD. Then I used the disc fist aid and it repaired something with the harddrive. I am going to hang on to the x-tra hard drive I have just in case it turns out to be a reoccurance.

Thanks Again!!!

This iMac should have a firewire port. If I were you I would buy or borrow a CD burner and back up your data now. Your harddrive may be on its last legs. If it goes out again there is no guarantee that it will come back to life with the same fix. If you feel like it you may want to check out the warranty date on the drive and see how much longer it is good for or if it has expired. If it is still valid it might be worth having the company replace it under the warranty.