[memory-minus]

Hello all--

Frustrating problem with my original (233 MHz) Bondi iMac. The hard drive died so installed a new one. I can boot off several different system software CDs (Panther, OS X Public Beta, and 9.2.1) and all of them see the hard drive and install the software without error. When I restart, however, I get a blinking question mark system folder. This happens over and over and it doesn't seem to make any difference what version of the OS I install. When the original hard drive died it was running 10.2.8.

>I have tried different sizes for the boot partition, all under 8 GB and some well under that limit.
>I have tried zapping the PRAM and resetting NVRAM.

I am about to go nuts... I know this guy has a little more life in it. Can anyone help?

[iLikebeer]

Did you install the firmware update 1.2?

This article says you need to install it in OS 9 before you install OSX.
http://www.wap.org/journal/irack/default.html

Get it here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60384 from apple. Not sure if this will help, I'm still on 8.6 using my Voodoo2.

Also, maybe try selecting your startup drive from system preferences.

[transferz]

Originally posted by iLikebeer:
Did you install the firmware update 1.2?

This article says you need to install it in OS 9 before you install OSX.
http://www.wap.org/journal/irack/default.html

Get it here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60384 from apple. Not sure if this will help, I'm still on 8.6 using my Voodoo2.

Also, maybe try selecting your startup drive from system preferences.

\
I had the same problem w. my imac 350mhz bluberry, but once i turned off my external rom drive it would quit.

[deboerjo]

Usually this problem is related to the hard drive's master/slave settings. Make sure it's set to "Master" or "Single Drive", not "Slave" or even "cable select". iMacs will refuse to boot off slave drives, even though you can install an OS to a slave drive just fine.

[memory-minus]

Originally posted by deboerjo:
Usually this problem is related to the hard drive's master/slave settings. Make sure it's set to "Master" or "Single Drive", not "Slave" or even "cable select". iMacs will refuse to boot off slave drives, even though you can install an OS to a slave drive just fine.

That got it... it was set to CS. Thanks!