[Luci]

For your consideration:

G3 B&W 300Mhz (Rev 1 Yosemite) #SG915144G9D
120 Gig Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 ATA/133
512MB PC 100 Ram
17” Apple Studio Display (CRT)
Apple B&W G3 Keyboard (USB)
Apple mono-mouse
OS 9.2.2 (including Firmware update for Rev. 1 G3)
OS 10.3.8
No third party software.
No PCI cards added in.

A few days ago I installed 10.3.8 via Software Update.
Before the install I ran permission repair until no repairs were reported.
After the install I repeated permission repairs until no repairs were reported (most of the reported repairs dealt with MS Entourage, which I find interesting as I do not have any third party software on the G3)

On restart I got a Kernel Panic message (“You should restart your computer…”)
I restarted and received the same message after each of four consecutive restarts.
On the fifth restart I got a blue screen and a frozen cursor. No functionality of the keyboard, mouse, power or restart buttons.

I rebooted from the Panther (retail) install disc (#1) and started disc utilities. I repaired the disc using Disc Utility and was told that it checked out “OK”.
Next I attempted permission repair on the hard drive but I got an error message saying : ”Disc utility has lost its connection with the disc management tool and cannot continue…” I was instructed to quit Disc Utility but the user interface became frozen, I had no control over the keyboard, mouse, power or restart buttons.

I unplugged EVERYTHING and then plugged it all back in (cpu, monitor, mouse and keyboard, nothing else), held the “c” key down and pressed the power button on the front of the G3. After about two minutes there was a grey Apple logo with a spinning “spoked(?)” wheel in the bottom center of the screen. After observing this behavior for twelve minutes I decided to take a long hot shower. The shower was every thing I hoped it would be. Forty-five minutes later I was back in front of the G3, which sometime during my shower, went into Kernel Panic mode (“…we’re hanging here.”). Restart (still from Panther Disc) attempt ends in blank, blue screen.

I unplugged the cpu because the power/reset buttons were unresponsive. When I plugged it back in I was able to get Disc Utility to erase the Hard Drive and then I re-installed Panther. I ran the software updates, repairing permissions before and after each update session. On the last permission repair after installing 10.3.8, I got an error message saying : ”Disc utility has lost its connection with the disc management tool and cannot continue…” I was instructed to quit Disc Utility but the user interface became frozen, I had no control over the keyboard, mouse, power or restart buttons. I unplugged the cpu because the power/reset buttons were unresponsive. When I plugged it back in I was able to get Disc Utility to erase the Hard Drive and then I removed the Maxtor hard drive.

When I got these G3’s (there are five of them) they all had 6 gig Maxtor (model #90648D3) Apple branded (they got this itty bitty Apple logo on ‘em) Hard Drives. Before I removed them I was careful to update the OS software on each one, so that IF I were to run into trouble with a Hard Drive I would have these working drives that would at least allow me access to my back up files stored on other computers on my LAN. All of the 6 Gig drives (five all together) were updated to OS 10.3.7 using the Software Update control panel and showed no need of any further updates before being removed from the system and stored in Static Proof sleeves, in a wooden box.

At this point I want to emphasize that between November 10th 2004 and about February 25th 2005, I was running 120 Gig Maxtors in these G3’s with no problems what so ever. The trouble started when I installed the SecUpd2005-002Pan.pkg and the 10.3.8 update.

Wanting to be sure that I wasn’t fighting a bad Hard Drive, I installed one of the original Apple Hard Drives in the G3, which worked like a charm UNTIL I ran Software Update and installed the updated software. I repaired permissions before and after installing each package(!) After I installed 10.3.8 and tried to run Repair Permissions, I got the ”Disc utility has lost its connection with the disc management tool and cannot continue…” message with ALL the afore mentioned dysfunction. Kernel Panic, grey screen, blue screen, I had no control over the keyboard, mouse, power or restart buttons. I unplugged the cpu because the power/reset buttons were unresponsive.

If at first you don’t succeed, try the Apple Support site where thousands of lost souls seek the cool light of reason at the feet of genius, or something like that. There I learned that one must occasionally zap not only the PRAM but the Power Management Unit as well. I did these things. I followed the directions. You would not be reading this if it had worked!

Have I shown that there is a problem with 10.3.8 on 300Mhz, Rev1, B&W G3’s?
(Is there any value to this?)

I was able to recreate the dysfunction using all original Apple equipment (YES EVEN THE RAM!!!)

I still have ONE functioning Rev. 1 G3 with a Maxtor 120Gig in it. The difference between it and the other four is that I NEVER installed 9.2.2 or the Firmware Update that goes with 9.2.2 (they were all running OS 8.5 when I got them). It IS running 10.3.8 and a whole heap-o-third party software and RAM.

My opinion is that there is a compatibility problem between the OS 9.2.2 Firmware Update and 10.3.8

How do I delete firmware?
Can I “roll back” my OS to something that works without doing an Erase and Install (again)?

Is there any point to continuing and if so, in what direction?

My observation is that the Company that manufactured my computer has asked me to install software that makes their product unusable. I don’t recall anything about that in the EULA.

Thank you for your patience.
Luci

[Detrius]

Report this to Apple via their standard feedback channel:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback

Complaining in this board or even theirs will get nothing done.

[yikes600]

After reading your problem I was sure it was the Rev.1 G3 data corruption issue since you're using a fast hard drive on the faulty built in IDE controller. But since you said you tried going back to the original hard drive, I'm stumped. Still, I'd recommend putting that 120GB Maxtor on an ATA controller before the corruption bug bites you (it's not an issue of if, but when).

[Detrius]

Originally posted by yikes600:
After reading your problem I was sure it was the Rev.1 G3 data corruption issue since you're using a fast hard drive on the faulty built in IDE controller. But since you said you tried going back to the original hard drive, I'm stumped. Still, I'd recommend putting that 120GB Maxtor on an ATA controller before the corruption bug bites you (it's not an issue of if, but when).

I didn't even realize that this was common until I stumbled across it on my own on my server. I couldn't get a 4GB disk image to consistently checksum. Most of the time it would, but every once in a while, it would fail.

[Luci]

Originally posted by Detrius:
Report this to Apple via their standard feedback channel:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback

Complaining in this board or even theirs will get nothing done.

Thank you for taking the time to deal with this.

I have done as you suggested.

What are your thoughts on the type of PCI to IDE HD controller card that has been suggested (AEC 6880-M)? The deal is this: I was given five B&W G-3's because it cost less to give them away than to throw them away. My response has been to put a Gig of Ram and a 120 Gig HD inside and then pass them on to folks that could never afford a computer. Total cost per G-3, even after purchasing 10.3 was still less than the cost of a "Mini", around $350 each including shipping of the parts. If I buy these controler cards will I have built a better mac than I could purchase for the same money?

Thanx
Luci

[Luci]

Originally posted by yikes600:I'd recommend putting that 120GB Maxtor on an ATA controller before the corruption bug bites you (it's not an issue of if, but when). [/B]

Thanx

Most folks that I've talked to eventually come to the conclusion that you do.

SO... what's your favorite controller card and why?

Thank you again for your time.
Luci

[yikes600]

I'd recommend the Acard 6280M from NewEgg.com. It cheap, fast, and works great since its drivers are built-into OS X. The 6880M you mentioned is a RAID card and costs much more. You aren't creating a RAID.