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plyxrbo · Apr 3, 2005, 07:59 AM

I've got a sick 733MHz G4 PowerPC with 1GB of RAM and a CD ROM drive. Everytime I reboot, the CD rom drive opens up, consequently disabling any startup keystrokes (ex: holding down apple option to rebuild the desktop, or holding down c to boot from cd) that I might want to use to troubleshoot my MAC --I have Disk Warrior (3.0.2) and also my original 10.3 discs, but cannot load them due to this issue (they do appear on the desktop however).

I am running 10.3.8 by the way.

I am not holding down the mouse button either, which ejects a CD on bootup. I actually touch nothing on the keyboard or mouse during startup and the MAC acts like it has a mind of its own.

Can anyone help?

chris v · Apr 3, 2005, 09:53 AM

Does it do this even when you've selected the DiskWarrior CD as your start-up disk?

Try holding down the option key, then shove the disk right back in when it spits it out. also zap PRAM a couple times. (hold down option+command+p+r on reboot until you've heard the chime 3 or 4 times, then let go.)

plyxrbo · Apr 3, 2005, 02:41 PM

yes, even if with the disc warrior cd (or even the mac os x 10.3) discs targeted as the startup disc. i have tried to manually hold the discs in, and it still attempts to spit them out.

in fact, nothing will happen (but a lot of disc churning) until i release it and then it will boot up normally when i let go.

i will try zapping pram a few times.

GSixZero · Apr 3, 2005, 02:51 PM

Dumb but necessary question:

The mouse button isn't being held down, is it? Maybe on accident?

plyxrbo · Apr 3, 2005, 02:55 PM

no, not touching anything.

do you think i should unplug the mouse on reboot to see if that could be causing it?

chris v · Apr 3, 2005, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by plyxrbo:
no, not touching anything.

do you think i should unplug the mouse on reboot to see if that could be causing it?

couldn't hurt. Have you tried the option key, where it lets you select the boot drive before continuing? Hold down option on re-boot, then shove the DiskWarrior CD back in-- it might recognize it then.

reader50 · Apr 3, 2005, 03:39 PM

What mouse are you using? Is it a wireless model? Are you using any other USB devices?

When did this behavior begin, and did you make any hardware or software changes right about then?

lkrupp · Apr 3, 2005, 04:28 PM

Your computer THINKS the mouse button is down for some reason. I would recommend booting with all USB devices disconnected, including the keyboard. If the CD tray stops opening then start adding devices one-at-a-time and restart to find the culprit. If the CD tray continues to open even with all USB devices disconnected then I would suppose you have some kind of corruption. That will be harder to find.

SMacTech · Apr 3, 2005, 05:39 PM

My dad had this same problem which was caused by a 3rd party keyboard. I gave him a apple pro keyboard after he had some key not working on the old one, and he called me to tell me the CDROM tray stopped sticking out on boot.

plyxrbo · Apr 3, 2005, 07:23 PM

thanks folks! it seems my kensington mouse was doing it...

as soon as i unplugged it and rebooted (holding down the C key) it started up from the diskwarrior cd.

i would have NEVER figured that one out on my own.

additionally, i was able to rebuild (replace?) my directory and i once again have a smiling, happy mac ... ooh, that's me smiling and happy.