[renavoo]

Hi, I have an iMac g4 1.25ghz with a sony superdrive. I just bought it off of e-bay. I tried reinstalling the OS (panther) and found that the computer won't boot off of a dvd. (I put the disk in, shut down the computer, pressed "c", and then turned on the computer, all the while pressing "c". I did this multiple times and each time, the computer just booted normally. Finally, I just clicked on the icon while the computer was on, let the computer restart and boot off the disk itself. That worked, so Panther is happily runny on my computer. Was I doing something wrong or is there something wrong with the disk drive? It's working fine otherwise...reads and burns dvds and cds. Are there any possible implications associated with having a dvd drive that doesn't boot up using the "c" key? (ie is it a skip jump and hop away from dying?)

Also, when this computer was shipped to me, I noticed that the "mouth" where the cd/dvd drive pop out of was deformed. (certainly doesn't look like that in the pictures and I definitely wasn't warned about it!) In order for the dvd drive to pop out and for me to put a disk in, I have to manually pull the cover down and hold it down so that the dvd holder will slide out and allow me to put the disk on it. When I then press the open/close key, the holder glides into the imac smoothly, and when Iet the cover go, the cover does not close completely but stays partially open. It remains jutting out. (an imac with an overbite ) I can push the cover down a little and then it'll close but it does remain a little skewed. I'm really sorry but I don't know the correct terminology for these things so I hope people who are reading this understand and aren't ready to kill me for using silly descriptors!

Anyway, my brother thinks that maybe they tried to tamper with the dvd drive and ended up breaking the mouth? The person who I bought it from insists it was fine before he sent it out so he believes it must have gotten damaged during shipping. Any ideas about who is right or any other theories? And since there isnt any warranty, any thoughts about how to fix the cover or can anyone lead me to a website with possible instructions? (No, i won't be doing it! My brother will )

Thanks!!!!

[seanc]

Well, you definitely have a problem with the case, but the drive sounds fine.
I think I know what you were doing wrong.

Put the cd in the drive start up wait for the chime then press c.
If you hold it down all the time then the computer will just think the key is stuck and ignore it.
So the process is: restart/on>chime>c key, and then it should boot from cd.

In what way is the drive cover deformed? Does it look like the plastic has bent in or something like that. You may be able to pop it out, although I don't know how pliable the casing of the imac is.

If it's a dent then my instinct would be to take the cover off and give it a whack with a hammer.
Hopefully the plastic would just pop back. Don't hold me to any of this about the casing, it's just ideas.

Try the cd key sequence and see what happens.

Good luck

Sean

[renavoo]

Hi Sean, thanks for your help! The cover just doesn't fit in like it should. It look like the rods that keep the cover in place just too high so that when the dvd drive slips in and the cover tries to close, it rests partly open because it's blocked by the casing. I think you're probably right about just trying to "hammer" it in. I'm going to go and try it. But is there somewhere to get a manual that will teach us how to take the case off? Thanks again!!

[seanc]

You could probably find some on the internet somewhere, but the place I have definately seen repair manuals is e-bay.
I've never tried any of them but i'm sure they are good.
I think some sellers offer a cd with manuals for all systems, but i'm not sure.

Have a look though.
Glad I could help despite knowing nothing about the Imac.

Good luck with the repair, remember to be gentle when bending things or you may regret it.

Sean

[Eriamjh]

Check the system configuration to verify that the drive is the original-style Mac DVD drive. It may not be capable of booting if it was replaced at one time.