[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Hi, I'm helping an older friend who has an iBook Clamshell 466MHz. This iBook has given her no problems and originally came with OS 9 installed. The battery holds no charge but the date/time is correct in Panther while under OS 9.2.2 the time/date was always wrong.

I helped to upgrade the iBook to Panther and this went without any problems and I noticed afterwards that Classic was not installed but couldn't see any probs with that.

Then my friend purchased some RAM (512mb X 1) from MemoryTen and I installed that but the iBook wouldn't boot and displayed the flashing folder/question mark. I replaced the 512 module with the original module and still receive the folder/? at boot.

I tried to boot from the Panther instal CD #1 (Full Retail Version) and holding the C key for ages but the screen stays black after the startup chime. I tried Option + Command + P + R but only hear the 1st startup chime then there's just the black screen for ages so I eventually have to let go the key sequence. I also noted the green light at the power connection turned orange after about a minute or two. I reset the PMU to no avail and tried to reset the Open Firmware but the screen stayed black. I also tried to boot from the CD via command-shift-option-delete but after hearing the CD spin for a second or two there was just the same old black screen.

I connected my iMac Core2Duos keyboard/mouse to the iBook via USB 1 and tried that but still no joy.

I am stumped about what this could be or what to do next as I'd rather troubleshoot this myself as much as I can.

Do I need the original OS discs to proceed further with troubleshooting? Do I need to try connecting my iMac C2Duo to the iBook using Target Disc Mode to further troubleshoot?

I just realised I left the battery connected during the upgrade .... I realise the battery is dead anyway but is this the cause of the boot failure?

[Big Mac]

That's a bit strange. Perhaps the optical drive isn't working properly anymore. Do you have a firewire drive you can try starting up from?

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Thanks for the response Big Mac ... I don't have an external FW drive, only my intel Mac C2D ... should I buy the FireWire cable and use my C2D?

[Big Mac]

If you buy a Firewire cable you should be able to start the clamshell up in target disk mode. That would let you determine whether or not the hard drive will mount, but it won't do much toward getting the Mac up and running again by itself. Hey, what happens when you hold down the option key at startup to get the drive selector? Can you see the hard drive or the Panther CD when that's in the drive?

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

After resetting the PMU again I tried your tip and can see both HD & Panther disc .... but after trying to boot from both options I just seem to be going around in circles. It just wont start from either. I also note that the light at the power connection is amber not green?

.:UPDATE:.

I've now figured out that each time I try something I need to reset the PMU before the iBook is responsive again otherwise all I see at boot is a black screen even though I can hear that there is something going on inside.

I took out the Panther disc and reset the PMU and then booted up with the Option key depressed. I then selected the HD but it wouldn't move onto the next bit. Then I reset the PMU and was able to reset the PRAM successfully but still receive the flashing folder/? ... at least the mac icon is smiling at me.

[Big Mac]

That's pretty strange. You're doing all the right things, and if it can see the Panther disc it should be able to boot from it at the very least. I have to tell you I'm stumped at this point.

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Thanks for sticking with me Big Mac, I really appreciate your time.

I just reset the PMU and then was able to reset the Open Firmware by pressing Option + Command + P + O. I then typed reset-all and the iBook rebooted. I started holding the opt key with the Panther disc in and when I select to boot from either the HD or the Panther Disc this time I can hear the hard drive grinding a little as it tries to start up but then the screen just reloads.

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

I just tried Target Disc Mode between my intel Mac and the iBook G3 but still got stuck at the flashing folder/?

Nothing seems to work AND I have to reset the PMU each time I want to reboot or I just see a black screen.

Does anyone have any clues about further troubleshooting this issue or might there be something I missed?

[nickclarson]

Not sure if this helps at all, but the iBook Clamshell 466MHz has a max memory of 320mb. Computer memory upgrades for Apple iBook Special Edition (466MHz) Laptop/Notebook from Crucial.com

Not sure if the effect of having "too much memory" would cause your computer to not start, but I would bet that it might have a large part in it.

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Thanks for your time nickclarkson. Crucial.com doesn't recognise that the iBook Clamshell 466MHz will take a 512mb module but other vendors do. The max memory upgrade of 320mb was true when the iBook G3 was first released but if you search the web there's a lot of evidence that a 512mb module will be recognised when installed ... except in my case where I now have a Mac that I can't get to start.

There is some new news though ... whereas the Panther instal disc #1 used to spin up then immediately down, it is now spinning wildly and I can hear the HD trying to read it or something ... but yet the flashing folder/? still taunts me.

[nickclarson]

Yea I noticed that too, I was just going by what crucial said since they seem to be one of the most reputable as far as I know.

Basically my point was just to open your eyes to the fact that that could have been the issue, however it seems as though you already knew about that!

hmmm wierd. So now when you put your old memory back in it still doesn't work?

Have you brought it into the Apple store to get looked at yet? Maybe they have an idea of what's going wrong.

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Ok, the good news is that I just got hold of a bootable disc, OS 9 and the iBook G3 was able to boot from it. When I click on the installer it asks me to select a volume, the only problem is that there isn't any available and I'm then asked to mount one ...

I'd zeroed out the iBooks HD from my intel mac using Target Disc Mode but what did I do wrong?

Is zeroing out the same as formatting?