[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Hi,

If I zero out the Physical Volume of an iBook G3 running Panther, via Target Disc Mode and Disc Utility while connected to an Intel iMac running 10.4.10, what happens to the Firmware Update 4.1.7 that I installed from 9.2.2 prior to upgrading the iBook to Panther?

Can I even use Disc Utility on the Intel iMac to do the zeroing out? Or would I need to use a PPC iMac?

Thing is, I want to reinstall Panther but don't know if the Firmware Update will have been removed ... if it has then I'd need to reinstall OS 9 then 9.2.2 then the Firmware Update and finally Panther.

Thanks.

[Kenneth]

I thought firmware update is more like updating the hardware ROM than just a piece of software on a hard drive.

Anyway, I call Target Disk Mode as a big-0 external Firewire hard drive. You can always use the Disc Utility inside the Mac OS X system disc to zero-out your iBook G3 hard drive.

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Thanks Kenneth, I guess I'm a bit confused about the Firmware part of things .. I've researched that if you don't apply that Firmware Update before upgrading to OS X, it can cause serious damage to the HD.

I've attached a photo of the latest ... when I boot up with the Panther disc in the drive and hold the Option key, then select the Panther Disc and click on the forward arrow, the Panther disc icon vanishes and the whole process just seems to hang .... ????

[chabig]

The firmware is not stored on the hard drive, so you have nothing to worry about. You should have no trouble booting from the Panther install disc and formatting the hard drive from that (Disk Utility is under one of the menus). When you boot, hold down the C key, not the option key. That force the computer to boot from the optical drive.

Chris

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Thanks chabig, I did what you advised but still couldn't get beyond the flashing folder/?. The disc was spinning fast though and I could hear the sound of the hard drive stop/starting etc. Then I zapped the PRAM but no go either ....

[chabig]

It's not the firmware for sure. Are you using a retail Panther disc, or did this disc ship with another computer?

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Originally Posted by chabig 

It's not the firmware for sure. Are you using a retail Panther disc, or did this disc ship with another computer?

It is the Full Retail version of Panther ... 4 discs - 3 with black labels/white Xs.

I just got off the phone after ringing the local AppleStore. The guy was helpful telling me that if the RAM was at fault the iBook would boot to a black screen or/and there would be a loud beeping sound. They charge a hefty diagnostic fee and I don't feel that it's worth paying out at this stage. I've ordered the OS 9 disc, thinking there's a chance the iBook would boot off that disc but the guy told me that if the iBook doesn't boot off the Panther Disc #1, then it's unlikely the OS 9 disc will be of any use ....

[Kenneth]

What kind of 3rd party RAM you have?

[Max_Doubt_M'Wham]

Here's the link ... as time moves on I'm starting to worry about the HD or the Logic Board ...