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sametch · Dec 19, 2004, 01:46 PM

I have just picked up a G4 which is not working very well (keeps freezing on boot up and can only boot with extensions off).

I want to install OS X but I am getting nowhere.

When I put disk one of the OS X installation disks into the CD Drive it doea not automatically recognise it. When I hold down the "C" key whilst starting up all I get is a grey screen with a grey apple. it does not boot from the OS X disk.

I am new to Macs, does anyone have any ideas?

larkost · Dec 19, 2004, 02:43 PM

Sounds like bad hardware, my guess would be memory, but the CD-drive is also on the list.

bergy · 06:30 PM

Sorry ... misread the original post ....

Big Mac · Dec 19, 2004, 04:35 PM

He's not running OS X yet, so many of those suggestions won't work. What is the history of the G4? Has it been running fine until recently? If you can't boot off the CD I would try to get OS 9 stable. If you don't have it, go pick up Alsoft's Disk Warrior - it can work wonders on damaged drives. If you just want to go ahead and try the OS X installation though, and holding the C key does not work, you may have some luck with the DOCS combo at startup (delete+option+command+shift), which bypasses the internal drive. If you still have no joy, start by taking out third party RAM. It could well be RAM - borked RAM can screw over the boot process. Best of luck.

sametch · Dec 20, 2004, 02:35 AM

Big Mac

The history of the G4 is unknown, one of my customers was having a clearout of their old computer assets and asked me if I needed anything. I spotted the G4 amongst tons of ancient PC bits. As someone who has always used PC's and heard so many great things about Macs I decided to try it.

It appears to have a ati rage graphics card, 30MB ibm 5400 IDE harddrive, Adaptec SCSI card with internal and external SCSI connectors but nothing connected and two sticks of Ram made by Hyundai totalling 256MB. I was not given any disks.

When I tried it, it would not boot, kept coming up with error messages and suggested I start without extensions (i'm not sure what they are or what this means). I followed the instructions and after a load of disk check through improper shut downs, eventually got it to start "without extensions" but attempting to do some things justs locks it up (mouse moves but no clicks).

I thought (probably wrongly) that the OS had been corrupted so decided to buy OS X and install it (thinking this would be the soft option). When I start holding down the "C" the CD ROM light flashes a few times but all I get is a grey screen with an apple on it.

Being a PC person, I don't really know where to go from here. Many of the keys have icons rather than text so I don't know which is the "option" key or the "command" key (can anyone advise please).

Apfhex · Dec 20, 2004, 02:54 AM

When booting from the OS X disc, how long did you wait? Sometimes, booting from CD can take a long time. But it sounds more likely that there may be a problem with the computer.

Big Mac · Dec 20, 2004, 04:36 AM

It's unfortunate that your first experiences with the Mac have been negative. Remember that beyond software the same general rules that apply to PC components also apply to Mac components. From what you've described, It sounds like bad RAM to me; I would pull it and try to boot OS 9 again. The command key is the one with the Apple logo/clover.

sametch · Dec 20, 2004, 05:27 AM

Big Mac

I have quite a few 168 pin PC ram chips knocking about (I think they are mainly PC100 though and this mac has PC133).

Do you know if PC 168 pin ram is compatible?

Would I risk damaging the motherboard by trying them?

come to think of it do you know if PC DVD/CDRW combos are compatible I have a few of these too.

Sametch

sametch · Dec 20, 2004, 09:39 AM

Big Mac

Thanks for all your help, you pointed me in the right direction. I fitted a spare DVD/CDRW combo from a PC which didn't solve it. I then fitted a single PC133 256MB CL3 ram stick in which has solved it.

It now boots fine and is currently installing OS X.

As an aside, it had 2 x 128MB ram installed, but on closer inspection they were not identical one had chips on both sides, the other only had chips on one side. so it looks like someone may have upgraded the ram at some point. My past experience of ram on PC's is best not to mix it.

SMacTech · Dec 20, 2004, 10:00 AM

Glad to hear you have fixed the problem. I had the exact same problem yesterday with a sawtooth. Removed all RAM, put in a 128MB stick from another rig and everything worked.

It didn't like a pair of SIEMENS 8x64 PC100 CL222