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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Imac G4 Won't Start Up
sjr - Aug 17, 2005 - 4:45 am
Hi
I am a beginner on Mac os (as keen as you'll find and such a fan) but I have a problem with my new imac. Its second hand and I've only had it a few days. It was working beautifully until I updated from 10.3.2 to 10.3.9 over the internet. I was hesitant, but I read a few reviews and saw that it was reccommended (duped?). I restarted as requested and the machine seemed fine. I started copying some music (itunes format) from cd into the itunes library, and all seemed fine. But then it started behaving strangely. It was sluggish, didn't respond to mouse clicks first time (even I knew that this was not right). Then I had an error writing to mac harddrive - all very strange. I stopped copying music and ran a quick search on the internet for ways to check the hard drive before deciding to shut down for the night. The CD is still in the optical drive. This morning it would not start past the white screen with the small flashing blue world icon. I probably committed a crime by manually turning it off after this. On a wing and a prayer I started it again and this time after a while it brough up the gray apple logo on white background and would not move. I have manually turned off again. Unfortunately I did not get any original disks with the machine (foolish - I know) but I am trying to find some at the moment.
How should I proceed?
I should probably like to start by geting the optical drive open, but it won't respond to keyboard prompts. I have also looked for a paperclip hole (I know this trick) but not found one)
Thanks muchly
I am a beginner on Mac os (as keen as you'll find and such a fan) but I have a problem with my new imac. Its second hand and I've only had it a few days. It was working beautifully until I updated from 10.3.2 to 10.3.9 over the internet. I was hesitant, but I read a few reviews and saw that it was reccommended (duped?). I restarted as requested and the machine seemed fine. I started copying some music (itunes format) from cd into the itunes library, and all seemed fine. But then it started behaving strangely. It was sluggish, didn't respond to mouse clicks first time (even I knew that this was not right). Then I had an error writing to mac harddrive - all very strange. I stopped copying music and ran a quick search on the internet for ways to check the hard drive before deciding to shut down for the night. The CD is still in the optical drive. This morning it would not start past the white screen with the small flashing blue world icon. I probably committed a crime by manually turning it off after this. On a wing and a prayer I started it again and this time after a while it brough up the gray apple logo on white background and would not move. I have manually turned off again. Unfortunately I did not get any original disks with the machine (foolish - I know) but I am trying to find some at the moment.
How should I proceed?
I should probably like to start by geting the optical drive open, but it won't respond to keyboard prompts. I have also looked for a paperclip hole (I know this trick) but not found one)
Thanks muchly
baldprof - Aug 17, 2005 - 10:02 am
There was probably something wrong with the OS X installation that was on your Mac when you bought it.
Here's a page which may help you get the CD out:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106752
One thing you can try also is to hold down the mouse button as the Mac boots.
Here's another page to look at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58134
There's a link at the bottom to the user group locator. These groups can be very helpful. There's probably someone in your local group that has the exact disks you need.
Assuming you can get the CD out, then what you need to do is what is called a "clean install", which means booting from the OS X CD (or DVD) and choosing the Erase and Install Option. I tdoesn't appear that you have much information on your Mac yet, so that's exactly what I would do. The Download and install the "combo" update to 10.3.9, assuming you have 10.3.x on your Mac.
Something else, every time you install an update, or install a new program, you should do something called "repair permissions". The Mac help system will give you the details. Then restart. Apple doesn't officially say this is necessary, but I have found that it cures a "multitude of sins".
Good luck.
Here's a page which may help you get the CD out:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106752
One thing you can try also is to hold down the mouse button as the Mac boots.
Here's another page to look at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58134
There's a link at the bottom to the user group locator. These groups can be very helpful. There's probably someone in your local group that has the exact disks you need.
Assuming you can get the CD out, then what you need to do is what is called a "clean install", which means booting from the OS X CD (or DVD) and choosing the Erase and Install Option. I tdoesn't appear that you have much information on your Mac yet, so that's exactly what I would do. The Download and install the "combo" update to 10.3.9, assuming you have 10.3.x on your Mac.
Something else, every time you install an update, or install a new program, you should do something called "repair permissions". The Mac help system will give you the details. Then restart. Apple doesn't officially say this is necessary, but I have found that it cures a "multitude of sins".
Good luck.
sjr - Aug 18, 2005 - 10:28 am
Michael,
Thank you very much, I do not wish to speak too soon, but the issue seems to have resolved itself. I do, however, want to run some checks to make sure it does not happen again - is there any way of checking whether osx is installed properly or if there are any problems with the hard drive?
I have found the two sites you directed me to vey useful, and am sure I will have many happy hours playing.
Thank you again
Simon
Thank you very much, I do not wish to speak too soon, but the issue seems to have resolved itself. I do, however, want to run some checks to make sure it does not happen again - is there any way of checking whether osx is installed properly or if there are any problems with the hard drive?
I have found the two sites you directed me to vey useful, and am sure I will have many happy hours playing.
Thank you again
Simon
baldprof - Aug 18, 2005 - 12:24 pm
There is something referred to on this page which may help:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=152059
Where it refers to your startup volume it would be referring to your internal hard disk. But the Mac OS X help system does contain detailed instructions.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=152059
Where it refers to your startup volume it would be referring to your internal hard disk. But the Mac OS X help system does contain detailed instructions.
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