please help... g3 computer infinitely screwed

solrac

Mac Ninja
I have 10.2.3 installed on an old G3

I tried setting the start up disk to a CD, which didn't work out like I wanted.

It just kept flashing the disk with a "?" on it.

So I restarted and held option, but that didn't work. Still have a flashing "?"

I put in the Mac OS X install CD and it worked. The computer is still looking for a CD.

I tried restarting again and holding option but it won't work.

It's stuck looking for a CD to boot from forever. :-( :( :(

how do I get it back to booting from the hard disk??????
 
i guess my question is 'will it work by holding down C instead of option or using startup disk?'
 
well holding down "C" would do the same thing... looking for a CD that isn't there.

I need it to start from the internal HD

sigh...
 
if your directories are messed up and you are using a software approach to finding it, it might not see it. to my knowledge, option is only for drives and partitions. C is the direct hardware command for booting from a CD i think. couldn't hurt to try.
 
The option key trick doesn't work on older G3s, B&W's included. You mentioned that you were able to boot from the OS X CD... after it boots up are you then able to select your hard disk as a boot volume (can't remember if this is an option on the install CD or not)?

Do you have an OS 9 CD to boot from? That will definitely give you access to the Startup Disk control panel.

Failing that, you could try zapping the PRAM. That should reset the startup disk to the default setting.
 
zapping the PRAM does nothing
option key restarts the computer over and over
c key restarts the computer over and over
it is stuck booting to the cdrom drive FOREVER

i will try an OS 9 CD... hopefully it has a startup disk.... sigh....
 
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