Post by: RHPConsult on March 05, 2010, 06:44:31 PM
It's running 10.3.x, as I recall. Maybe a version of 10.4. Neither of us can recall. It's been running quite well for years and years and years.
However, now there's only a white screen, w/an Apple, and a spinning ball. On and on and on. It has to be disconnected to stop. Therefore, there's no way to use an Option start. Or Safe Boot. Or anything.
It think she still has a separate (small) partition on the drive, but it can't be accessed (booted from) to repair anything, since the disk's tray can't be opened from the keyboard.
Is there some manual way to get the CD tray to open . . . pin hole or something? She has the Install disk available, if she could do that.
Yes, all the connections are snug. I think all her peripherals have been disconnected.
All advice earnestly solicited.
Post by: Paddy on March 05, 2010, 08:05:28 PM
I don't have an igloo iMac to look at, but if holding down the mouse button doesn't work, have her check to see if there is a paperclip hole beneath the flap that covers the CD drive (the flap can be opened - use fingernail)
I'm assuming that there is no backup drive available?
Sounds like it could be severe directory damage - found a case at the Apple forums that sounded identical. It might be something that Disk Utility can repair, or it may need Disk Warrior.
Post by: RHPConsult on March 05, 2010, 08:23:30 PM
I'll tell her about holding the mouse button. That completely escaped my aging cortex.
We'll be in good shape IF we can access either an Install disk or DiskWarrior.
I don't think there's anything "bootable" on the ext. drives.
Post by: Texas Mac Man on March 05, 2010, 08:27:16 PM
Post by: RHPConsult on March 05, 2010, 08:47:37 PM
Here's what I think it is.
G4, "floating" flat panel (prob 15"), iMac. It was fast enough to support the first external iSight camera., somewhere in the 700-800s.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 05, 2010, 09:34:26 PM
- 1. Hold the shift key down...starts up in Safe Boot mode, disbles all login items.
2. Hole command and S keys down...starts up in Single-user mode.
- Probably won't make any difference unless she been booting into a bad user account?
- Probably will only be useful if it actually does and she can report where the process stops.
- Restart the computer.
Immediately after the startup sound, press and hold the[se keys down, all together] Command Option O F.
...
Release the keys when you see a white screen that says "Welcome to Open Firmware."
At the prompt, type: eject cd
Press Return, then wait a few seconds.
- The disc drive should eject any disc that is present, and "ok" appears behind your command when the action is complete.
Press Return.
Your computer should now start up normally."
The point is, IF the tray opens, you can then insert a utitlity disk, close the tray and hold the command and C keys down on the next start up to boot from that disk.
OK, I give! The only way past the invisible paper clip hole seems to be dismantling the iGloo. Probably best to visit the Apple Store and be prepared to "trade" in the thing. Actually, don't leave it there for good, after the new machine is in use, you can then disassemble the iGloo and take the hard drive out and see if it will run in an enclosure so you can extract any remaining data...
Post by: Parker on March 05, 2010, 11:00:51 PM
To confirm, there IS a flap covering the Optical Drive;
However, I am not sure how accessible the 'paper clip' hole is.
If you are able to boot to other volumes, nab a copy of TechTool and run the diagnostic to see exactly what's going on with your system.
I'd say try out Jim's diagnostics, see how that works, and report back to us
Post by: krissel on March 06, 2010, 01:51:24 AM
No help but interesting.
Post by: krissel on March 06, 2010, 02:10:03 AM
OK, some ideas:
Reset NVRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US
Reset PMU
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1712
Can't start in 10.3.9 or earlier:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1411
Can't start in 10.4 or later:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
Post by: sew on March 06, 2010, 02:13:31 AM
Post by: RHPConsult on March 06, 2010, 02:20:23 AM
I'll report back on the results, in the hope that having this situation both fully described as well a finally resolved with make a VERY conslusive and interesting Google "finding"!
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 06, 2010, 08:12:56 AM
Post by: jcarter on March 07, 2010, 07:19:05 PM
I am writing on it now.
Very interested in the solution of this!
This is the very one which wouldnt start up after shutting all our Macs down a few weeks ago when the power was going off due to a storm.
Do you suppose its listening or reading what we are saying right now about its littermates?
Hope this works out and you find the fix.
Jane
Post by: RHPConsult on March 07, 2010, 07:52:53 PM
If that's what you in MA call a soccer ball, then we're probably in real trouble w/respect to the World Cup!
Also, as to solving my daughter's IGLOO problem, I probably won't be up there until Tues or Wed, though my son-in-law may take a stab at it earlier, based on the roster of helpful suggestions distilled from this thread and a couple of web sites.
It really is a nifty second Mac, which she uses mostly for Mail.
I still remember the day I took it out of the box, "How," I mused, "how could it ever be better than this?"
I will report back.
Post by: Parker on March 07, 2010, 09:46:43 PM
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 6 2010, 09:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
One last trick that sometimes helps is the "standing on your head" during all the above attempts. Not recommended for our senior crowd, of course...
or the uncoordinated like myself
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 08, 2010, 11:41:36 AM
"Forewarned is four-armed!" 
Post by: RHPConsult on March 18, 2010, 12:57:47 PM
- Holding down the mouse button FINALLY got the tray open. NO! there's no pinhole, beside or inside the flap on the Igloo.
- However, booting from the original Install Disk AND, later, the proper DiskWarrior disk, did nothing BUT bring-up a multi-dimensional kernel panic (repeatedly). Spent most of the evening looking for some solution. "Multi-dimensional" = the 4-language warning, plus some Console-like overprinting, with no active prompt available. Think: "rock-and-a-hard-place"!
- One week later (last evening) I was back at the task with another hypothesis that had been suggested: use Target Disk Mode to access the disk, for transferring the remaining important files to her iMacIntel, the actual goal from the very beginning of this saga. Then, do the clean-up maintenance.
- The Igloo's drive, however, seemed to me last week it was probably too screwed-up to do anything. WRONG!
- TDM worked like a charm. My daughter's remaining files (including >4500 photos) were safely moved to the Intel and then safely backed-up after a thorough DiskWarrior-ing
- It now appears that the problem was that the Igloo's internal drive had been over-stuffed, i.e. < 8% free space. She's learned a valuable lesson, and I've had my faith in TeeEssers reinforced for the Nth time.
One other factoid: I discovered – after finally getting inside – that she was running 10.4.11 on the Igloo.
I do thank everyone who pitched-in, here and on the phone.
I'm still surprised that TDM worked in such circumstances. Everything's now sailing along splendidly, now: Igloo, Intel and the the AEBS net.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 18, 2010, 01:20:42 PM
Post by: RHPConsult on March 18, 2010, 01:51:41 PM
Post by: jcarter on March 19, 2010, 07:23:15 AM
I too, use my Igloo for mail mostly and reading my lessons while doing them on this MacTel.
My Igloo is OK now, but the email crashed, so I have to use this one for email now.
No there isnt a paperclip hole on mine either.
I think I will take all my pictures of my Igloo and put them on my new external HD.
This is just to be safe.
Jane