Helen's iMac CD Problem

[David]

Why am I asking an extra question about another TeaSer's  problem?

Well, it's 'cos I am the partner she referred to and whose OS 9 disc she borrowed several threads down from here. Trouble is, she lives about 130 miles away.

However, I've now got my hands on her Bondi iMac which was born 21st August 1998 at Tea-time (4.00 pm in English). That makes it a Leo!

By doing something which I didn't think was possible, I have managed to install OS 9 on Helen's iMac.

On a 'what the hell' whim I tried a Norton check through ethernet from my B/W G3 to the iMac. It ran OK and nothing was wrong.

I then tried "Share this item and its contents" in the sharing option for the OS 9 CD in the G3 and, although it failed to show up on the iMac, when I created an alias, it appeared on the iMac desktop and allowed me to install OS 9.

That's the history;

NOW, THE QUESTIONS!

Can I re-format (initialise) the iMac's HD from the G3 over the network and start-over from the beginning by re-installing OS 8 and wipe-out any firmware errors?

I hope this all makes sense!!

Regards to all

David L (and Helen)

[kelly]

Sure it makes sense David. That was very clever.

I can't say for sure you can install OS 8.0 that way.

It might be too old to run on your machine. And won't work.

"Requires Mac OS 8.5 or later".

http://new.lowendmac.com/ppc/g3c.shtml

You could try it I guess.

I don't think reformatting the Hard drive affects the Firmware.

I could be wrong.

Did the CD still not work with an OS 9.x install?

If so. It's sounding more like a bad CD-ROM.

Have you been in it to look for a loose cable?

[Paddy]

At this point I would be inclined to agree with Kelly - sounds like the CD ROM drive has packed it in, or there may be a loose connection in there somewhere. If everything else works (ie: OS 9 on the HD) then it doesn't sound like a Firmware problem. OS 9 probably wouldn't have installed if you hadn't been able to update the firmware.

I see no point at all in trying to go back to OS 8 - that isn't going to solve the problem, and 9 should run just fine on that iMac (we have it on our 266, which is only slightly newer)

If you can get hold of an external USB CD or CDRW to test things out (one way of making sure that all extensions are there and that there are no conflicts) that would be a good first step. Or try cleaning the CD drive with a commercial cleaning kit (Radio Shack & Best Buy have them for about $10). If none of that works:

Otherwise, you may have to order a new drive. NexComp sells 'em on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...&category=11150 or on their own site:

http://www.nexcomp.com/storage.html#cdimaca

(You could bid on eBay, but then if the price goes over their own store price stop bidding!) They do seem to have the best prices of anyone I've seen so far. Some want $99.99 for it.

Or you could upgrade to a CDRW while you're at it...for somewhat more $$ of course!

http://www.technowarehousellc.com/incddrivfori.html

One last question - have you tried a number of different CD's? I imagine that you probably have, but just wanted to check to make sure that it isn't the CD itself, rather than the drive.

[jepinto]

iMac 333, slot loading CD also.  And I'm agreeing with Kelly and Paddy.  Sometimes a CD works, sometimes it doesn't...and right now with all the dust from remodelling, most don't.  

Notorious problem with these CD drives, have cleaned the CD and the drive with mixed results,  read this thread for some ideas.