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Author Topic: G3 + flashing question mark  (Read 3654 times)

Offline Paddy

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G3 + flashing question mark
« on: January 02, 2004, 09:13:35 AM »
Hi all,

After being shut down for two weeks (UPS went on fritz resulting in a temporary shortage of outlets...more computers than we really need...and no, I don't think the G3 got zapped or anything) we started up my son's upgraded beige G3. It has a Sonnet 500MHz G3 upgrade, lots of RAM, upgraded HD, the old CD/DVD drive from my Sawtooth etc. It started up fine and he attempted to reinstall a game from a CD. The installer froze, then the finder froze and the mouse started making boxes all over the place (couldn't select and click on anything). So, I finally hit the power button. Then I restarted it. Got the blinking question mark. Zapped the PRAM 5 times. Still got the blinking question mark. Stuck the TechTool CD in. It spit it back out (when I hold the C key down or try command-option-shift-delete). Stuck the DiskWarrior CD in...same thing. Spits it out and blinking question mark just keeps on blinking.

So, before I start tearing this thing apart, does anybody have any ideas? I'm worried that the logic board or something may have packed it in, considering that it won't start from a CD. It does make various noises that sound like drives starting to spin up, but they stop pretty quickly. I will try the reset (CUDA) button in a few minutes - but I'm going to go and fetch some breakfast and tea first!!!

Ach. My son, of course, thinks that this means I'll be getting a new G5 and passing my G4 along to him!! That isn't in this month's budget...
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Offline zodraz

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2004, 09:48:30 AM »
Actually the question mark is a good sign that MOST of your computer is OK!

By the time your machine gets to that point, it's done a done a number of hardware tests (RAM, "busses" etc.).

The question mark means the machine can't find a drive with a usable "System".

I once had something like that happen to a "SCSI" Mac 7500.

What worked was unplugging the power connector from the HD and then booting from the CD.

I then had to plug the power back in with the computer running in order to run the diagnostics (Norton).

Happily, everything was fixed and that problem never came back.

One last thing though, are any/all of your diagnostic CDs OSX compatible?

I've had problems booting old computers with them.

You might try and find an older version CD if you have one.

One other thing would be to stick the CD back in after the computer is running with the question mark.

Do this because normally the computer will start checking all it's "ports" if it can't find a system. It's a slow process and could take 5-10 minutes. So just let it "think for a spell" with a bootable CD.

Good Luck!
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Offline kelly

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2004, 10:32:37 AM »
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kelly
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Offline Paddy

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2004, 11:24:51 AM »
Sorry Zodraz...no go.

Did the CUDA reset. Nothing. Tried the following startup disks - all of which should start up this machine in OS 9.2, which is what it was running: TTP 3.0, DiskWarrior and an OS 9 install disk. All of them are spit out shortly after the machine starts up and then when I reinsert them, nothing happens beyond a few seconds of the CDROM drive spinning up and then spinning down.

Tried disconnecting the HD. Same result. Tried different HD. Same result. Hard drive doesn't appear to even spin up.

So, in desperation I put the old ZIF back in (the original 233) and that didn't do anything either. Same old, same old.

Did one final Google search and found this:

http://www.uncleleron.com/mt/archives/000191.html

HMMM...mouse on this machine is a Logitech USB wireless, so that doesn't seem too probable, but what the hey - the USB/mouse angle is about the only one I haven't tried yet. Much digging through boxes of old stuff ensues - finally emerge with an old square ADB. Whatever - should work.

Pull the keyboard tray out to access the ADB port....and...wait for it...don't start laughing...found the keyboard was SITTING ON A CONNECTED ADB MOUSE. (son had the feet at the back of the keyboard out, so mouse was wedged underneath) As soon as I moved the keyboard, like magic, the machine began to boot up. ARRRRGGGGHHHH. Another case of a "childrenized" computer!!!!

Well, Sonnet processor is now back in place, extra ADB mouse has been removed and children have been scowled at. Back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Thanks for the input, Zodraz & Kelly. Luckily, the answer was far simpler than we were all imagining!

And no, Pete won't be getting my G4 any time soon...
« Last Edit: January 02, 2004, 11:31:56 AM by Paddy »
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Offline Gary S

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2004, 12:49:14 AM »
laugh.gif

Paddy,

Guess you can kiss that problem goodbye.

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Gary S

Offline pendragon

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2004, 07:30:16 AM »
What a riot. Sure glad I have never done anything like that. whistling.gif

Harv
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Offline RHPConsult

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2004, 08:10:41 AM »
Given the clamor for more "reality shows",  perhaps you like to furnish the Waiting World of TeeEssers additional details in elaboration of your observation that . . .
QUOTE
.. . .children have been scowled at . . .

It surely must have been interesting1 ohmy.gif  unsure.gif  doh.gif
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Offline Gary S

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2004, 09:25:49 AM »
It's an interesting post in that on my Beige G3 I always keep an ADB mouse connected for when I boot from a Utilities CD I can use that because my Logitech doesn't work when booted from a CD.

The ADB mouse sits between the computer and the monitor right to the left of the keyboard and this could very well happen to me.

So I'm glad Paddy posted it.  smile.gif

Sorry for LMAO Paddy but it seemed funny last night!  smile.gif
« Last Edit: January 04, 2004, 09:26:24 AM by Gary S »
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Gary S

Offline kbeartx

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2004, 10:10:25 AM »
Paddy -

Sorry I did not see this post in a more timely manner, b/c as I read it just now I remembered the time about a year ago when I had a similar experience w/ one of my beige G3s.  

I could not get it to boot for love or money, despite everything I threw at it, including pulling and swapping out all the RAM sticks, connecting first a SCSI CD-ROM drive with the original 8.1 G3 install seedie, and then an external SCSI HD w/ a known good bootable 8.x system.

Finally turned out that the ADB Kensington TurboMouse had died and when I replaced it, all was once again right as rain, and has been ever since.

 - kbeartx
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Offline krissel

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2004, 12:47:58 AM »
Will store this bit of info in a recess of the grey matter.

Like Gary, I , too keep an ADB mouse connected at all times since my USB mouse depends on a USB PCI card to run which won't be recognized under most troubleshooting situations.  A fact I sometimes forget and go through agony thinking the machine has frozen only to realize I have to reach for the ADB mouse instead of the USB.

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Offline zodraz

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G3 + flashing question mark
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2004, 10:02:02 AM »
FYI to those who didn't know the trick.

Holding your mouse button down when booting your computer will "force" it to eject all media, CDs, Zip disks, etc.

 biggrin.gif  biggrin.gif  biggrin.gif
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