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Author Topic: What have I done to my iMac?  (Read 1682 times)

Offline Helen

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What have I done to my iMac?
« on: July 10, 2003, 06:56:38 AM »
Hello Everyone,

I have bought an early iMac - PowerPC G3/233MHz - OS 8.1 - Enabler 462 vB1-1.0

I tried to install OS 9 from my partner's CD but the iMac told me that my 'firmware' was out of date and that I should use the firmware-updater on the OS CD.

The original OS CD (8.01) doesn't contain any file resembling 'firmware'.

We found a G3 Firmware Updater on the OS 9 disc but the iMac said something like "this will not work with this machine" (I can't remember exactly what it said).

So, I downloaded "iMac Firmware Update" versions 1.1 and 1.2 from the Apple site and installed them into the iMac.

Now the iMac won't recognise any software or audio CD.
I keep getting "This disc is unreadable by this Computer. Do you want to initialise the disc?"

Even starting up from a CD fails.

Does anyone have any idea what has gone wrong and how I can put things right?

Thank You.
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Offline kelly

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What have I done to my iMac?
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2003, 08:53:24 AM »
Hi Helen. Welcome to the Forum. smile.gif

Not sure. I see that it says that the PRAM is reset during an Update.

Not sure how that would affect CDs.

Do you have the usual CD Extensions in the Extensions Folder?

Not sure exactly what's in OS 8.0/8.1 but something like these.

Apple CD/DVD Driver
Foreign File Access
High Sierra File Access
Audio CD Access
ISO 9660 File Access

See if these are in your Extensions Disabled Folder. smile.gif
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kelly
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Offline cdub1988

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What have I done to my iMac?
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2003, 08:54:20 AM »
Helen -

Kelly's right. Try the extensions first.

If that doesn't work, you can always TRY to boot into Open Firmware and reset everything.

Chris
« Last Edit: July 10, 2003, 08:56:27 AM by cdub1988 »
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Offline Paddy

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What have I done to my iMac?
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2003, 09:23:03 AM »
Helen, welcome to Techsurvivors - though I'm sorry that a rather nasty problem brings you here!!

There are a number of references to iMac firmware failures - the key seems to be finding the right one. I'm not sure if any of this will apply, but it's all worth reading for possible fixes.

http://discusssearch.info.apple.com/WebX?1...B.2@.3bc2d862/0

This Apple discussion is about someone who forgot to install the firmware updates BEFORE installing the OS updates, but some of the info may apply, particularly the bit I copied below.

http://discusssearch.info.apple.com/WebX?1...8.6@.3bc143c3/0

How to Reset a CUDA Switch
Here's How:
 1.Turn computer off.  
 2.Open access door on side of computer.  
 3.Press the Cuda reset button on the logic board to reset.
The Cuda reset button is located to the right of the battery.  

These links should be helpful in locating the CUDA switch for YOUR TYPE OF MAC:  http://www.macgurus.com/products/ram/mgwhichram.php

http://www.macgurus.com/products/motherboa...mbppcimacdv.php - (New iMac, iMac DV, and iMac Special Edition)

http://www.macgurus.com/products/motherboa...ppcimacorig.php - (Original iMac, Rev-B iMac, and 5 Colored iMacs)

More possibilities:

Reset the PRAM & NVRAM - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642

What exactly happens when you start up from the hard drive? How far do you get? What appears on the monitor, if anything?

Are you getting "disk unreadable" messages when starting up from the hard drive or just when starting up from CD's?
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Offline Barticus

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What have I done to my iMac?
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2003, 03:22:14 PM »
Helen;

If I'm not mistaken, there is a firmware update SPECIFICALLY for the CD drive on the original iMac, try installing that.  I did a quick search on the Apple support page and found this article;

The update can be downloaded here

Good luck.

Bart
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Offline Helen

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What have I done to my iMac?
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2003, 08:03:20 PM »
Thank you Kelly, Chris, Paddy and Bart but, I'm afraid I've still got the problem.

If this problem hadn't started immediately after I messed up the firmware, I'd suspect that the CD had just packed up and needed replacing.

Kelly - I checked the extensions and they're all there.

Chris - How do I "boot into Open Firmware"?

Paddy - I've reset the PRAM but haven't managed to find my way in, so I've not hit the CUDA thingy yet. The iMac starts OK from the hard drive and works OK in every respect EXCEPT the CD.

Bart - I downloaded and installed the CD Firmware update without success.

Thank you all so far.

If you (or anyone) have any further suggestions I'd be grateful.

Helen
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Offline kelly

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What have I done to my iMac?
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2003, 09:04:23 PM »
Ok. smile.gif

CD-ROM: "This disk is unreadable" Message

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=17927

Try their suggestions. You might also try a CD Cleaner.

Any chance you could borrow an External USB CD-ROM?

If worse comes to worse you can get another CD-ROM.

http://www.baucomcomputers.com/#anchor4533984

Probably cheaper elsewhere.
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kelly
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