On Dec 8, 11:04 am, "Gorka L Martinez Mezo" <g...@gmx.net> wrote: > Thanks a lot for your answer, Yersinia! > > I have following a similar thread a few days ago which mentioned pressing > the CUDA switch and resetting the PRAM in a Beige G3. I went to my stored > manuals and checked them. According to the original manual (available for > download at Apple.com), you don`t need to reset the PRAM. > > I didn`t try as I was worried it may have been an electrical problem and > thus didn`t want to get into more failed boots to avoid permament damage. Of > course, the PRAM battery of this machine is original and 12 years old. It > sat idle for five years and although it seemed to work, it has been started > maybe five times since put out of storage a couple months ago. It is likely > to be in bad condition. > > The machine was VERY dirty and looks like the original owner brushed the > worst of dirt with a thin paintbrush! Maybe static damage to some > components? > > To those who read about Apple voiding waranty on smoker`s machines, this > particular computer was full of nicotine remains. The owner used to work a > lot and had the machine in a tiny unventilated room, so all the smoke got > into the machine and settled there. > > Thanks again, > > Gorka > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <yersi...@cybernex.net> > To: <g3-5-list@googlegroups.com> > Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 7:07 PM > Subject: Re: Beige G3 problems > > > Gorka writes, > > > <I have an old 233MHz beige G3 desktop I workin with at a hobby. > > > last week I installed a trio of 128Mb SIMMs I bought through LEM Swap. I > > exchanged the old memory for the new one following the Apple > > instructions per the manual (and after checking through the net) and > > restarted the computer. hardware started, but got the bomb dialog > > telling me there was a prolem with some app and asking me for a secure > > reboot through the keyboard. > > > At that time I had only an USB keyboard as my ADB one was at home. Today > > I finally got my old ADB keyboard, opnened the case again, reseated the > > memory and hit the power up buttom in the keyboard..... > > > ... to no avail. I got the three lights in the keyboard, the PSU started > > t whirl... and after a couple seconds the machie shut down. > > > Opened it again, checked everything was OK, all the connections > > secure,put back the old memory SIMMs, closed and tried again to boot, > > getting the same results. > > > The machine is a beige desktop, 233MHz G3, 128 + 64 + 32Mb SIMMs , one > > PCI slot with 2xUSB 1.1 and 2xFirewire 400, one 10Gb and one 40Gb HD and > > running Mac OS 9.1. The machine was recently resurrected after being > > unused for five years and it ran smoothly until the memory swapt. > > > Any ideas? Maybe the PSU failed? Besides the memory SIMMs nothing else > > have been touched....> > > > Ooooh, a Beige G3/233 Desktop! I had one of those! OK, down to business. > > Here's what I'd do if I still had my Beige and was in your position: > > > You don't mention if you pressed the CUDA button when you installed the > > new memory, so I'd recommend reseating the RAM yet again and pressing > > the CUDA button. > > > If that doesn't work, I'd zap the PRAM (hold down the cmd-opt-P-R keys > > while pressing the startup button. > > > If that doesn't work, I'd go for an open firmware reset. To do this, > > hold down the cmd-opt-O-F keys while starting up. When you get the > > command line, type: > > > 1. reset-nvram (hit enter) > > 2. set-defaults (hit enter) > > 3. resett-all (hit enter) > > > If none of these things work, and, since you also mention that the Mac > > had worked fine but had also been unused for a long time -- I was just > > in this situation with another PPC Mac (the fact that it hadn't been > > used in a while), a Mini, and when the PRAM battery was replaced, it > > worked fine. So if none of the above work for you, your Beige's PRAM > > battery may need to be replaced. > > > Also, older Macs like that sometimes act wonky if you don't rebuild > > theier desktops. If you get this Beige to boot again, I'd suggest a > > desktop rebuild too. (hold down apple-opt keys while booting, then tell > > it yes when it asks to rebuild the desktop). > > > Good luck! > > > ~Yersinia. >
The correct nvram reset commands are entered one line at a time pressing the [Enter] key at the end of each command line: reset-nvram reset-defaults reset-all The proper methods to reset the PRAM, NVRAM and CUDA are detailed at these Apple links: <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379> <http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1812?viewlocale=en_US> Yersinia is correct about your PRAM battery being suspect. If you don't have a suitable multimeter or battery tester, one way to find out if the battery is any good is to remove it entirely, and try starting up without it. You system should boot, but you will receive an error message re time and date being wrong/needing to be set. Use the Apple Menu/Control Panel/Time and Date control panel to set the correct time zone, time and date. All will be well until you shutdown. At the next cold boot, you will get the Time and Date error again unless you install a new PRAM battery. I would also try to boot from the optical drive with the appropriate OS CD in order to refresh the hard drive drivers with Disk Setup if you are running OS 8.x or 9.x, or with Disk Utility if you are running some version of OS X. If possible, blow the dust out of the power supply, and the rest of the system, with an air compressor. Then clean all the edge card connectors on the personality card, memory, PCI cards and voltage regulator. Disconnect, and then reconnect all the cables in the system to freshen the connections/cut through any oxidation build-up. Reinstall all cards removed. Install a new PRAM battery. Disconnect all external cables and the power cord, then press the CUDA switch once, and once only, immediately releasing the switch. Plug in all external cables and the power cord. Turn on the power supply, and press the power/start-up key on the ADB keyboard. You should get a start-up chord. Press and hold the [Shift] key to boot with extensions off. Rebuild the Desktop, and reboot. If you are the same person who had been running the xlr8 G3/600 ZIF upgrade, and are now trying the use the original G3/233 ZIF, you need to check the CPU jumper block settings. If you are not the same guy, check them anyway. If you have the wrong RAM DIMM modules, you will hear the sound of breaking glass at strat-up instead of the normal start-up chord. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
