Most probably the parameter RAM battery is flat. Buy a new PRAM battery and install it.
Repeated restarting in the way you describe is a recipe for hard disk corruption. Hold down cmd-opt-x-o at startup. This should bypass the hard disk and boot the computer from its ROM chip, and you may be able to see the hard drive mount on the desktop. From there you will want to run Apple's Disk First Aid program as a first step, and hopefully repair any directory damage. If you have an OK bill of hard disk health from Disk First Aid, you can try to boot again from the hard disk. This time when booting, hold down cmd-opt-P-R at the startup chime and continue to hold the keys until the computer shuts down and restarts with another chime. See this: <http://www.lowendmac.com/compact/macintosh-classic.html> I'm hurrying elsewhere now. If above doesn't make sense, google up a few topics like "reset parameter RAM" and "Disk First Aid" hth.. AD --------------------------------------------------------------------- On 2008-10-29 08:44 +1100, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Hey, > >I've no idea why it took so many attempts to start up properly. In >regard to washing the motherboard: I've always known that water and >computers do not mix-but hey, it seems to have worked! > >To solve the "question mark disc" icon, it is relatively simple. > >That symbol means the computer cannot find a start up disc, and can >mean one of two things: > >The first, it is missing an operating system (it can't find a Mac OS >to boot from). If you're lucky it will be this. To solve this >problem look on ebay or somewhere on the net for a set of Mac OS >7.6.1 install floppy disks. Start up the computer and insert one of >the floppy disks. Follow the instructions and install Mac OS 7.6.1 > >The second is that the hard drive may have settled or died. Try >leaving the computer turned on overnight, then turn it off and start >up. If this doesn't work, you probably have a dodgy hard drive. This >one is more hassle: it is a 40 or 80 MB SCSI disc-and they are >relatively hard to come buy. If you come across one, you will need >to take out the old hard drive and install a copy of Mac OS 7.6.1. > >Sincerely, >Art. > >________________________________________ >From: [email protected] [EMAIL PROTECTED] >On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Wednesday, 29 October 2008 4:50 AM >To: Vintage Macs >Subject: Classic II Startup Problems.....a little long > >Hiya All, > >First post here. You all need to know that I am a computer/Classic II >newbie in the most basic sense. I just barely know what a motherboard >is and if we get ANY deeper into technospeak than that, I'm lost. > >Basically, I have a Mac Classic II that I'd like to get up and running >again. > >A little context/history for you........... This computer was put >into storage (clean, warm and dry environment) 10 years ago. I pulled >it out of storage last week. I plugged it in and flipped the on/off >switch to on. Nothing. No screen response, but it did emit a >whirring sound which I'm guessing was the fan. After about five >minutes I flipped it off, then on again. I did that two more times >and on the fourth try the screen produced a checkerboard pattern. I >tried again and got a blank screen with a cursor. One more time and I >got the desktop. > >Over the course of the next few days I was able to get the desktop >another four or five times by following the routine above. The next >time I tried, the screen went from the cursor/blank screen to the >question mark disc icon. > >I had read (somewhere) that dirt and leaking capacitors (whatever they >might be) can be a problem and that the way to cure those problems >(the checkerboard screen apparently being one of those problems) is to >wash the motherboard. That I did. > >And now....I reinstalled the now clean and shiny motherboard. Before >that I blew out all the remaining dust with some canned air. The >insides are now quite clean. After installing the motherboard when I >flip the on/off switch to on I get an almost instant blank screen with >cursor. That seems like a big improvement. However, it is still >going to the question mark disc icon. > >Anybody have any suggestions on how I might I get this little guy to >get back on the proper track to his desktop? > > >This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain >privileged information or confidential information or both. If you >are not the intended recipient please delete it and notify the >sender. > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Vintage Macs group. 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