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Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk

From bob prohaska <bp@www.zefox.net>
Newsgroups comp.sys.mac.system
Subject Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk
Date 2018-09-15 22:00 +0000
Organization albasani.net
Message-ID <pnjvdc$fad$1@news.albasani.net> (permalink)
References <pnjif6$ti7$1@news.albasani.net> <slrnppqr20.1mu6.g.kreme@jaka.local>

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Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
> In message <pnjif6$ti7$1@news.albasani.net> bob prohaska <bp@www.zefox.net> wrote:
>> I have an old G4 Mac Mini that won't boot from either the internal
>> hard disk, nor the installer DVD. Now it won't eject the DVD.
> 
> How are you trying to eject the CD?
> 
First, by cycling power. It worked the first time, when I didn't want it to,
Not since 8-(


> Connect a wired mouse and hold down the left click button during
> start-up.
>
I'm using an Apple mouse, the one with the scroll button on top. Tried
holding the mouse down, the button down and the left side of the mouse
down. No effect.
 
>> Now it won't eject the disk, even with eject-cd in open firmware.
>> Commands like "help" in open firmware don't work, so it appears 
>> things are stuck at a very low level.
> 
> Are you typing "eject-cd" or "eject cd"? It is the latter command that
> should eject the optical disc.
>   
Tried both, eject cd produced an error saying "can't open EJECT device..."
or something to that effect. On a subsequent attempt prompted by your
post I tried again, twice, and it worked the second time. Then the
machine booted! It looks like the optical drive was stuck mechanically. 

>> I understand there is a cr-2032 cell backing up the settings, which is
>> almost certainly dead after ~13 years. Would replacing that help?
> 
> It shouldn't make any difference to the CD issue, no.
>

I opened the case and checked the battery; 2.947 volts indicated. The
meter reports about 3.1 for a new cell, so the old one is low but not
dead.


> 
> Have you tried connecting an external drive with an appropriate system
> installed?
> 

No, I don't have one. Not much point in going there anyway. 

Disk Utility says the hard drive is ok. The cover is back on and
the machine has rebooted twice. That's enough for now. 

Thanks for your help!

bob prohaska

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Thread

G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk bob prohaska <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2018-09-15 18:19 +0000
  Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-15 15:10 -0400
    Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-22 00:26 +0200
      Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-21 18:27 -0400
        Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-22 00:44 +0200
          Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-21 18:55 -0400
            Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-22 01:06 +0200
              Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-21 19:20 -0400
          Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2018-09-22 07:40 +0000
        Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2018-09-21 22:56 +0000
          Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-22 01:21 +0200
            Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2018-09-22 07:43 +0000
              Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-22 12:19 +0200
                Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-22 10:32 -0400
                Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-22 20:58 +0200
                Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-22 15:05 -0400
                Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2018-09-22 22:23 +0000
              Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2018-09-23 14:22 +1200
                Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2018-09-23 12:13 +0000
                Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2018-09-24 03:42 +1200
                Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-23 20:07 +0200
      Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk Percival John Hackworth <pjh@nanoworks.com> - 2018-09-22 10:44 -0700
        Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk ErikRS <mac-dane@is.invalid> - 2018-09-22 21:02 +0200
          Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-22 15:05 -0400
  Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2018-09-15 20:32 +0000
    Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk bob prohaska <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2018-09-15 22:00 +0000
      Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2018-09-15 18:21 -0400
      Re: G4 Mac Mini won't boot install disk bob prohaska <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2018-09-30 16:48 +0000

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