Yet another reason to love Amiga OS

[frankb]

It seems to me that your PRAM (Parameter RAM) is fscked. What you need to do is hold down the command (apple) + option + P + R keys simultaneously, and you must do that right after the computer is turned on. Keep holding the keys down. The computer will reboot. Keep holding the keys down for 3 consecutive restarts. After the last restart, immediately let go of all the keys and then hold down the shift key until you see the MacOS splash screen with the text "Extensions Off". This will turn off all extensions (kind of like windows safe mode). Turn off any extensions (such as the apple USB support extension) using the Extension Manager, which is located in Control Panels. Then reboot. It should fix the problem.

If you want to get the cd out, there is a small hole just underneath the cdrom drive. Get a paperclip, straighten it out, and then put the paperclip in the hole. The cdrom drive should open up.

If you want to try to boot from the cd, just hold down the c key right after the computer is turned on.

I hope this helps.

[frankb]

Reboot three times to get to "safe mode"?  

This is either a joke or somebody at Apple has seen Wizard of Oz a few times too many.

You obviously did not read what I wrote too well. Zapping the PRAM just clears the PRAM to its default state. Holding the shift key down is what disables any extensions that are installed under MacOS (pre OS X). This allows the end user to selectively take out extensions that are fscking up the system.

[frankb]

by Roj on 2003/12/8 2:46:07

Maybe, but unless there's a major difference between a restart and a reboot, 3 restarts/reboots to get this done seems... well, excessive.

All Macs have something called PRAM (Parameter RAM). PRAM stores certain settings required for the Mac to boot, such as the boot device. The system software installed also places information there. If the data is corrupt, no booting will take place, or the system will be very unstable.

The reason for zapping the PRAM (Command+Option+P+R) three times is that it has been in my experience that the more times you do it, the more likely that the PRAM is actually reset.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying this part of your step-by-steps, while probably necessary (I know next to nothing about Macs) struck me as being a little odd, that's all.

It might seem strange to a person that is not familiar with the Mac.

There is an Amiga that has it's own "PRAM". The Amiga 3000. It stores SCSI settings and some other info. There is software that allows for manipulation of this specific ram on an A3000.

[frankb]

by Tenacious on 2003/12/8 7:26:12

@ Frankb

Thanks for the insight. I'll try it tomorrow after work. Are there other little known key combos for the Mac I should know about? Restart? Self destruct? Behave? I do like this machine, I have been able to network it to the A3000 and DL Mp3s.
 

Here is a list of Macintosh Keyboard Shortcuts that I found using google, and it includes pretty much everything, and some I didn't know about.

I noticed that you had installed OS X on it. Though it is a much better OS than OS 9, it will be a slow as molassas unless you disable all the eyecandy features. I had OS X working on a Beige G3 300 with a G4 400 accellerator (w/no L2 Cache) and it did work pretty well.

[frankb]

by lempkee on 2003/12/8 8:32:10

i agree....we dont need some lame windows or mac os registry style but i am pretty sure alot of people want it....bleh

The MacOS does not use registries. Prior to OS X, there was a system similar to DefIcons, but much more robust (projects/data automatically used the correct program). OS X is similar in that regard to OS 9, but is easier to manipulate. As MacOS X is based upon Unix, there is finally a shell, premptive multitasking, etc, etc. Much more like an Amiga.

[frankb]

Wacoon: I still want to know why they don't print that stuff in the troubleshooting section of the manual. I remember the business version of the G3 tower came with several books on how to use the machine, set up SCSI, and so on, but they never even told you about the shift key and managing extensions.

Because Apple hides too much information. The manuals that come with Apple products are mediocre. The manuals that came with the Amiga were fantastic (well the A1000 manual was not so good -- too much like an Apple manual i.e. no info). Apple has never released anything like the RKM's either. C= had it all with the Amiga, but lost it. Hopefully an Amiga/Amiga-like solution will fill the void, and SOON.