Here's what I was facing: Apparently there's some code in the ROM that would not let me install a new OS or even let me boot from a hard drive until I updated the firmware. It's a Catch-22: it wouldn't let me do anything until I updated the firmware, and it wouldn't let me write to the hard drive to update the firmware.
It would let me boot from any number of bootable CDs via 9.0-9.2.2, but the firmware update puts code in the system folder and on the ROM chip and can't do that when the system folder is on a locked disk (CD). I can't boot from firewire or USB or SCSI or ZIP (I've tried).
Ironically, the system ran fine off the CD. USB, firewire and ZIP disk mounted on the desktop, and I could read and write to them and an installed hard drive (I tried several) without a problem. I just couldn't access the main hard drive via the G3 firmware update program. I've messed with hundreds and hundreds of Macs over the last 7-8 years, and have never before run across such a stupid and aggravating situation.
The 266 chip I put in worked just fine at 300 MHz/100 MHz bus speed, despite what some list members told me; it also worked at 200 MHz/66 MHz bus speed. However, that chip belongs in its original G3 desktop so I can give it to a needy family, and I've got a proper 300 MHz ZIF coming in the mail.
Finally, after trying all kinds of suggestions from others and tricks of my own, I downloaded two B&W ROM-type updaters from apple.com on another Mac, then transferred the files via ZIP disk to the B&W. Thanks to Kris Tilford for this information about where to find the updater files:
"Here's the full list for the B&W," he said:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=31002
I installed the Mac OS ROM Update 1.0, downloaded from apple.com, and updated a hard drive with 9.1 on it, just as a test. Then I noticed that it was only for 8.6, which explained why the B&W started to boot from the hard drive (for the first time in 2 days of trying) but halted because the OS was the wrong version and needed to be updated.
That told me the update program was looking for OS 8.6. So I got a working 40 GB hard drive that had been in my workbench workhorse StarMax 5500/250 (w/Joecard G3 upgrade), got it to mount in the B&W when booted off a 9.0 install CD (the 8.6 CD wouldn't boot the machine for some reason), swapped the 9.1 boot partition OS for a fresh install of 8.6 I had on another partition, and rebooted. It restarted/booted in 36 seconds! I then ran the G3 Firmware Update 1.1, also downloaded from apple.com, and it updated the logic board ROM.
I restarted the B&W and it booted! Hooray! It runs spectacularly well. It boots from a cold start in 55 seconds, which is fast enough for me.
For the record, I Googled and otherwise did a lot of research on this issue, and came up with nothing that even vaguely suggested going back to OS 8.6 (other than the "Read Me" file that accompanied the Apple Mac OS ROM Update file). And I still don't know why the B&W would only boot from a 9 or a 9.1 or 9.2.2 install or bootable CD, despite a total PRAM and logic board reset.
Perhaps my little trip down B&W Rev. 1 Lane will benefit some other poor soul in the future.
-- Jim
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