Hi. (Deep breaths.)

I have just received my G4 upgrade card (single 1.6 GHz 7447) from
OWC.

As the first step in failing to install it, I have utterly paralyzed
my perfectly good Quicksilver 867 before either installing or removing
a single item of hardware.

The first step of the instruction book calls for reflashing the boot
ROM up to version 4.2.8. This is already where it starts to get
confusing, because the instructions are unclear on whether a
Quicksilver needs this step.

First, I tried using the provided firmware-updater CD in conjunction
with the tiny "programmer's button" on the face of my machine. The
button didn't work as the instructions suggested it would -- in fact,
it had no apparent effect on startup whatsoever.

I then tried starting at the second step of the instructions: booting
into the firmware updater CD. I was able to do this, but the updater's
text-only screen said it couldn't reflash, and shut the machine down.
It appeared only the boot ROM installation would make the firmware
upgrade installable.

I checked my machine for my current boot ROM (earlier); it was 4.2.5
followed by a single letter (i?). I downloaded the ROM installer from
the specified Apple URL, but found it only worked in OS 9. (I have
Tiger and Classic 9.2.2.) I switched Startup Mode into 9.2.2,
restarted and got the flashing question mark.

Thinking the CD might be a complication, I tried to remove it and
couldn't. I popped the case, disconnected its ATA cable, pushed the
reset, tried again and still got the flashing ?. (The Quicksilver
case, of course, is ingeniously designed so you can't simply push the
CD drive's button to get the disc out without complete disassembly of
the case. I love fashion.)

I then tried to hook up the external FireWire drive I had just CC-
Cloned my entire hard drive contents onto. I hit the power button,
held down the T key, and this time, the machine simply shut itself off
after about 5 seconds. Then I tried the same drill I'd used to disable
the CD drive, except on the internal hard drive, to force it to the
system on the FireWire drive. No soap there either.

I now have:
•A CD stuck in the drive,
•a flashing question mark,
•a Startup Items preference set to 9.2.2 that I can't access in order
to change,
•no new boot ROM,
•no updated firmware,
•no new processor,
•and no Mac (except the borrowed one on which I'm typing this post).

Heeeelllllpppp!

   Yours in absolute exasperation,
   Tony




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