Re: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
On Jun 19, 2:37 pm, Cameron Kaiser spec...@floodgap.com wrote: S, looks like I'm probably at a point where I don't have a choice about replacing that hard drive(s) if I want to continue to use this machine, but how do I get the optical drive open so that I can insert an OS install disk? Holding down the mouse button when you start up doesn't work? You know, I always thought that only worked if there was a disk already in the drive. But I went home and tried it yesterday on the machine with an empty drive, and it worked. Thanks. However, after I inserted my 10.4.? disk, the machine continued to behave the same. I think I'm going to need to open it up and pull the other two IDE cables and see if that gets me past the gray screen. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
On Jun 19, 9:54 pm, Clark Martin cm...@sonic.net wrote: But a much simpler solution is to hold down the mouse button on start up. I think holding down the F12 key (after the start up bong) works too. The F12 key wasn't working, but the mouse button did the trick. However, the machine isn't seeing the Tiger installation disk (yes, it's the retail version, not system-specific). I'm going to try pulling the ATA-66 and ATA-100 cables next. Perhaps something in the failed drive is hanging the system. Thank you to everyone for your help and suggestions. If anyone has anything else to add, please do not hesitate. Jeff Walther -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
This 1.25GHz single processor MDD has been having problems for a few weeks. I've backed up everything on the hard drives, so that's good, but haven't had time to replace the drives, reinstall the OS's, move the files, etc. The short question is, how do I get the optical drive to open so that I can insert OS install media, given that I can't boot the machine from any of the hard drives, and there's no media currently in the optical drives? The open tray button doesn't seem to work from the gray screen the machine gets stuck at. I flipped down the mirror door, but didn't see an obvious hole for the paperclip trick. Should I look again? Okay, on to the long version. At least one of the drives, is doing the whir/clunk, whir/clunk thing some of the time, and yet, once the machine boots, it's still readable (usually). The boot volume (10.4.11) has less than a gigabyte free and occasionally throws up a message to the effect that it needs more space. There are three physical drives in the machine. The 10.4.11 volume is most of a 250 GB Maxtor drive.There's an installation of 10.5.? on an 80 GB drive. Another 250 GB drive is pure data. Last night I tried to use the machine to download a file quickly. Could not connect... Checked the Network panel and found that the IP address was self-assigned, and clicking refresh DHCP (forget exact wording) didn't help. I checked the wiring closet, and the Netgear Gigabit switch says that the MDD is connected at 10 Mbps. Weird. Forgetting the near-dead state of the hard drive(s) I decided that the machine needed a reboot. I shut down. It got to the blank blue screen with spinning wheel and just sat there for a long time, without finishing the shut down. Perhaps I should have left it alone for several hours, but I finally forced power off with the front button. After powering back on, the machine bonged nicely, and then just sat at the gray screen, with no spinning balls, nor text, nor mouse pointer. The gigabit switch indicates that there's no connection from the MDD while it's stuck at this screen. I guess the network isn't active yet. I powered off and tried booting again, holding down the option key. I figured, if nothing else I should be able to choose the Leopard volume. I get a blue screen with a little looped arrow in a rectangle on the left side, and a right pointing arrow in a rectangle on the right side, but no bootable drive icons. The mouse pointer is a wrist watch. The hands run for a while, but eventually stop and nothing else changes. Powered off again, and replaced the PRAM battery. It's at least five years old. Can't hurt? Zapped the PRAM wtih CMD-OPT-P-R at boot, but got exactly the same symptoms in a different screen resolution. :-) S, looks like I'm probably at a point where I don't have a choice about replacing that hard drive(s) if I want to continue to use this machine, but how do I get the optical drive open so that I can insert an OS install disk? I guess if worse comes to worst, I can disconnect all the drive cables, and try plugging in an external bootable volume. Sigh, I really just wanted to download one little file, extract one part of its content (DMG file) and carry it to a non-osx machine on a thumb drive. Little projects turn into big projects... Thank you for any helpful or humorous suggestions. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
Open the drive door flap at the Option key boot selector and you will see an eject button. Grab a paper clip and press the button. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
S, looks like I'm probably at a point where I don't have a choice about replacing that hard drive(s) if I want to continue to use this machine, but how do I get the optical drive open so that I can insert an OS install disk? Holding down the mouse button when you start up doesn't work? -- personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckai...@floodgap.com -- FORTUNE: You can overcome any obstacle. Try a steeplechase. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
From: t...@prismnet.com t...@prismnet.com To: G-Group g3-5-list@googlegroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 12:43 PM Subject: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive? This 1.25GHz single processor MDD has been having problems for a few weeks. I've backed up everything on the hard drives, so that's good, but haven't had time to replace the drives, reinstall the OS's, move the files, etc. The short question is, how do I get the optical drive to open so that I can insert OS install media, given that I can't boot the machine from any of the hard drives, and there's no media currently in the optical drives? The open tray button doesn't seem to work from the gray screen the machine gets stuck at. I flipped down the mirror door, but didn't see an obvious hole for the paperclip trick. Should I look again? Yes, The hole is hidden behind the gasket looking foam at the bottom of the drive. It is just right of center. Insert a paper clip and tray will open a bit, then you can use you finger to pull it all the way out. Insert DVD or CD and push back in. My MDD is a dual 1.2 GHz with only one optical drive in the upper bay. Don't know about your long question.-- glen -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
Sent from an iPhone, don't ask whose. On Jun 19, 2012, at 11:00 AM, Alex Sciortino zeosr...@gmail.com wrote: Open the drive door flap at the Option key boot selector and you will see an eject button. Grab a paper clip and press the button. I think you are merging things. If there is a button just press it. If there isn't a button then insert a paperclip in the hole and push. But a much simpler solution is to hold down the mouse button on start up. I think holding down the F12 key (after the start up bong) works too. To give one enough time to try, hold down the option key at start up. This brings up the start up selection screen. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
Re: MDD, Gray Screen, Access Optical Drive?
No at least On my G4 I need a paper clip to hit the eject button. I think you are merging things. If there is a button just press it. If there isn't a button then insert a paperclip in the hole and push. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
