Mac Mini G4: Stuck at blank grey screen when it powers on

[CalicoSkies]

Recently I bought a Mac Mini G4 1.42ghz on eBay. My intention was having a system I could install OS 9.2 on (I know the mac Mini G4 officially doesn't support OS 9.2, but I've heard of ways to get it installed and booting through the Open Firmware interface). I also bought a DVI-HDMI adapter cable so I can plug it into my monitor. I have a USB keyboard (for Windows) & mouse that I'm using with the Mac Mini through a USB switch (which is also connected to my main PC). I powered on the Mac Mini, and it's working - And it came with a HDD that had OS 10.4.11 installed on it.

While on eBay, I also saw a seller who sells a SSD partitioned with OS 9.2 and 10.4 installed on it. I bought one of those too, and swapped it into the Mac Mini. However, since I did that, the Mac Mini has a blank grey screen when it powers on and doesn't do anything. I've tried swapping the original HDD back in, but it still sits at the blank grey screen when it powers on. I've also tried just taking the drive out altogether, and when the Mac Mini starts up, it shows an icon with an alternating drive and ? - so at least it seems to know when there's no drive installed.

I'm worried I may have damaged something, or perhaps the new drive I bought as well as the original HDD are now bad/damaged?

Also, after I had put the other drive in it, I've noticed the display output seems to be somewhat flaky. The display will flicker off after a minute or so now (thought it seems a bit random).

 

[swamprock]

Did it work with your DVI-HDMI adapter before you removed the drive? I know that the G4 Mini has issues driving a modern monitor in HDMI and DVI, even with an adapter. Something about the frequency of the monitor that the Mini lacks. I run my Mini (in a Cube case) using VGA only, until I get a bigger desk and can fit my old Dell DVI monitor on it.

 

[TheShortTimer]

I know that the G4 Mini has issues driving a modern monitor in HDMI and DVI, even with an adapter. Something about the frequency of the monitor that the Mini lacks.

This is correct, I've experienced this issue with my Mini.

 

[CalicoSkies]

Did it work with your DVI-HDMI adapter before you removed the drive? I know that the G4 Mini has issues driving a modern monitor in HDMI and DVI, even with an adapter. Something about the frequency of the monitor that the Mini lacks. I run my Mini (in a Cube case) using VGA only, until I get a bigger desk and can fit my old Dell DVI monitor on it.

Yes, it seemed to work okay. I didn't see any problems with it before I removed the drive.

I think the bigger issue is that it seems like it's not fully booting anymore when I put a drive in it; it's just sitting at a blank grey screen.

 

[Wild Hare]

Holy moly… $80.67+ $14.93 shipping (total $95.60 U.S.) for a dual-boot, pre-installed OS 9 & 10 / 120 GB SSD! I have bought other items from the same seller before and they are very reputable. (But I could be raking in some cash offering such SSDs?)

But please note: Any time you change internal hardware of this nature, it’s just good practice to reset the PMU too. AND have you tried Option-key booting? *The alt key on a Windows keyboard.

And of course... you might also try with a DVI or VGA monitor too before the attempt @ returning to HDMI afterwards. You know, the old “shakedown” routine. [The 1.42 GHz mini only has 32 MB of onboard VRAM. Only the 1.5 GHz model came with 64 MB.]

And try with your mouse and keyboard dedicated to the mini only. (No USB switch.)

AND the big oddball possibility... SSD pins actually lined up and into the female correctly?
(Yes, I have done this incorrectly before myself. In a big hurry.)