Odd start up problem

[amacfx]

Hey Folks. If anyone can help with this it would be much appreciated.

I've got a Dual Processor G4 Power Mac, and having got round to
unpacking after moving recently tried to start it up. It did all the usual
stuff - chime, whirring etc and got so far as changing background
to my desktop colours, but it won't actually bring up the log-in screen
for me to log-in, it just hangs there.

I thought I'd give the restore CD a go, but when I held down 'C' as it
restarted it didn't do anything after the chime, the monitor went back
on to standby and it just hung.

Of course, now I can't eject the cd any more, and I'm not sure what
to do. Someone suggested starting up holding the 'shift' and apple keys
but that's not doing anything either.

It's just really odd that it gets past initial start up but after changing
background colours it doesn't go any further.

Anyone got some suggestions ?

Cheers.

 

[dukeman]

Try a Pram reset.

Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

This document explains how to reset the parameter random access memory (PRAM) and nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) on Macintosh computers.
Resetting PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Your computer's PRAM and the NVRAM are reset to the default values. The clock settings may be reset to a default date on some models.

 

[amacfx]

thanks

Try a Pram reset.

Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

This document explains how to reset the parameter random access memory (PRAM) and nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) on Macintosh computers.
Resetting PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Your computer's PRAM and the NVRAM are reset to the default values. The clock settings may be reset to a default date on some models.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for that I'll give that a try. As a matter of interest what will that
actually do i.e. what is PRAM and will resetting it affect how it runs ?

Many thanks.

 

[2nyRiggz]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

Give it a read.


I would suggest you try the CD one more time...
Do you hear the HDD spin up when you start the machine?



Bless

 

[amacfx]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

Give it a read.


I would suggest you try the CD one more time...
Do you hear the HDD spin up when you start the machine?



Bless

Yeah, if I just do a normal start up the I can hear the drive spinning
and everything appears normal (chime and light) but when it gets
through to log in the panel just isn't there.
(I've tried the CD a couple of times. It starts up normally with chime
and light, but after a couple of seconds it just goes to standby as I'm
holding down the 'c' key. The damn thing won't eject now though).

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Yeah, if I just do a normal start up the I can hear the drive spinning
and everything appears normal (chime and light) but when it gets
through to log in the panel just isn't there.
(I've tried the CD a couple of times. It starts up normally with chime
and light, but after a couple of seconds it just goes to standby as I'm
holding down the 'c' key. The damn thing won't eject now though).

Try holding down the mouse button when the computer starts up to eject a CD.

 

[amacfx]

Try holding down the mouse button when the computer starts up to eject a CD.

Thanks, will give that a try.