Why doesn't my elderly G4 iMac recognise CD/DVDs?

[babychickens]

I'm about to sell my elderly G4, so have zero'd the hard drive, but the computer doesn't recognise the OSX install disc, let alone let me boot from it. I didn't let me before I zero'd either, and it's not registering music CDs or anything.

Simple question - is the computer actually broken, am I being really dumb, is it fixable (in which case can I do it, or will it cost $$$$ for someone else to do it), and do I need to pull the ebay listing?

Loads of thanks (from a newbie to this forum)

Babychickens

 

[ewilson6]

 

[babychickens]

hold down the 'c' key when inserting the mac os disc.


should boot up for you off of cd...
--Eric

Somewhat irritatingly it won't let me boot it that way - I insert the disc, restart (holding C down), and it whirrs for a minute or two before spitting the drawer open.



if not then change the battery on your motherboard, zap pram and try again this will take care of your problem.

I'm a computer philistine and have very little idea what you mean by this...any chance of a translation/explanation?

Thank you, I really appreciate it...I think I may be going bonkers.

 

[ewilson6]

 

[babychickens]

ok power down computer. take off case, there should be a button on your tower somewhere, press it and remove side of case.

Look on motherboard there is a battery on it, remove it with small screwdriver.

Goto Wal-mart or best buys and get new battery.

Restart computer while holding down option-apple-p-r at same time.

continue to hold down until you hear your mac chime 4 times.

Now put cd in and hold down 'c' button.

Computer should boot up. You can try to zap pram before replacing battery also.

--Eric

Fab, I shall give that a go tomorrow.

Thanks