View Full Version : I am having a problem - Please Help!
SpencerUp
22-03-2007, 7:30 PM
Hello guys,
Once again I need the forum to help me out! A friend of mine just came round to lend me his Apple Mac - G3.
See picture below!
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4732/appleg3dt4.gif
I know it is one of the older ones, but I only really need it to make myelf familiar with the way Apples work. Anyway, he had no screen for it and no mouse, but he did bring a keybord. I have plugged in the keybord and I had an old USB mouse kicking bout so I put that into it to. For a screen I plugged in a sony screen that I had. I did not think it would work because as far as I am aware you must have an Apple screen for and Apple computer. Still... anyway, a picture eventually came up, it was a grey background (here is the problem) and a little icon popped up in the centre of the grey screen which had 2 heads and then it flashes to a question mark. Does anybody know what this means? Is it because it is the wrong screen? I thought it may be something else? Surely if the screen is ok to pick up the icon and the grey background surely it is ok to work for the whole thing. I hope I am making sense. Ask any questions if I am not!!! I am just trying urgently to get it working!! Any help you have would be great!
Thanks
S
Any standard PC monitor will work. it DOES NOT need an apple screen.
The 'smiley face/question mark' you are are seeing is because the system can't find the hard drive/system software to boot from.
This could be because....
1. No Operating System installed
2. Corrupt volume header (a part of the hard drive is corrupt)
3. Failed Hard Drive
Easiest way to fix requires a Mac OS boot CD. Either OS9 or OS X.
If you boot OS 9 - Run Disk First aid and if an operating system is installed, it should fix it to be able to boot. If no Operating system, install from the CD.
If you Boot OSX - run Disk Utility and to try and fix any error. If no system on, install OSX from the CD
waynertron
22-03-2007, 8:29 PM
Hi,
Yes I aggree it is giving you that image as it cant find a valid boot image to boot from.
Here's some info on apple.com that may help http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58042
Maybe try holding down the Option key (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Option-key.jpg) when starting up and see if it detects the hard disk. Maybe it was set to boot from somewhere else before being loaned to you?
Wayne.
SpencerUp
23-03-2007, 8:36 AM
Hello,
Well thanks for the help. The only problem though is I have no CDs! The Mac is an old one from my mates graphic design company. I am not familiar with Macs at all so I have not the first clue what to do, that was the reason for me borrowing it, cause I need to start understanding it all. Is there a way I can get a copy of this CD?
itsamac
23-03-2007, 9:26 AM
You can pick up a genuine copy of OSX Tiger from eBay. It is currently selling for about £36.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Apple-OSX-Tiger-10-4-9-Mac-OS-X-Latest-Version_W0QQitemZ180097392565QQcategoryZ80258QQrdZ 1QQcmdZViewItem
The problem will be if the G3 does not have a DVD ROM. If it doesn't, you will need to get an external DVD ROM/RW to load the operating system or you can visit one of the Genius bar's at your local Apple store who might load the operating system via Firewire hard disk if you purchase the operating system from the store. The retail price for the operating system is £89 for a single license or £135 for a family license (5 licenses).
The Apple stores are located at London Regent Street, Birmingham Bullring, Manchester and Bluewater in Kent
Hope that helps.
nikyzf
23-03-2007, 10:25 AM
You can pick up a genuine copy of OSX Tiger from eBay. It is currently selling for about £36.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Apple-OSX-Tiger-10-4-9-Mac-OS-X-Latest-Version_W0QQitemZ180097392565QQcategoryZ80258QQrdZ 1QQcmdZViewItem
The problem will be if the G3 does not have a DVD ROM. If it doesn't, you will need to get an external DVD ROM/RW to load the operating system or you can visit one of the Genius bar's at your local Apple store who might load the operating system via Firewire hard disk if you purchase the operating system from the store. The retail price for the operating system is £89 for a single license or £135 for a family license (5 licenses).
The Apple stores are located at London Regent Street, Birmingham Bullring, Manchester and Bluewater in Kent
Hope that helps.
Get a copy of 10.2 or 10.3 for less than that, and it'll be on CD as well.
Actually, I have a copy of 10.2 I no longer need. :grin:
The Apple stores are located at London Regent Street, Birmingham Bullring, Manchester and Bluewater in Kent
.
And Sheffield!
Doesn't whoever lent the machine have any CD's ?
SpencerUp
23-03-2007, 10:37 AM
I would be up for getting a copy, but it hardly seems to be worth me paying the money for it, all I want to do is get a rough idea of how the mac works, and how different it is to my other PC.
I am trying to get into Graphic Design. I currently work for a sales and marketing company, but have always had a desire to get involved in Graphic Design. My main problem being that I have no qualifications in it, so I am simply trying to learn the software. I have been told that InDesign is the main software that most companies use. So currently trying to learn that. I am having to do it all myself though, I dont even know if I will be able to pick up enough knowledge to be able to say that I can actually create things like ads etc. We will have to see I suppose.
Thanks for the help though guys, I really appreciate it.
S
SpencerUp
23-03-2007, 10:39 AM
Doesn't whoever lent the machine have any CD's ?
No I dont think so, he is a mate of mine who works for a graphic design company, he picked the machine up from work ages and ages ago. He never used it though. He just said I could have it because he never uses it at home and obviously never at work now that they have much better systems available.
tomson
23-03-2007, 12:52 PM
I might have some disks at home you can have - can have a look this weekend.
(I used to work for apple, still have some older software CDs knocking around).
SpencerUp
23-03-2007, 2:54 PM
I might have some disks at home you can have - can have a look this weekend.
(I used to work for apple, still have some older software CDs knocking around).
If you could get some then that would be brilliant, do you think you could let me know at some point over the weekend in this thread?
tomson
23-03-2007, 4:34 PM
yeah - will post tomorrow if I find anything suitable.
tomson
24-03-2007, 6:49 PM
No luck i'm afraid - plenty of imac G3 disks but nothing for a G3 powermac.
I guess ebay is your best bet now.
glynhughes
24-03-2007, 7:42 PM
Have you checked there's a hard drive inside the case? ANd that it's firmly connected?
SpencerUp
26-03-2007, 8:06 AM
No will have a check tonight, need to really try and get this sorted asap though, I desperately need to familarise myself with Mac!
nikyzf
26-03-2007, 4:43 PM
No luck i'm afraid - plenty of imac G3 disks but nothing for a G3 powermac.
I guess ebay is your best bet now.
I've got a full retail copy of 10.2 (Jaguar) I no longer need. It's not as good as 10.3 or 10.4, but it was the first version of OS X worth bothering with, and it will give you an idea of how OS X works. It ran fine on my iMac G3, so should be fine on the PMac.
I can send it to you to play with and return for postage only, or a little more to keep. PM if you like.