[G4] Noob with a question

[Matt Pendergast]

Phil
Thanks for the info and the links. Good stuff.
Matt

Philip J Robar wrote:

>
> On Nov 22, 2005, at 2:20 PM, Harry Freeman wrote:
>
>> On Nov 22, 2005, at 2:12 PM, Matt Pendergast wrote:
>>
>>> Hey Everybody
>>> My name is Matt. I picked up a G4 500 Sawtooth off ebay about 2  
>>> months ago.
>>> I've had a strange problem with it. It works fine, I got OSX  10.3.9 
>>> (I think) on it.
>>> Problem is I always have to boot by holding the option key down.  
>>> Whether it's
>>> from a cold boot or a restart. I'm not sure how to correct this.  
>>> Hopefully it's
>>> something simple.
>>
>>
>> Matt it sounds like your HD is either (if you only have one drive)  
>> on the wrong connector, or it is optioned incorrectly. The drive  
>> with the Operating system should be on the last connector, and  
>> should be optioned for cable select.
>
>
> Macs don't care what drive the OS is on, what connector the drive is  
> connected to, or how the drive is jumpered - as long as it's a legal  
> setup. That's the whole point of Open Firmware. Sawtooths will work  
> with master/slave or cable select jumpered drives. If you're  
> jumpering for master and slave it doesn't matter what position the  
> drive occupies on the cable. (Although leaving the end of a cable  
> unoccupied is a bad idea, despite the fact that companies like Dell  
> used to ship systems like this.)
>
> Matt, it would be easier to help you if you had told us how your Mac  
> is set up, but have you tried selecting a startup disk in the  
> "Startup Disk" Preferences panel?
>
> If that doesn't work then I would suggest resetting the PRAM, which  
> on your flavor of Mac will also reset the NVRAM where this setting is  
> stored. Since you bought this Mac used this has the added advantage  
> of getting all your low level settings to a know good starting point.
>
> Heres' a good article on dealing with a flashing "?" at startup:
>
> http://www.bombich.com/mactips/openfirmware.html
>
> It includes links to more detailed articles on Open Firmware if  
> you're interested.
>
>
> Here's how to reset the NVRAM only:
>
> http://guides.macrumors.com/Resetting_NVRAM
>
>
> Apple's knowledge base article on resetting the PRAM and NVRAM:
>
> http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
>
>
>
> Phil
>
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