🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1dbptmh.1snl5jr1xr59riN@tycho.demon.co.uk>, Catherine Ferris
<kate@tycho.demon.co.uk> writes
>
>Hi Tony,
>
>I've read through a lot of the responses that your message has raised.
>Most of them have concentrated on software problems with the OS
>installation. Whilst this may be the cause of the problem, you may be
>experiencing a hardware fault.
>
>The flashing disk icon at startup indicates the machine cannot locate a
>suitable startup device (i.e. Disc, CD of floppy). This can result from
>anything from a missing startup volume (not powered up), all the way
>through to damaged OS installation. Whilst a flat battery will result in
>the machine not knowing what device to boot-up from, the system will
>check all available devices on the SCSI chain looking for a bootable
>device. If the HD is there it will find it, although there might be a
>bit of a delay for the search.
>
>How quickly does the ? icon appear? Can you hear any disk activity
>during the attempted bootup. Do you get a smiling mac, disk activity and
>then the ? icon.
>
>Try the following:
>
>Remove all external SCSI devices
>Check that the HD is spinning up (you should be able to hear a steadily
>growing whine/hum).
>Check the heads have un-locked (you should hear a click about 5-10secs
>after the disk spins up).
>
>If you can hear the disk spin-up and unlocking then you problem is with
>the HD contents, it has probably had it's boot blocks damaged. Norton of
>Disk First Aid should do the trick.
>
>If the HD does not spin up or un-lock it's heads, check the connectors
>inside. To remove the case unscrew the single screw at the back, lift
>the two rear catches and hinge the lid forward. The HD is located in the
>front right of the case, with the power supply behind it. There should
>be two connectors to the back of the HD, one to the power supply (four
>thick cables), and the other to the motherboard (a flat multi-way ribbon
>cable). Check both ends of the connectors are not loose or damaged.
>
>There were some problems with early 40mb Quantum HD's in the IIcx's. The
>disks were very prone to not spinning up or head sticking. Apple
>recalled most of the machines, but I have come across three of four
>machines (one of which I own) that show the same symptoms. The solution
>is the normal brawn over brain approach. Which the machine switched off,
>give the right-hand side of the case healthy whack with your hand (don't
>use anything other that you hand). A sharp knock usually free's up the
>stuck heads, and everything works OK.
>
>If your problem is with the SW not the HW the suggestions already given
>in other posts have covered all the options that I can think of (and a
>few I wouldn't have).
>
>-- Kate
>
>
>Catherine Ferris                kate@tycho.demon.co.uk
>Director                        Tycho Consultants Limited
>
>'This above all: to thine own self be true,
> And it must follow as the night the day
> Thou canst not then be false to any man.'   -- Hamlet
>
>
 That has hit the nail on the head, or the hard drive into activity!

        A kind reader of this newsgroup has loaned the System disks
and the machine would boot from a floppy but although the hard disk
light was coming on for about half a minute there was no activity
        Today I had the case open and removed the hard drive to check
the connections but it made no difference. Then I read your posting
and took the hard disk out again and gave it a good thump. 
        Upon replacing it - it worked!

        Very many thanks to all for the helpful postings.
-- 
Tony
Ooh, Gromit - it's Real Wensleydale     (Wallace)