[vja4Him]

Our PM9600 was working just fine, until this morning. It started to
boot, loaded all the extensions, then the bomb!! System error type -127.
I
tried rebooting several times, same problem. Tried booting from Norton,
Tech Tool Pro, and Disk Warrior, but the same error appears. I tried
holding down the S key to turn off extensions, and also held down the C
key to start from the CDs, but didn't work.
Any ideas? Is this PM toast? What can I do to get it to boot and try using a disk utility application?
-- Jim
+

[albloom]

You have an "internal file system error." For the rest of you, the OP is running
OS9 (or earlier). Yes you do need to boot from Norton, Tech Tool Pro, or Disk
Warrior. On the original disk or from an emergency disk of some stripe with
an OS compatible with your Mac.

I really don't think you can get "the same error" when booting from all of
those diagnosis/repair utilities. Especially since you couldn't boot them
from CD.

Turn off the Mac. Put one of those diagnostic/repair utilities in the CD
slot. Power on. Press and hold the DOCS keys (Delete-Option-Command-
Shift). That will cause the Mac to look somewhere besides your HD for
a valid system. If your motherboard isn't fried, that'll start from CD.

Then fix your HD directory.

If that doesn't do it, reinstall OS9 (clean install option).

[vja4Him]

I tried booting from Norton, DiskWarrior, TechToolPro and G3 OS 9.1 install disk, all original software installation disks. I tried holding down Shift, Option, Apple and Delete .... Still get the bomb and System Error Type -127.

Tried zapping the PRAM, holding down Apple, Shift, P and R keys, still get the bomb and System Error Type -127.

When I try booting from the CDs, sometimes the CDs get spit out, and the floppy disk icon with a question mark just sits there ......

Looks like it's time to open up this beast ..... Strange that our PM9600 was working perfectly last night. Kids were on MySpace, checking e-mail, playing games, with no problems, no error messages at all.

[albloom]

A G3's OS9.1 install disk will likely crap out on a PM9600 in any event.
Installers are unique to a particular Mac.

Which brings up the question: What flavors of Norton, DW, and TTP are
you trying to start that ancient beast with? Put the CDs into a working
Mac and look at the System version on each. They may be too new for
the 9600. OS9.1 is the latest it can use.

And just for the halibut, when was the last time you changed the PRAM
battery in the 9600?

Have you disconnected all externals from the beast?

Have you contacted a priest?

[vja4Him]

I don’t have the System installer for the 9600. Not sure it would work anyways, because don’t have the original CPU (300Mhz). The guy who sent us the PM 9600 installed a G3 upgrade card.
Norton, DW, and TTP that I’ve been trying to boot with are all workable with OS 9.1. I’ve used them all on my old PowerMac 7300, both with the original 180Mhz CPU, and with a G3 500Mhz card.
Haven’t opened up the 9600 yet .... only had it for just barely two weeks. Maybe I’ll open it today .... Don’t have any PRAM batteries, so will need to add to the list of things that I need ....



-- vjmacaddict

+

[vja4Him]

I cracked open the 9600 .... The inside was already very clean!! I reseated the RAM, took the PRAM battery from my dead 7300 and replaced the dead PRAM battery in the 9600. Installed two HDs from my dead 7300, and added the USB card from the 7300. Also, took the RAM from the 7300 and added to the 9600, so now there should be 584MB of RAM on the 9600.
Put everything together .... Now the 9600 does boot .... One of the previous problems seems to be the CD-ROM ... Not sure, but maybe it is not connected internally correctly? That probably explains why I couldn't boot from any of the CDs!!! I will need to open up the 9600 and change the plug for the CD-ROM to see if that works.
I'm running Disk Warrior from another internal HD (from my original G3 Blue & White, which is dead). Seems to be working ok. I need to figure out how to get the CD-ROM working, so I can try booting up from DiskWarrior, Norton, or TechTool Pro, and run the disk utilities and repairs.
I'd like to get a new, small HD (40-60GB, IDE?) for this 9600, maybe even a new SCSI HD (6-9GB?). Any suggestions??
vjmacaddict
+

[albloom]

Dayum! That beast has been customized. I'm impressed.

You really should get a retail 9.1 installer CD. But with the G3 upgrade,
I wouldn't have a clue as to what to recommend.

If you're looking for parts, you might try the We Love Macs folk. For
example, I believe this is a direct replacement for your CD-ROM drive
for $30:

http://www.welovemacs.com/6611400.html

That should get the CD issue settled. If replacing the drive doesn't
work, you have connector or driver issues.

I'm thrashing. Anyone else have ideas?