Flashing box with questionmark in it apon turning the computer on...

7 posts / 0 new
Last post
Offline
Last seen: 15 years 7 months ago
Joined: Aug 8 2008 - 23:37
Posts: 3
Flashing box with questionmark in it apon turning the computer on...

hello,
I am new to this forum and this computer system. It is the black and gray tower if that helps any? I recently bought it off of ebay and when i went to boot it up i got this flashing box with a questionmark in it. I would have just used a system restore cd had one came with the computer when i bought it off of ebay but there wasnt one. how can i fix this issue? Any info is greatly appreciated, thanks.

themike's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 4 months ago
Joined: Jul 21 2004 - 19:33
Posts: 455
Sounds like the computer can'

Sounds like the computer can't find a bootable system on the hard drive. Did the computer come with an installed hard drive?

If you can give us a little more info like exactly which system you have, we can help point you towards the right disks to buy.

Offline
Last seen: 15 years 7 months ago
Joined: Aug 8 2008 - 23:37
Posts: 3
its a apple power mac M5183 G4

APPLE POWER MAC M5183 G4 400MHz 64MB, 10GB HDD
Processor G4 400MHz
Ram 64MB
Hard Drive 10GB

themike's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 4 months ago
Joined: Jul 21 2004 - 19:33
Posts: 455
With 64mb of RAM, I think you

With 64mb of RAM, I think you'll want to stick with OS 9 on that machine. However, with a RAM upgrade (necessary) and a bigger hard drive, it will run OS 10 Panther or Tiger quite happily, I think.

Offline
Last seen: 15 years 7 months ago
Joined: Aug 8 2008 - 23:37
Posts: 3
Alright, thank you verry much

Alright, thank you verry much for all your help Smile

themike's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 4 months ago
Joined: Jul 21 2004 - 19:33
Posts: 455
You are very welcome, of cour

You are very welcome, of course. Just make sure you get the regular retail version of the install disks, machine-specific ones won't install unless it is for the particular machine you've got.

Good luck Biggrin

Hawaii Cruiser's picture
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 3 weeks ago
Joined: Jan 20 2005 - 16:03
Posts: 1433
Copy and paste the eBay aucti

Copy and paste the eBay auction URL here so we can see the auction. That might give more information. It's probably either the Yikes! or Sawtooth G4 on this list:
http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/index.shtml
You'll need either PC100 or PC133 168pin SDRAM. Get at least 256mb into your machine for OS X. A 10GB hard drive is enough to run Panther (OS 10.3) with space to move around in, especially if you do a custom install where you only install the system, BSD, and additional applications (itunes, iphoto, etc.) and don't install extra languages, voices, printer drivers, etc. It should be a criminal offense to sell any G4 with only 64mb of RAM.

Log in or register to post comments