Was it the same OF error when you installed the SATA drive in your G3 or a different error?

so far i only got similar OF-message when bad ram was installed (was an mdd with G5 ram in my case). are you really sure yours is ok for your specific logicboard?
one overclocked cpu had this effect too at first, but later resulted in KPs
really bad you cant even have Techtool or hardware test booting up....
i also have had some faulty lobos too, but none of them bootied into OF by itself

Chris, it was a different error on my G3 cuz it runs os9.  I would just blank folder.  I have many stick of ram, so I will try some more and see when I can find some time (slim right now).

This MB was running just fine.  It is my new mod (sneak peek).  Its also my second one, lol, cuz I fried the last one.  Woops. ::)

Thanks for the replies guys, I will update as soon as I can.

I have gotten a werid boot up into OF myself this morning. I made a custom ribbon cable for the front panel to power on both sawtooth logic boards im using and one came on with a werid chime sound; the old mac plus chime. Then it went into OF a bunch of hex started to fly acorss the screen then it shut off. In my freaked out state I unpluged it then rebooted the logic board that went nuts without the other logicboard connected and it was fine.

I guess i'll have to wire up my own power switch to turn on both systems at once.

I hope you can fix your logicboard problem maestro.

Ok, tried some more ram, no go.  Tried resetting nvram/all etc. and no go either.  BUT, the OSX Apple appears just before it goes to OF. :'(
Here is what happens...
1 boot up and goes to blinking folder....
2 shows OSX Apple
3 goes to OF with default cacth error.

Now I am going to change cpus again and reerase the hd and then see what happens.  Down to the wire on this mod though and Im sick of buying new motherboards.  Due date is the week before MacWorld.  By the way, does anyone have a working G4 motherboard that they want to sell?

Man you got me stumped. 

Could you boot into firewire target mode to erase, partition, format and re-install the OS?  If you can I would suggest Zeroing out the data, just to be safe.

Have you tried the hardware diagnostics CD wihtout a hard drive attached on the original CPU? I know it sounds like alot, but it would rule out the motherboard.

Good luck!

Ok,
Unless I missed it, I haven't heard any video suggestions. Have you tried a different video card?
Have had the problem or similar with ...um..PC's  :-[I have built.

Well I re-read the post and, Sorry War, I see you mentioned video cards in your post. But maestro, I haven't read that you tried it yet.

This may sound rediculous, but have tried typing "BYE" yet?

If that doesn't work, and you are sure that there are no other bad parts, then I would say that it looks like the ROM is bad.  Unfortunately I believe the ROM is located on the logic board for the Gig Ether. 

Hey guys, no time to try out any of the new ideas yet.  I thank you much for them though and I will keep trying.  I am going to keep at it and try the last few things maybe Sunday.  I have yet another funeral to go to...and another wake video I am editing (second late nighter tonight) and my wife's surprise bday is on Friday, so that almost gives me some time to sleep as I still have to go to work, lol.

Big Karma for thou who hath the final solution.