I tried to boot my G4 just now, and all I get onthe screen is a Little Smiling Face and a folder with a ? in it.

This thing was running fine when I shut it down a year ago. What has happened, do you think?

The question mark means that the machine can't find a system. If you have a bootable DVD, insert it and let the computer boot from the disk, Once booted see if your har drive has died. If it has, you can install a new one if you want to keep using that machine. If the drive hasn't died, then see if you can reinstall the system, which may have gotten corrupted over all that time without booting the computer.

Might also need a PRAM battery.

First things first. Your computer may just be having trouble "finding" the system/hard drive.

Follow these instructions first to see if it's there but just needs a little directing.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310

How to choose the startup volume
Follow these steps:

Turn on, or restart, your Mac.
Immediately press and hold the Option key. After a few seconds, the Startup Manager should appear. The Startup Manager scans for available available (I just love finding typos on Apples site) volumes.

Use the left and right arrow keys on the keyboard to select the volume you would like to use.
Press the Return key on your keyboard to start up the computer from the volume you selected.

Dude. Seriously? A G4? Toss it in the trash and get yourself a nice new MacBook or something!

Maybe he just wants to run iTunes in the garage or something.
Go for it Papa.. I'm a big believer in recycling and making it do till it wears out.

Hey hey hey! I resemble that remark. My ol' Quicksilver was still going strong when I took it out of commission at the end of last year. That gem was eleven yrs old and wouldn't quit! Got a decent price for it on CraigsList, too. So there! >:-p

Oh! Good luck finding a new IDE drive these days.

Yes, I know. IDE is DEAD. But they can be found here and there like little points of light. Or something.

For a price, too.

Well, maybe you're made of money, but those of us on SS Disability aren't. We have to learn to do with what we have.

Well, the 15 or so I have aren't new, but they are in great condition. HDs are not a problem.

Nah, the ones I have on eBay are all listed for under $25.00 each

Did you start up holding Option like my link suggested?

Good grief, I was joking.

I guess he didn't see your winky.

Who the frik wants to see Gizs' winky??

I think I just threw up a little.....

I hear he don't have a windy. Poor lil' gal feller.

I'm sorry, I have been kinda under the weather and have not had a chance to go back out to the "shop" yet. Hopefully today. But I WILL try it to see what happens.

And believe it or not, not the first one sold--curious

I don't know if this is ethical (or allowed), but I have 10 IDE hard drives and 9 3.5" and 5.25" floppy drives for sale on eBay. (I'm mrcwgordon)

You can post them in the link below.

http://forums.applecentral.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/57/1/Trading_Warehouse

See my post there

I'm looking for an old TRS-80 part... do you have any of those??

Depends on what it is. I still have a good bit of stuff in the "shop"

I added your ebay ID to the other post.

Thanks, I didn't even think about that.

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And that is why we pay Jim Reboot the big bucks!





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Uhh, yeah, right. I can retire soon.

The only bucks I get are from heads around here.