Here's a puzzler

#1 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 - 04:48 68kMLA

A few weeks ago I got a 9600/300. It has a strange malady. When you power it up for the first time, it bongs but doesn't boot. When you turn it off and power it up a second time, it boots normally. It also restarts normally. It only happens when you cold boot. It had some expansion cards installed so my first thought was there was a conflict so I stripped out all the cards but that hasn't cured the problem. What the heck could be causing this? :?:

#2 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 - 07:19 68kMLA

Does it not boot even if you wait a really long time? Is the battery good?

You could try zapping the PRAM and disabling the memory test.

#3 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 - 19:13 68kMLA

I'll try the battery and see if that does anything.

#4 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 - 23:12 68kMLA

My 8600/300s (two) are a bit odd in that they will refuse to reboot to the order of the three finger salute. You have to manually shut down if it crashes by pressing the green power button on the case, and then start as usual. It is a small irritation, but there is this anomaly.

How it is related to yours I cannot say.

#5 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 - 01:58 68kMLA

I've seen a bad PRAM battery do something similar.

#6 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 - 06:16 68kMLA

Good thing I just bought a bunch of PRAM batteries then. So many projects, so little time and bench space. |)