iMac Freeze

[phillpotter]

I have an iMac AIO. In trying to install software for an older Apple printer it has decided to freeze. The window show the 'bomb' symbol and the message 'Code fragment could not be prepared' (plus a Resart option)
When I select the Resart option, the computer tries to restart, gets half way through, and ends up with the same message 'Code frag . . .
Does anytone know how to get out of this situation? Once I get out of it, I intend to forget about installing the old printer and will dump the software.
Many thanks.

Phill
821-1948

[phillpotter]

After many tries to get around the freeze problem the iMac has now died. Power button won't turn it on. Does anyone know how I can get it to start up? Is there a restart button inside?

Phill

[alexn]

When you say that "Power button won't turn it on." do you mean it won't start up MacOS or that the computer is showing no signs of getting power (screen black, no start up chime and no power light).

If there's no sign of power then first make sure the power cable is connected at both the computer and wall plug end and that the power isn't turned off at a power bar, wall switch or circuit breaker.

The iMac user's guide mentions resetting the parameter RAM as something to try if the computer won't turn on: press the power button then immediately hold down the command+option+P+R keys simultaneously and keep them pressed until you hear the startup chime twice.

From your description of symptoms and the fact that it is old software I'm assuming you are either running OS8/9 or in Classic mode under OSX. My memory is a bit foggy on whether all iMacs run OSX so if you are classic only so there are two possibilities in the next step.

If the Mac is starting up part way but not completing you should be able to start up using the install disk that came with your computer: put the DVD in the drive and immediately after restarting or powering up hold down the C key until startup is well underway. If it's an OSX install disk you'll end up in the OSX installer program but you can switch to Disk Utility from the menu at the top of the screen and possibly be able to tidy up whatever is causing the problem (I'm not optimistic on this since but it's worth a try). If it's an OS8/9 install disk you should be able to run Disk First Aid from the Utilities folder  and be able to browse your hard drive directly to (hopefully) remove the bad printer software.

If you know where the bad printer software was installed and you have access to another OSX Mac with a firewire port you can startup your computer in "target" mode: right after powering up/restarting hold down the T key. This will make your iMac behave like an external firewire hard drive. You can then connect your "bad" computer to the "good" one with a firewire cable and browse the hard drive of the bad computer to find and remove the printer software.

Hope this helps.

Alex

[MacMoore]

Go to http://www.whoopis.com/computer_repair/#imac
Control-Click on the PDF file that applies to you, then select "Download linked file".
This is a great site for those that need an easy to follow manual (with colour pictures) to troubleshoot their own Mac machines.

Brian

[phillpotter]

Alex
Many thanks for your help. There is no sign of life at all. There is nothing.
I checked all the possibles you listed, power cord, breaker, etc. All check out OK.
Brian sent a link to a troubleshooting site which I'm going to explore. Perhaps it will result in something.

Phill
821-1948

[phillpotter]

Good news! The iMac is alive and well. I had a PC computer friend take a look at it. He removed the casing and did some 'reseating of parts'. Don't ask me exactly what, as this is not my strength. He also removed the battery and 'reseating' it. He put the thing back together and it powered up.
He also managed to correct the freeze and install the system upgrade to OS9.
That leaves me back at the beginning. I'm trying to get the Personal Laserwriter 320 to work. The software is installed. When I go to Page Setup the printer shows up. (It comes up correctly as Laserwriter 8.) I then go to Print, and once again, the printer shows. But, when you click OK, a window shows up saying:
'The file 'untitled' will be moved to the trash because no desktop printer exists for this spool file.'
Does anyone know what the problem is?

Phill
821-1948

[Repeater04]

Phil, before you print, are you going to the chooser to select LaserWriter 8?

[phillpotter]

Yes, I am going to the Chooser and selecting the LaserWriter 8. I don't recall whether it's significant or not, but there is nothing showing in the right hand side of that window. I think I recall the printer showing up there and then the Setup option is available. At this time, it is 'grayed out'.

Phill

[Michael Humphrey]

I think it is significant that the printer isn't showing up in right hand side of the Chooser.
Usually in OS 8/9 you should get a "desktop printer" icon that shows up on the desktop once you have Setup a printer through Laserwriter 8.
Can you check a couple of things:
-make sure the printer is plugged into the correct port on the back of your Mac (printer port).
-in the Appletalk control panel, make sure it is set to "Printer Port", and that Appletalk is active.
-in the Chooser, that Appletalk is active
-check in System Folder:Extensions:Printer Descriptions to see if you have the right Printer Description file for proper Setup: I believe it would be: "LaserWriter Personal 320"

That's all I can think of right now.

Hope this helps...

-Mike