Hi.

Recently I got this ancient PowerMacintosh G3 AKA "Beige", and managed
to install OS 9 on it, and OS X even, it worked really fine.

Then one day, I thought about installing NetBSD on it and started
messing around with the firmware (yay!)

Since then, it simply won't boot from the HD. It does, however, boot
OS 9 from the installation CD, and even installs, but when I try to
boot it I get a message that goes like:

Unable to open: HFS something:

It's been sitting here for a while unused, but I thought I'd put it to
use now.

What do you suggest I do?

--
Dushkin

http://www.dushkin.org/

In article <87odyv0wut.fsf@dushkin.org>, Adi Ron <dushkin@dushkin.org>
wrote:

> Hi.
>
> Recently I got this ancient PowerMacintosh G3 AKA "Beige", and managed
> to install OS 9 on it, and OS X even, it worked really fine.
>
> Then one day, I thought about installing NetBSD on it and started
> messing around with the firmware (yay!)
>
> Since then, it simply won't boot from the HD. It does, however, boot
> OS 9 from the installation CD, and even installs, but when I try to
> boot it I get a message that goes like:
>
> Unable to open: HFS something:
>
> It's been sitting here for a while unused, but I thought I'd put it to
> use now.
>
> What do you suggest I do?

Since you fiddled with the ROM, you need to restore it to
a standard settings. I don't know whether you can download the
ROM settings for your computer from Apple, but quite likely you
can. If not, you may be able to get a product support person
there to email a ROM installer to you.

Before doing that you might try:

Reset the PRAM
try to boot from HD

Run Startup Disk (Control panel in OS 9, System Preference in OS X)
try to boot from HD

If those don't work, your HD may no longer be bootable. Try:

boot from CD
run Drive Setup. It may be able to find and repair your problem
run Disk First Aid This may also be able to find and repair your problem

now try to reinstall the OS of your choice.
Copy any files you want to save first, then erase the disk and do a
clean install.

In article <87odyv0wut.fsf@dushkin.org>, Adi Ron <dushkin@dushkin.org>
wrote:

> Hi.
>
> Recently I got this ancient PowerMacintosh G3 AKA "Beige", and managed
> to install OS 9 on it, and OS X even, it worked really fine.
>
> Then one day, I thought about installing NetBSD on it and started
> messing around with the firmware (yay!)
>
> Since then, it simply won't boot from the HD. It does, however, boot
> OS 9 from the installation CD, and even installs, but when I try to
> boot it I get a message that goes like:
>
> Unable to open: HFS something:
>
> It's been sitting here for a while unused, but I thought I'd put it to
> use now.
>
> What do you suggest I do?

Since you fiddled with the ROM, you need to restore it to
a standard settings. I don't know whether you can download the
ROM settings for your computer from Apple, but quite likely you
can. If not, you may be able to get a product support person
there to email a ROM installer to you.

Before doing that you might try:

Reset the PRAM
try to boot from HD

Run Startup Disk (Control panel in OS 9, System Preference in OS X)
try to boot from HD

If those don't work, your HD may no longer be bootable. Try:

boot from CD
run Drive Setup. It may be able to find and repair your problem
run Disk First Aid This may also be able to find and repair your problem

now try to reinstall the OS of your choice.
Copy any files you want to save first, then erase the disk and do a
clean install.