Our second machine is an old imac classic - not connected to internet - used mainly for databases. The cursor is frozen - I suspect because I dropped the keyboard and it dangled from its lead, which may have damaged its hardwired connection at the keyboard end! We have tried force quit and the restart hole, and turning it on and off, and unplugging, to no effect. Does anyone have an answer to this? We have never tried to re-connect a keyboard. And is this the answer to the frozen cursor or just a co-incidence?
Not sure what an iMac "Classic" is. Do you mean a translucent all-in-one CRT iMac with USB and Firewire connectors running OS 9.2 in the classic environment?
With older pre-USB Macs which had the Apple Desktop Bus, connecting and disconnecting keyboards while the mac was running "could" fry the mother board. This is not normally so with USB or Firewire.
Do you mean that the cursor is frozen, but the system starts up and shows the Finder even after the Mac is shutdown, unplugged and restarted?
First: borrow a suitable keyboard/mouse to see if that works. Later OSX with USB can use most USB keyboards, even Windows ones, although you may have to use System Prefs (Keyboard) to get the keys to tally properly.
Second: try a different USB connector on the Mac (Apple Desktop Buses only had a single connector).
If this doesn't work, probably best to transfer your drive data* or drive* to another machine capable of running the OS9.2.2 Classic environment as repairs would not be worth it. Lots of 9.2 capable earlier macs around as give-aways.
*This is not difficult: remove the drive, and use a "bare drive" connector for usb. If this sounds scary, and you can bring it to Dorchester, I'll do it for you - no charge, but bring something to put the data on too.
Sorry to be pedantic, but detail is important. Euan
I'm also not sure what your question is, however. I have a spare iMac Keyboard/Mouse you could try (to see if it is your problem). Location Lytchett Matravers, Dorset.
Also, I will be able to get hold of an old iMac (Bondi Blue) in the coming weeks/months if you really need to stay on OS9.
1) Thanks Ewan! - The machine is a Mac OSB1 8.51 - 96MB. It has 4 USB ports. No firewire. Yes, the system starts up and shows Finder even after Mac is shutdown, unplugged and restarted, but the curser is still frozen. We have tried a different USB connector with a different mouse (no luck) - but not a different keyboard. We have tried using all 4 ports, tho. My wife has a very strong sentimental attachment to this machine - given her by our son many years ago! She would like to keep it if poss. We will try with alternative keyboard first.
2) Thanks Martin! We would like to take up your offer of a spare keyboard - very kind. We are in Hayling Island. How can we best do this? We will pay postage if that's easiest. We would like to be at Fareham meet (our first one!) on Sat 29th July but it is also grandsons birthday so may not be possible. We will try to stay with current machine (see above) but otherwise, thanks for info about old imac you could get hold of - we may need it!
3) We are new here - Nice to be part of this friendly tribe! Hello everyone. Our main machine is a Mac OSX 10.4.11
Thanks, Martin - we would like to try your keyboard, to see if this solves our problem. We are happy to come to Lytchett Matravers to collect. How do we get in touch with you? We will be at Fareham WAGS meeting on Saturday (1st August, not 29th as I said above!). Mike
Many thanks, Martin, for coming to the meeting and bringing the keyboard. We are most grateful - we tried it Saturday afternoon - and, SUCCESS! My wife's ancient and much loved imac 0S9 is now back fully operational. Sorry I did not pick up your message Friday.
And thanks, Euan, for offers of help. Sorry I spelt your name wrongly last time - our grandson is Ewan! Slip of the fingers!
I found my first meeting interesting and helpful, although clearly I have a lot to learn. Nice to meet you all. Doughnuts excellent!
Mike Hart 