Stuck on "Spinning Gear" Screen at Start Up

[SteveK]

I recently ran software update after being away for a while, and it managed to REALLY mess up my PowerMac G4 (10.28). I was forced to install another os on my machine. I did this, and it worked, but all of my preferences, etc. were messed up because the disk would not allow me to preserve my user settings (I have no idea why). So, I did the dumb thing and moved my "previous systems" folder to the trash so I could "start fresh" (I know, I know). Now, when I start up, it goes to the gray "spinning gear" (with the dark gray apple) screen and stops there. I can't start up from the os x cd by holding "c", I can't do the Apple+control+P+R PRAM reset, I can't hold down x, or start up in safe mode. What should I do?I would even be willing to reformat my drive if I could get the cd to run. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[zimv20]

yikes, you really did a number on it.

do you have another mac? if so, try starting up the dodgy one in firewire target mode (hold down 't') and see if you get its hard drive icon on the other machine (connected via firewire, of course).

if you do, then you can use the other machine to wipe the drive.

good luck.

 

[SteveK]

Nope. No other Mac. Thank you for your suggestion though. Is there nothing else I can do? No way to get the cd-rom working? Anything? Wow I am desperate.

 

[zimv20]

Originally posted by SteveK
Wow I am desperate.

ahhh, the magic words. (just kidding

i'm operating under the assumption that the problem lies solely in the hard drive. this, of course, is debatable since you can't even boot from the CD.

but going w/ my assumption, one solution is to buy a new hard drive and swap out the old one. get yer machine going, then plug in the old one as a slave and see if you can do anything w/ it.

or, you can just lug the thing to the nearest apple store and let them deal w/ it.

 

[SteveK]

Thanks everyone for your help. It was my hard drive. It's at the apple store now getting fixed. 8-12 days, yikes.