Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!k.gp.cs.cmu.edu!dandb
From: dandb@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu (Dean Rubine)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: 40 Mb Hard disk problem
Keywords: SE/30 power up initialization
Message-ID: <6530@pt.cs.cmu.edu>
Date: 15 Oct 89 20:11:14 GMT
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 28


    I have an SE/30 with a 40 Mb internal hard drive.  Often, when the computer
is powered up, the system fails to find the hard drive, instead displaying a
picture of a floppy disk with a flashing question mark, as if it's waiting for
me to insert a bootable floppy.  The hard disk light flashes briefly,
periodically once per second or so.

    If I power cycle the machine (i.e. turn it off and turn it on again) enough
times, eventually the normal hard disk boot happens, and I can use the machine
as normal.   Other than this, there have been no problems with the hard disk or
any other hardware.   

    I've been keeping the machine powered up as long as possible, but
occasionally I do have to power it down and back up again.  At first, it only
took a few tries before it would boot properly; however, the last time I tried,
it took about 50 tries before it would work.  I'm worried that soon it will
not boot at all from the hard disk.

      Has anyone out there experienced this problem, or have any clue as to
what is going on?   I assume I will have to bring the machine to some Mac
technician to fix it; I was hoping that if someone already knew what the
problem was, it might save me some repair time and money.  Thanks in advance.  

-- 
ARPA:       Dean.Rubine@CS.CMU.EDU	
PHONE:	    412-268-2613		[ Free if you call from work]
US MAIL:    Computer Science Dept / Carnegie Mellon U / Pittsburgh PA 15213
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