Apple Power Macintosh 9500 Series - Manual (Page 76)

When you start up, a disk icon with a blinking question mark appears in the middle of
the screen.
This icon indicates that your Macintosh cannot find the system software it
needs to start up. One of the following is probably the cause:
m Your computer may be having a problem recognizing external equipment
that uses the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).
Shut down the computer, turn off all external SCSI equipment, and
disconnect the first SCSI device in the chain from your computer’s SCSI
port. Then restart the computer. If the computer starts up after you
disconnect your SCSI equipment, refer to the manuals that came with the
equipment for information on the proper way to connect SCSI equipment
and assign SCSI ID numbers.
If you have a printer connected to your computer’s SCSI port, make sure
your printer is not supposed to be connected to the printer port instead.
Check the manuals that came with your printer for information on how to
properly connect it.
m System software may not be installed on the startup hard disk, the system
software may be damaged, or the hard disk may not be working properly.
Start up your computer using the Disk Tools floppy disk or (if you have a
built-in CD-ROM player) with the CD-ROM disc that contains system
software. (For instructions on how to start up your computer from the
CD-ROM disc, see “Starting Up From a CD-ROM Disc” in the section
“Initializing a Hard Disk” later in this chapter.) Then follow the
instructions in “Repairing a Damaged Disk” later in this chapter to test
your startup hard disk and repair any damage.
If repairing the disk doesn’t help, follow the instructions in “Installing or
Reinstalling System Software” later in this chapter to reinstall system
software on your startup hard disk.
66 Chapter 6