iBook g4 startup prob

necrolyte6 · #1 January 19th, 2008, 11:53 AM

I have an iBook G4 with OSX 10.4. During the last update to 10.4.11, after restart the comp freezes during the gray apple screen with the spinning sticks. I tried to copy a working OS from another laptop I have using target disc mode and SuperDuper, copy was successful, same startup problem. fsck reports no drive errors. There's nothing on this computer except the OS and firefox. It also freezes if I try to boot to the OSX DVD in the same place, before it gets to the install options. Does anyone have any idea what could have gone wrong?

Soulwar · #2 January 19th, 2008, 12:30 PM

Have you read these articles?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.h...en/mh2236.html
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464

necrolyte6 · #3 January 19th, 2008, 03:10 PM

Yes, Ive read both of those and tried all steps suggested to no avail.

Soulwar · #4 January 19th, 2008, 03:29 PM

Have you tried the Apple Hardware test? Hold the option key while booting from install disk. It should be selectable in the startup manager.

necrolyte6 · #5 January 19th, 2008, 04:05 PM

I cant get to a hardware test, holding option brings up the boot list with the HD and the install CD but thats it. After that when booting to the CD it just freezes before the install menus come up.

Soulwar · #6 January 19th, 2008, 04:56 PM

Check the disks that came with your iBook. The AHT might be a seperate disk. (mine was for iMac G4) I don't believe so, but doesn't hurt to look.

If you can't boot from install cd (and cd is ok) it may be a hardware problem.
Were you able to boot in safe mode? You mentioned trying fsck...
If so, we might be able to isolate the problem...