iBook G4 Crashes with certain software and websites?

[cswimc]

I have an iBook G4 Mac running on OSX version 10.4.11 Build AS165.

I have never had any problems until this past week which include the following:

• When open up the Safari Browser, I cannot go to certain websites without the browser crashing (www.yahoo.com works buy www.google.com causes the browser to crash. Strange?)
• When I try to access any of my personal files (word files, excel files, pictures, music, etc) nothing will open.
• Almost all of my programs will not open (the mouse cursor begins to show that it's loading and then it crashes back to the desktop)

The only thing I have done differently to my mac iBook in the past week is that I did a Mac Update on March 26, 2009. Since then the problems have been starting. Any ideas on how I can get things back up and running smoothly. Also I can try to post my crash log files if that will help. I need to get everything working ASAP as this is my computer for work and I have deadlines to meet this week!

I appreciate any and all help! Thanks!

[cswimc]

Sorry, typo in previous post...

iBook G4 Mac running on OSX version 10.4.11 Build 8S165

[ElDiabloConCaca]

If you create a new user account, then log in under the new user account, do you still experience the same crashes and instability?

[cswimc]

Yes, I experience the same crashes even with a new user account.

I just made a new account. Then I logged in under that account and tried to use Safari to browse some web pages and it crashes still. Also, another interesting thing I found is that when I click on the 'About This Mac' I get logged out of my machine immediately.

I haven't updated the machine in over 2 months, and looking at the update log, I can see that on 3/26/09 the following updates were applied:
-Airport Utility Software Update 2009-001 version 5.4.1
-iTunes 8.1
-Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 8
-Security Update 2009-001 (Power PC)

I am not sure if it is the updates that caused this problem, but I am starting to think that this may be the cause since everything was working fine up until these updates were applied.

Any ideas???

[ElDiabloConCaca]

My first recommendation would be to back up stuff, if you haven't already backed it up. I may be preaching to the choir here, and you may already have done this, but it's worth mentioning: back your stuff up, and keep a good, current backup... always.

Second, try booting from your OS X Install/Restore CD/DVD, then selecting "Disk Utility" from the "Utilities" menu. Highlight your hard drive, and click "Repair disk" (not repair permissions -- repair disk). Does it report any errors on the hard drive? If so, did it report fixing them, or did it report a failure to fix them?

Third, if all goes well with Disk Utility, try booting in Safe Mode -- hold down the shift key and keep it held down as the system boots (or reboots) until the login screen (or your Desktop) appear. Does the computer behave normally while booted in Safe Mode?

[cswimc]

I've backed everything up that was in my user account folder (approx 15 gigs of files)

I would like to try the OSX Install/Restore Disks, but unfortunately I can't seem to find them .

I am tempted to just go out to the apple store and purchase the newest operating system OSX 10.5.6 and just format and reinstall the OS, and then reload all of the files I backed up to the computer. I'm not sure if this is the best solution but it seems like one of my only options since I can't find my system restore cd's

Does this sound like a good plan?

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Sounds like a plan to me -- a fresh, cleanly installed system is always a good thing.

If you have all your license keys in a safe place and you have the original installer media for your programs (Adobe suite, etc.), I would recommend erasing the hard drive and installing a clean system... otherwise, you can try an Archive & Install procedure, which will preserve a lot of your user settings and applications while still giving you the benefit of a freshly-installed system. Of course, if you start off with a disorganized and "unclean" drive, you'll still end up with a disorganized and "unclean" drive.

[cswimc]

This is interesting too... I tried to boot in safe mode with the computer as is, and it just freezes and won't load the login screen.