Blue Screen Repeats During Startup

[eodkev]

I have an iMac Intel Dual Core 2GHz/20"/667MHz, and it will not properly startup. Blue screen problems.

It looks normal at first (gray splash screen, then blue, then Apple info/nameplate box with progress bar), but when the desktop is about to finally appear, it blanks back to a blue screen for a few seconds, then back to the desktop trying to mount-- repeats over and over.

It appears to make some progress each time (top menu bar items start to show up after the first few blue blank-outs, font management app is launched, etc.) but it repeatedly goes back to the blue screen and never finishes.

After 5 or 6 repeats (blue for approx 3 seconds, tries to finish desktop for approx 5-10 seconds, then back to blue again) the blue screen then hangs up with only the cursor showing on an otherwise blank blue field with only the spinning blue progress wheel. Stays like that.

I have tried
--reset PRAM (holding down Control/Option/P/R keys) and ran thru the short startup.
--ran First Aid from the Install Disk
--Tried to safe boot holding the shift key: after extended (very slow) gray screen, log in window appears and won't accept proper password. Keeps coming up asking for password input, repeatedly.

Any suggestions?

[djackmac]

Disk first aid report any issues? You could try safe boot (boot holding down the shift key until you get a login screen). If that doesn't help it sounds like an archive & install will be needed.

[Image]

I am having the same problem, or at least very similar.

My computer suddenly went to blue screen in the middle of ordinary work.

PowerMac G4 2x867mHz,
2GB ram,
3 x 500 Gb internal HDs, (2 eSata, 1 ATA)
1 x 160 GB Internal HD, (ATA)
Mac OS 10.4.11 - software update used regularly - everything is up to date.
Computer is used 8+hours per day, daily since new in 2004

I ran DiskWarrior, if found 3 little problems with unimportant files (downloaded dmg file for installing Adobe Flash player, etc. -nothing OS related). DiskWarrior was able to test all installed HDs for hardware problems and found no problems.

I started in Safe Mode, and the Login Screen accepts my password, but goes into blue screen cycling.

I reset the PRAM, etc. using Option+Command+P+R at startup (held after first chime, let go after second chime)

The computer continues to attempt startup, and Finder appears to start to load, then I get the cycling blue screen. It stays blue, then flashes to a different shade of grayish blue, then back to blue.

I cannot find my retail OS 10.4 disk. Errrrrr.

Currently I am investigating using the OS 10.3 installer disk's Disk Utility.... dunno if I should do that or not. I have to check Apple Support or look around here.

Since the computer will start using DiskWarrior and the OS 10.3 disk, I do not suspect any of the hardware in or attached to the computer. I suspect that some file is messed up, and since DiskWarrior's repair had no effect, I must assume that it is a file that needs to be entirely replaced using an Archive and Install.

[Image]

Eh,

DO NOT use the Disk Utility from the OS 10.3 disk to repair OS 10.4 disks. This from Apple's Support page http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2648

I was able to use the OS 10.3 install disk to at least restart the computer from a different internal hard drive, and that drive appears to have a fairly up to date OS 10.4.11 installed. The computer was able to restart and run from this other internal disk. I am now copying all my USER data from the corrupted disk (the disk I would like to start from (it has all the programs and is 500 GB instead of 160GB)).