Ticket Options
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Startup Freezing
jwok - Jun 4, 2005 - 4:49 pm
help!!!
My G4 ibook started freezing on me, to the point where now, everytime i boot up, it stalls out on the blue screen. At times it will get past this stage only to freeze up moments after os x has launched (and i haven't even been able to get it that far working with it today).
The install disc one is stuck in the drive, and won't read even if i hold 'c' upon start up.
The only mode functioning is the single user mode.
I've spent the last two days troubleshooting with every suggestion on the apple site, with no luck.
i've run fsck numerous times . . . and right now i'm trying to get at my files to back up in single user mode to an external hard drive, but have had no luck finding the external drive in this mode.
. . . also, i was going to try to hook up another computer via 'firewire target disc mode', and then an external hard drive to that computer, to hopefully salvage files. Is this at all dangerous to the other computer? Is there any way that this might be a virus?
any help would be very much appreciated. . . as
My G4 ibook started freezing on me, to the point where now, everytime i boot up, it stalls out on the blue screen. At times it will get past this stage only to freeze up moments after os x has launched (and i haven't even been able to get it that far working with it today).
The install disc one is stuck in the drive, and won't read even if i hold 'c' upon start up.
The only mode functioning is the single user mode.
I've spent the last two days troubleshooting with every suggestion on the apple site, with no luck.
i've run fsck numerous times . . . and right now i'm trying to get at my files to back up in single user mode to an external hard drive, but have had no luck finding the external drive in this mode.
. . . also, i was going to try to hook up another computer via 'firewire target disc mode', and then an external hard drive to that computer, to hopefully salvage files. Is this at all dangerous to the other computer? Is there any way that this might be a virus?
any help would be very much appreciated. . . as
baldprof - Jun 4, 2005 - 5:59 pm
The target disk mode is not dangerous at all. Not only can you use it to transfer files, but you could actually run the Tiger install from the other Mac.
Of course you still have to get that Tiger disk out of your iBook G4.
Here's a some things to try to eject the disk: when the iBook boots, hold down the track pad button. If that doesn't work, connect a mouse to your iBook and hold down the mouse button as the iBook boots.
If neither of those methods work, try "gently" inserting another CD into the slot to gently push on the edge of the Tiger disk. Once I had a label come off a CD in a slot loading iMac, and by trying this method (it tooka few shoves) eventually I was able to eject the CD. The mechanism had just gotten fubared because of the label. (I got that out using some tweezers). I cannot put too much emphasis on the gently part.
If all this fails, well it's a trip to the Apple store if you have one in your area.
Another thought, disconnect the iBook from AC. With it turned off take out the battery, and let it set for a few minutes. Go drink a soda. Then reinstall the battery, connect it to AC, and start it up. You may just be able to eject it normally.
Assuming you can get the disk out, and you try the install, be sure that you reformat the drive, as in do a real clean install.
On my G4 iBook, an upgrade install failed; not only that I had trouble getting the disk out too. Anyway, I did the clean install and everything was fine. On some other Macs the upgrade install worked.
Let me know if you can get the disk out.
Of course you still have to get that Tiger disk out of your iBook G4.
Here's a some things to try to eject the disk: when the iBook boots, hold down the track pad button. If that doesn't work, connect a mouse to your iBook and hold down the mouse button as the iBook boots.
If neither of those methods work, try "gently" inserting another CD into the slot to gently push on the edge of the Tiger disk. Once I had a label come off a CD in a slot loading iMac, and by trying this method (it tooka few shoves) eventually I was able to eject the CD. The mechanism had just gotten fubared because of the label. (I got that out using some tweezers). I cannot put too much emphasis on the gently part.
If all this fails, well it's a trip to the Apple store if you have one in your area.
Another thought, disconnect the iBook from AC. With it turned off take out the battery, and let it set for a few minutes. Go drink a soda. Then reinstall the battery, connect it to AC, and start it up. You may just be able to eject it normally.
Assuming you can get the disk out, and you try the install, be sure that you reformat the drive, as in do a real clean install.
On my G4 iBook, an upgrade install failed; not only that I had trouble getting the disk out too. Anyway, I did the clean install and everything was fine. On some other Macs the upgrade install worked.
Let me know if you can get the disk out.
jwok - Jun 4, 2005 - 8:10 pm
Hi Michael,
Thanks, so much, for the response.
I was able to get the cd out and copy the most important files in target disk mode.
Dumb question: How do you reformat the drive?
Thanks, so much, for the response.
I was able to get the cd out and copy the most important files in target disk mode.
Dumb question: How do you reformat the drive?
baldprof - Jun 4, 2005 - 8:57 pm
This isn't a dumb question at all. Siince I used to use Windows full time, reformatting drives was something I got used to. Doesn't happen very often if you are a Mac user. Actually I use both platforms now.
Anyway, this article I think will clear up a lot of issues for you:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301270
read the whole thing. It isn't that long, and you will learn a lot. About two thirds of the way down, you will find the "Erase and Install" option described; that's what I am recommending, since you were able to do backups. You will notice that there is a reference to formatting; I suggest you follow that advice and just take the default choice.
Anyway, this article I think will clear up a lot of issues for you:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301270
read the whole thing. It isn't that long, and you will learn a lot. About two thirds of the way down, you will find the "Erase and Install" option described; that's what I am recommending, since you were able to do backups. You will notice that there is a reference to formatting; I suggest you follow that advice and just take the default choice.
jwok - Jun 4, 2005 - 9:27 pm
Michael,
Thanks, for your help thus far. . .
I'm currently somewhat terrified, as I have now initialized the hard disc twice, and made attempts to reinstall the os, only to have it freeze (to my absolute horror!) in the midst of both attempts i've made.
Since, when i start up there is the new (and no more comforting) sign of a grey folder with a question mark. . .
i did just manage to still get into single user mode, but i have no idea what to do. . .
any suggestions, i'm sweating like mad (and to be honest starting to feel sick to my stomach) trying to get this thing back functioning. . .
Thanks,
Jason
Thanks, for your help thus far. . .
I'm currently somewhat terrified, as I have now initialized the hard disc twice, and made attempts to reinstall the os, only to have it freeze (to my absolute horror!) in the midst of both attempts i've made.
Since, when i start up there is the new (and no more comforting) sign of a grey folder with a question mark. . .
i did just manage to still get into single user mode, but i have no idea what to do. . .
any suggestions, i'm sweating like mad (and to be honest starting to feel sick to my stomach) trying to get this thing back functioning. . .
Thanks,
Jason
baldprof - Jun 4, 2005 - 10:21 pm
Okay, calm down. Try to relax. I know it will be difficult. When you get nervous, that's when mistakes get made.
When you say single user mode, did you enter this by holding down the 'S'key at startup? That's how it normally happens. Assuming you actually are in single user mode, here's what you type at the prompt:
fsck -y
Type exactly that. The first four letters, followed by a space, then -y.
It's going to do a whole bunch of stuff while it repairs the file system. Then when it finishes the first time, enter that same series of commands again. Then type in the command a third time. This time when it finishes, type reboot.
But this whole thing doesn't seem right. You either have a hardware problem, or something got seriously messed up.
Did you install some additional ram? If so, turn of the iBook, disconnect the AC adapter. Remove the battery and let it set for about five minutes. Put the battery back in. Then remove the extra ram chip. Reconnect the AC adapter. Now, try the installation process. Don't get impatient. Even if the iBook appears to have stopped, don't be in a hurry to mess with it. Give it some time. Go outside for five minutes or so if you need to. Get a coke or something.If you can complete the install, you know you have a bad ram chip.
If you cannot complete the install, try reverting back to 10.3 using the disks that came with your iBook.
To help me out, keep a list of exactly all the things you do.
When you say single user mode, did you enter this by holding down the 'S'key at startup? That's how it normally happens. Assuming you actually are in single user mode, here's what you type at the prompt:
fsck -y
Type exactly that. The first four letters, followed by a space, then -y.
It's going to do a whole bunch of stuff while it repairs the file system. Then when it finishes the first time, enter that same series of commands again. Then type in the command a third time. This time when it finishes, type reboot.
But this whole thing doesn't seem right. You either have a hardware problem, or something got seriously messed up.
Did you install some additional ram? If so, turn of the iBook, disconnect the AC adapter. Remove the battery and let it set for about five minutes. Put the battery back in. Then remove the extra ram chip. Reconnect the AC adapter. Now, try the installation process. Don't get impatient. Even if the iBook appears to have stopped, don't be in a hurry to mess with it. Give it some time. Go outside for five minutes or so if you need to. Get a coke or something.If you can complete the install, you know you have a bad ram chip.
If you cannot complete the install, try reverting back to 10.3 using the disks that came with your iBook.
To help me out, keep a list of exactly all the things you do.
baldprof - Jun 4, 2005 - 10:33 pm
Also, do you have an Airport card installed? You know the wireless networking card. Sometimes that can be loose in its' slot, even just a little, and can cause freeze ups. So if you do the battery removal routine, after you have replaced the battery and you pop up they keyboard to check the ram, check the Airport card first.
jwok - Jun 4, 2005 - 11:11 pm
Hi Michael,
I just tried to 'fsck -y' 3 times as you suggested, but still was not even able to launch the cd, to attempt to re-install. Keep getting stalled at the blue screen, or the new thing is the folder finder icon/question mark sign on the grey screen.
as of now i am not even able to get into single user mode, i just get the grey screen finder/question mark sign. . .
things seem to be degenerating. . .
I just tried to 'fsck -y' 3 times as you suggested, but still was not even able to launch the cd, to attempt to re-install. Keep getting stalled at the blue screen, or the new thing is the folder finder icon/question mark sign on the grey screen.
as of now i am not even able to get into single user mode, i just get the grey screen finder/question mark sign. . .
things seem to be degenerating. . .
jwok - Jun 4, 2005 - 11:15 pm
no, i have no airport card, and i don't think there is added ram (that is i haven't added any since i got it). If i ordered extra ram when i bought it does that qualify?
anyway, as i said things are seem to have gone from bad to worse, as i'm not able to access the unix mode anymore. . .
i really do appreciate the help though.
anyway, as i said things are seem to have gone from bad to worse, as i'm not able to access the unix mode anymore. . .
i really do appreciate the help though.
baldprof - Jun 4, 2005 - 11:28 pm
If the ram was installed by Apple, then it wouldn't be the source of the problem. It's usually third party ram that does this.
Well I have only one more thing to try then, with two steps: 1) do the target disk mode thing, and on the other Mac startup Disk Utility. Select the iBook disk and tell it to repair the disk. 2) Find your 10.3 disks, the ones that came with your iMac. Try reinstalling 10.3. If you can't do that even, then you need to have your iBook checked by a technician. At this point I would conclude you had a major hardware problem.
If you can install 10.3, then it's possible that you have a bad install DVD for 10.4. That doesn't happen very often, but it can.
Well I have only one more thing to try then, with two steps: 1) do the target disk mode thing, and on the other Mac startup Disk Utility. Select the iBook disk and tell it to repair the disk. 2) Find your 10.3 disks, the ones that came with your iMac. Try reinstalling 10.3. If you can't do that even, then you need to have your iBook checked by a technician. At this point I would conclude you had a major hardware problem.
If you can install 10.3, then it's possible that you have a bad install DVD for 10.4. That doesn't happen very often, but it can.
IF THIS IS YOUR QUESTION AND YOU WISH TO RESPOND, LOGIN HERE FIRST.
