black screen and random freezing

J

janesyrinx

Registered
APPLE MACINTOSH LAPTOP COMPUTER PROBLEMS

Machine description:-
Apple Powerbook - 1.25GHz - PowerPC G4 17" - OS 10.4.11
About 10.5 years old - Heavy use more like a desktop machine...

Main battery is in place with very low charge, but does not charge completely.
Start up CD is in place but cannot eject - Have managed to start from this CD start up disk (power & C) managed to install a new OS with "Archive and Install" option.
Also have reset the PRAM (power+alt+command+P+R).

The following problems remain:-

Through x3 Scenarios

1. Starting direct from start up disk - (power)
2. Starting from in place OS CD - (power+C)
3. Start up options screen - (alt+power)

The following symptoms appear randomly:-

1. Black screen but with power to keyboard (green shift light is on)
2. Occasional CD drive activity
3. Occasional fan activity
4. Sometimes no activity at all
5. When a screen does appear it can run OK from 2 secs to 1 hour programs were accessed during this time before freezing
6. Cursor is sometimes not visible with frozen screen
7. Curser and machine freezes after a random time

But now most attempts to start the machine result in a black screen and keyboard power only, with random successes for a short period before freezing problems re-occurs.

I would like to know whether it is a hardware or software problem ?
Can it be fixed in a cost effective way ?

Thanks
 
Sounds like hardware to me. When you started from the CD/DVD did you run a hardware test on it (if you can see the Cd/DVD startup)?
 
janesyrinx said:
APPLE MACINTOSH LAPTOP COMPUTER PROBLEMS

Machine description:-
Apple Powerbook - 1.25GHz - PowerPC G4 17" - OS 10.4.11
About 10.5 years old - Heavy use more like a desktop machine...

Main battery is in place with very low charge, but does not charge completely.
Start up CD is in place but cannot eject - Have managed to start from this CD start up disk (power & C) managed to install a new OS with "Archive and Install" option.
Also have reset the PRAM (power+alt+command+P+R).

The following problems remain:-

Through x3 Scenarios

1. Starting direct from start up disk - (power)
2. Starting from in place OS CD - (power+C)
3. Start up options screen - (alt+power)

The following symptoms appear randomly:-

1. Black screen but with power to keyboard (green shift light is on)
2. Occasional CD drive activity
3. Occasional fan activity
4. Sometimes no activity at all
5. When a screen does appear it can run OK from 2 secs to 1 hour programs were accessed during this time before freezing
6. Cursor is sometimes not visible with frozen screen
7. Curser and machine freezes after a random time

But now most attempts to start the machine result in a black screen and keyboard power only, with random successes for a short period before freezing problems re-occurs.

I would like to know whether it is a hardware or software problem ?
Can it be fixed in a cost effective way ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi Satcomer
I did try the option of running a hardware test from the startup disk choice, but it froze before anything could really begin.
Thanks for replying.
 
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