Urgent Mac OSX 10.4 Flashing Folder to Kernel Panic

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b.diminished

Registered
Hi all

I need some hardcore help with my Intel Mac Book (white) on Tiger OSX 10.4.11 (or that was while it was working.)

Surfing the web has brought me to a couple of some what similar problems, but none of which really hit the nail on the head.

Upon switching on my macbook, there was no boot sound and, i got the flashing folder icon with the question mark. I got this same screen before and did what worked that time, which was to boot the tiger installation CD, go to disk utility and repair permissions.

However, when I booted into the installer cd, chose english, selected disk utility, while the utility was loading the HDs, I got a "You must power off your computer" screen, which i later found out to be a Kernel Panic.

I reset and booted with the install cd, got a glass of water, got back and just with the language selection screen, I got the Kernel Panic "Power Off" screen again.

I learned about resetting the PRAM, which i tried. What i did get was the booting sound. Powering on got me past the language selection, and got the kernel panic before i selected disk utility.

When I boot without the OSX cd i get the flashing folder, when i boot with it, i get the kernel panic.

-Ive reset the PRAM which atleast now gets me a booting sound.
-I tried resetting the SMC (holding power button for 5 secondswith no battery attached and no power outlet) , but it hasnt changed anything.
-I tried booting in safe mode (holding shift)

*This got me some text that says kernel panic and Unable to find platform for drive ACPI*
I found a fix that suggests downloading the latest combo update into a external HDD and mounting+installing using terminal, but the kernel panic gets me before i reach the terminal.

My warranty has run out, and Im trying desperately to fix this without having to spend an arm and a leg. So if your advise is to bring it to apple, thank you, but I'm looking for another solution.

Any mac lord out there willing to help?

Cheers
 
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Sounds like it needs a HD. Sorry about your luck. On the bright side HDs are fairly inexpensive and easy to install on macbooks. Hope you have a backup of your files...
 
Thanks for the response.

Dead HD huh..? It crossed my mind..

Anyone who can give me a last resort solution? Glimmer of hope?

I'd like to give it one last go.
 
Try if you can boot to Apple Hardware Test (hold down d at boot, or use the restore disc that came with your Mac). That won't boot to the OS - so it should be still able to confirm if it sees something wrong with the HD, or MLB etc.
Run extended test, in looped mode (ctrl-L to loop) for a few hours if possible. It will stop when 1) it finds an error, or 2) you un-loop with same shortcut.
 
How long is this supposed to go btw? I'm 7 hours into the hardware test. I've got 61 passes. Is it supposed to error somewhere? I'm confused. Does this mean my hardware is ok?

Rundown for those who just got here:
1. Power on in the morning = flashing folder icon, no boot sound
2. Intended to boot on Tiger CD to repair permissions with disk utility, got kernel panic while loading Disk Utility
3. I reset the PRAM. I now get a boot sound, but still kernel panic on Language Selection.
4. Reset SMC. No result.
5. Advised to install Combo Update using external HDD on Terminal, Kernel failure prevents me from getting to terminal

Currently Running Apple Hardware Test, 7 Hours 60+ passes.

Warranty is out. Looking for any possible home solution.

Cheers ~
 
b.diminished said:
How long is this supposed to go btw? I'm 7 hours into the hardware test. I've got 61 passes. Is it supposed to error somewhere? I'm confused. Does this mean my hardware is ok?
Click to expand...

Just because its not failing somewhere in AHT doesn't mean theres not a problem. If AHT doesn't see the HD then it won't fail on what it doesn't see. Check to see if AHT is even seeing the HD as a test component in the list of hardware its testing..
 
If you have an external case to put the drive into and another computer to test it with, but if not it won't help. You just need a HD more than likely. You can get a good size one for under $100. They are easy enough to install. If you can get to the RAM, the HD is right there. Swap the drive, load an OS and done.
 
Ok I have an interesting new development. A friend of mine has this old macbook, same model, with a badly smashed in screen. He bought a new one and just boxed up the old one.

Could I potentially use any parts in there to fix mine? How can I go about doing that? I once built a PC from scratch, with online help >.<, so i think i could do this one, if possible, with some help of course.
 
Yes. You could. All you need is patience, service manuals or good howto guide, and not being afraid of doing the repairs yourself.
 
Goeth thou to the IFixit page--Google--and you will find step-by-step directions for replacing EVERYTHING, including what tools you need. I successfully replaced a Logic Board for a Pismo--which pretty much means you have taken the thing apart completely--a while ago following them.

If I can do it . . . HD and RAM is child's play.

RAM is cheap these days, and if you have a problem with RAM you will get what you said. However, after you get a nice big new HD consider spending like $1.37 for the shareware memtest. It will QUICKLY diagnose bad memory which often difficult to do with other conventional tests.

--J.D.
 
b.diminished said:
Ok I have an interesting new development. A friend of mine has this old macbook, same model, with a badly smashed in screen. He bought a new one and just boxed up the old one.

Could I potentially use any parts in there to fix mine? How can I go about doing that? I once built a PC from scratch, with online help >.<, so i think i could do this one, if possible, with some help of course.
Click to expand...

Realistically you could get an LCD for less than $150 for the busted screen one and get a HD for less than $100 for the non booting one and have 2 working macbooks. That's the route I'd go, but that's me.
 
I'll consider that option thanks! But if i just needed one asap for now, which parts would i need from the broken screen one?

Anyone?
 
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