Alright so, I was recently given a broken ibook G4(late 2004 generation) as a project. The thing was in 50 pieces, didn't have an LCD, keyboard or battery. So i buy all of those things,install everything correctly and now.. it's not booting. i have the os 10.3 installation cds, i've tried to boot with them (pressing option or C) but it freezes after the apple appears and the window comes up that should allow me to choose how to boot. i've taken out the ram and/or hard drive and the laptop with make the chime, and either start up and freeze at the desktop, or instead of showing the apple, it will show the old mac sign and a question mark or a big circle with a line through it. I'm wondering what's broken. would booting the laptop with the newer version ( os 10.4) work ? or is the logic board shot ? hard drive? i'm lost here, the thing isn't under warranty so i can't call apply and i'm very stubborn and won't give up with this ! please help !!
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Sounds like the logicboard is fried. Have you tried zapping the PRAM with command+option+P+R?
From my experience, what you are seeing is a failure of the onboard memory. Unfortunately, that will involve getting a new logic board. (has seen this happen too many times to count, and is grateful that new job does not involve dealing with iBooks)
See Mac OS
"Broken folder" icon, prohibitory sign, or kernel panic when computer starts
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106805
Is the OS X cd you are using a universal/retail CD? One from another model Mac won't work.
Did you check to see if you need to update the iBook's firmware (Boot ROM version)? Mac OS
Available firmware updates
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117 If required, the firmware update MUST be installed (using OS 9) BEFORE you install OS X.
Cheers, Tom
okay guys, so i've zapped the ram, checked the hard drive with that little disc check, it cleared it.. and then.. the laptop boots ! it turns on, doesn't freeze, im playing around with it, looking in itunes, and bam! after like ten minutes of peaceful working mac time, the thing freezes. i think that by taking it apart again and zapping things i resolved some problems.. maybe there's nothing too serious anymore, but do you guys think maybe the girl that owned this laptop put too much crap on it so it's just overloaded and that's why it freezes after ten minutes ? anyway of fixing this without booting from OS? because i've heard that you need to boot from the specific disc your laptop came with.. and since the laptop isn't mine, and the person that owned it before me is a moron, i don't have the original.. can i go to best buy and buy os 10.4? would that work.. maybe? i'm lost.. and broke.. so any way i can fix this without buying a logic board.. i'm open to any options !! thank you !
If you have the original restore discs, I'd format the drive and install the OS on it. (this will most likely be 10.3 or better). As for places where you can get 10.4, you'll need to go to CompUSA, The Apple Store, or a local Apple reseller (you'll often be treated better at an independant). In some regions of the U.S., Best Buy sells macs and apple stuff other than iPods, but even if they did in my region, I'd still not go there for it. Do yourself a favor and go to your local independant Apple reseller (there is a search on apple's site), buy 10.4, and ask for the hardware test disc for your machine. CompUSA and the Apple store will most likely not be able to help you acquire that handy disk.
should the laptop be able to boot from os 10.4 if i go out and buy it ? i don't have the original os cds that came with the computer
Provided that the combo drive is capable of reading discs, you should be able to boot from the OS X install disc by holding down the C key.
thats not always the case though, i have installed panther from a powermac g5 install dvd on my B&W and beige box. maybe i got lucky?
is hit or miss. Some discs will work with any machine, while others won't. My suggestion is to avoid them and buy a retail install disc - that will be guaranteed to work.
okay guys so.. i ran out and bought 10.4
1) the laptop does this thing where it will only get me to the main screen like 1 out of every 10 times i turn it on.. and now when it boots up correctly, and shows me my desktop and i'm able to play around with itunes and everything, the touchpad and keyboard don't work. so i've hooked up a USB mouse, i don't have a usb keyboard.
2) so i turn it on a bunch of times, finally get it to the screen, click on the OS X installation icon on the desktop, click restart, and it asked for my admin. password, which i of course don't know because the laptop wasn't mine, and even if i knew it, keyboard's not working (even though it's brand new and is hooked in correctly, and has worked before) so i just click enter without entering a password, and it freezes!!!! AH!
3) i'm going to beat this thing with a hammer. what the heck is going on?!
4) is there anyway i can start the installation process without logging in and without having to completely boot the computer where it shows my desktop ( i've tried holding C and holding option and resetting the ram)
5) oh.. just wondering, not an issue.. but i have a dell on windows XP, what would happen if i installed OS X 10.4 in it ? i'm not going to, i like XP, just a thought.
you guys.. you know what i never thought about..
the stupid g4 could just be overheating !! ahhhh we're so dumb !
i'm getting an ice pack and cooling the hot spots down & testing
woo!!! i spent two hours last night sitting on my roof in the 15 degree weather installing OS X 10.4 so my computer wouldn't over heat, and it worked !! im going to buy a new fan on ebay, that should fix the problem right ? are there any other (more serious) issues that could be causing the overheating?