Desktop not loading at all

[Tinpusher]

I've tried everything listed on http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/help/2/#7, but none of that worked.

I've run the Apple Hardware Test CD, that showed no fault found.

Basically, my G4 (running 10.2.8) starts up fine then freezes when it gets to one screen being Aqua (the normal desktop) and the other screen being plain blue (not the normal desktop for that screen)- see attachment.

The only change I made in between the machine being able to start normally, loggin me in automatically, and this happening was the following:

1. I disabled Automatic Login for me. Not sure if this "went through" OK.
2. I attempted to create another user account, but the system froze so I forced quit on the System Preferences.

If there is no easy fix for this, I am ***perfectly*** happy to format the HD and start all over again. I've only had the machine a couple of weeks, and most of the data on my HD is duplicated from my PC anyway. There are only 1 or 2 unique files that I'd be disappointed to lose.

[Tinpusher]

Just tried zapping the PRAM (?) (Opt-Alt-P-R on startup?), waited for 4 chimes and still the same.

Seriously thinking about reformatting the HD and starting all over again.

[jpollock]

Have you tried booting up in safe mode by rebooting and holding down the shift key until you see the Apple logo?

[91rioja]

I've had the same issues as well on a couple of my G5's running Tiger. Booting into safe mode allowed me access to the machines, but I could not find anything wrong. The normal user account would exhibit the behavior, but any other account would work just fine. I used Cocktail to clean out all of the caches, rebooted, and everything worked as normal.

[Tinpusher]

I can't load anything. The machine boots to the screens shown in the thumbnail above, and then... nothing. Nada.

No login options, no desktop. And Safe Mode doesn't load properly.

Something is seriously wrong here....

[bobw]

Try disconnecting the second monitor and see if it will boot.

[Tinpusher]

Aaah, I've had an idea. How about I boot it up in OS9? How can I do that?

[Tinpusher]

Tried disconnecting the second screen, and still the same problem.