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m - Jun 29, 2005 - 3:28 pm
Hi! I have a powermac G4 that has been running OS 10.1.4 for about 3years. Recently my mouse and keyboard started freezing as well as kernel panics started popping up. So I took my machine in to be looked at. Well, the individual at the store could not get it to panic or freeze so I decided to buy Tiger and install a new operating system in the hope that was the problem. The technician was unsuccessful at installing it despite numerous attempts. I now have a computer with nothing on it. I tried to reinstall the original operating system but the machine won't even let me do this (there are no destination options that i can actually click on) so I am at a loss. Is there any hope?
Thanks for your time.
m
Thanks for your time.
m
skapp - Jun 29, 2005 - 5:00 pm
It would seem that the store to which you went to have the computer fixed has not fixed your computer. Surely they must warranty their work. I would insist they finish the job you have already paid them for. It's quite possible your computer has hardware problems, etc., and they should do what is necessary to return a working computer to you.
Cheryl - Jun 29, 2005 - 10:51 pm
Mindy,
May I ask if you took the G4 to an authorized Apple Tech? If so, they should not have allowed you to take home the computer without a system installed on it. I would call Apple and complain about them.
In the meantime - start up the computer with your original 10.1 CD. Do not click on the installer screen. Instead go to the Installer/Options menu and select Disk Utility.
When that opens, you need to click on Repair Disk. You will more than likely need to run Repair Disk three or four times until there are no references to repairs made.
This may bring up other issues like Disk Utility can not repair the drive. In this case you need Disk Warrior or Techtool Pro to start up the computer and repair the drive.
If Disk utility can not see the drive, you will need to replace the hard drive.
I do not recommend going back to the same repair place. It is pretty easy to replace the hard drive yourself.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
May I ask if you took the G4 to an authorized Apple Tech? If so, they should not have allowed you to take home the computer without a system installed on it. I would call Apple and complain about them.
In the meantime - start up the computer with your original 10.1 CD. Do not click on the installer screen. Instead go to the Installer/Options menu and select Disk Utility.
When that opens, you need to click on Repair Disk. You will more than likely need to run Repair Disk three or four times until there are no references to repairs made.
This may bring up other issues like Disk Utility can not repair the drive. In this case you need Disk Warrior or Techtool Pro to start up the computer and repair the drive.
If Disk utility can not see the drive, you will need to replace the hard drive.
I do not recommend going back to the same repair place. It is pretty easy to replace the hard drive yourself.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
m - Jun 30, 2005 - 8:24 am
Morning Cheryl,
I did indeed take my G4 to an authorized Apple Tech. I had only given him my disks for Tiger so I presumed he didn't load an operating system because Tiger wouldn't take and he did not have my OS X.1 diskettes. I was annoyed to pay 65$ for a diagnosis and get nothing but an empty hard drive.
I followed your instructions but when I clicked on First Aid within Disk Utility the only option that is highlighted is verify (not repair). Does this mean I probably need a new hard drive? Is this expensive (money is always an issue)? I did run the Apple Hardware Disk that came with my machine and it said that everything was fine so I am rather confused. I should also mention that I reinstalled OS 9.2 quite easily.
Thanks again.
mindy
I did indeed take my G4 to an authorized Apple Tech. I had only given him my disks for Tiger so I presumed he didn't load an operating system because Tiger wouldn't take and he did not have my OS X.1 diskettes. I was annoyed to pay 65$ for a diagnosis and get nothing but an empty hard drive.
I followed your instructions but when I clicked on First Aid within Disk Utility the only option that is highlighted is verify (not repair). Does this mean I probably need a new hard drive? Is this expensive (money is always an issue)? I did run the Apple Hardware Disk that came with my machine and it said that everything was fine so I am rather confused. I should also mention that I reinstalled OS 9.2 quite easily.
Thanks again.
mindy
Cheryl - Jun 30, 2005 - 8:48 am
Mindy,
An Apple tech should have copies of all the OS X releases. Did he say what was wrong with the drive? Or did he just give up and bill you anyway? I would still put in a complaint. He should have never charged you for work that was not completed.
Since you have OS 9 installed, does the computer start up without any problems?
Was the hard drive wiped clean first before the install?
It sounds like you have things under control and may not need to replace the drive. Especially when Hardware test came up clean. Sometimes it does take a clean wipe of the drive to get it working again.
The next thing is to double check that all the firmware updates have been installed. Do you remember installing any in the time you have OS X running?
Go to: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117
Scroll down about mid way for the G4 section. Check out if your model needs one of the firmware updates.
To find your exact model go here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58418
Once that is done, you should be able to start up with the Tiger DVD.
The step by step install tips are here:
http://www.apple.com/support/tiger/install/
I suggest you run Disk Utility first (from the installer menu) - click on the second icon at the top left, then click on repair drive.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
An Apple tech should have copies of all the OS X releases. Did he say what was wrong with the drive? Or did he just give up and bill you anyway? I would still put in a complaint. He should have never charged you for work that was not completed.
Since you have OS 9 installed, does the computer start up without any problems?
Was the hard drive wiped clean first before the install?
It sounds like you have things under control and may not need to replace the drive. Especially when Hardware test came up clean. Sometimes it does take a clean wipe of the drive to get it working again.
The next thing is to double check that all the firmware updates have been installed. Do you remember installing any in the time you have OS X running?
Go to: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86117
Scroll down about mid way for the G4 section. Check out if your model needs one of the firmware updates.
To find your exact model go here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58418
Once that is done, you should be able to start up with the Tiger DVD.
The step by step install tips are here:
http://www.apple.com/support/tiger/install/
I suggest you run Disk Utility first (from the installer menu) - click on the second icon at the top left, then click on repair drive.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
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