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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Powerbook G4 boots to a blank blue scree

incogneato - Feb 12, 2007 - 2:28 pm

First, I am so grateful for this wonderful feature and I'd like to sincerely thank you for your time and help.

I recall accidentally moving my library folder into another folder, so I tried pulling it back to the original folder. However, a prompt appears & tells me that there is already a new version of "Library" & if I'd like to replace it. I didn't know what to do- the new Library folder had another folder inside that says: "preference". I didn't know whether to copy that folder over into the original Library folder and then deleting that new Library folder and then pull that original back to the original folder. I ended up replacing that new library folder w/ the original one when I pulled it back over to the original folder in "Users". Everything seem find after that. I decided to download a program for cleaning up my mac at the mac site, then all of a sudden while mounting, everything closed. (not sure if mounting was complete or not, I didn't install anything.) The only things that were left open was what I was using: quicktime, safari & firefox. When I quit those 2 programs, I was surprised to see that my finder wasn't there. I tried to access it from the dock menu but it said that finder wasn't running. I tried restarting but I keep getting the grey screen w/ the dark grey apple and then it finally goes to the blue start up screen with the shiny apple and MAC OS X, following that a blank light blue screen appears w/ nothing on there except for a useless cursor. Please help me, I'm pretty good w/ pc's but know nothing about mac. I appreciate your help!

p.s. I remember updating the quicktime software last night too.

ishan - Feb 12, 2007 - 7:24 pm

Boot up with your original install CD/DVD and run Disk Utility off the CD/DVD to repair your drive and repair permissions. If that doesn't work, I would do an Archive/Install. Before you do anything, though, you need to back up your hard drive. To do so, you will need a FW port on your Macintosh and another Macintosh with a FW port. Start your Macintosh in FW mode by holding down the T key while pressing the start button. Connect up the two computers by FW. If all goes well, you'll see a FW symbol bouncing around the screen of your computer and your computer's hard drive will appear as a FW drive on the second computer. Get everything off the drive that you need NOW!

Then proceed with an archive/install. This will save your preferences, internet settings, etc. However, this may not be a good thing, depending on how corrupt your Library is. At worst, you can do a complete erase/install and put a fresh version of 10.2 on your drive. You will have to reinstall all your third party apps, etc, however.

Just as an FYI: 10.2 is a very buggy version of 10.x. If you can afford it, upgrade to 10.4. You need much more memory anyway; a gigabyte would be most helpful. 10.4 won't run (I don't think) with only 256 Mb of RAM.

HTH and please let us know what happens. Thanks.

incogneato - Feb 13, 2007 - 7:57 pm

Thank you so much for your prompt reply! I have tried inserting my software install and restore disk numerous times but it never loads. I do not know what or how to do an archive/install. Would the "FW" be the firewire? If so, I do not have that cable. I do need to get my things off of it. Thank you so much for your advice, however, do you mean that I need to buy more memory and then I'd be able to upgrade it to 10.4 (which would also cost more money?) Thank you again for your help, but can you think of other alternatives that I can try?

Sincerely,
Connie

ishan - Feb 13, 2007 - 8:42 pm

Put the CD containing your software install into the optical drive. Wait until it loads. If it doesn't load, either the disk is scratched or the drive has gone bad. Assuming it loads, open the CD on the desktop and click "Restart". The computer will start up with the CD; it will take a while. After a few screens, you will get the option to do an Archive and Install. Choose that option and let the installer run.

Memory prices are at an all-time low. You can add a GB of RAM (you may have to replace the old RAM, depending on the computer) fo USD 50 or less (considerably less). Especially if your installer CD is kaput because it's scratched, bite the bullet, buy 10.4.8 for $129 (or $69 with the student discount) and buy the RAM from a reputable vendor like OWC (macsales.com). You'll be glad you did.

incogneato - Feb 13, 2007 - 10:28 pm

Hi I've loaded the disk countless times but it will not do anything. I know the disk isn't scratched & I've tried loading other disks too-it was also unsuccessful. I do hope the drive didn't go bad...the comp isn't used enough. Thank you for all the information. I am planning to go into the mac store tomorrow to see if they can help me. I hope they won't charge me...(do you think that is likely?) I can't afford anything right now.

ishan - Feb 14, 2007 - 3:15 pm

They will charge you to determine if the optical drive's gone bad (as it sound like it has). Alternatively, you can buy an internal DVD burner for very little (less than $30), but installing it may be tricky. Or you get a an USB based external DVD burner and not both replacing the optical drive in your computer. That would cost maybe $50 and it's plug and play. Any way you go, you'll have to spend money. Sorry.