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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Powerbook G4 running OS X wont start

espo - Dec 31, 2007 - 10:58 am

I have a lot of experience with MAC and OS X, ive been using them since the first G4 system on a dailly basis for work and enjoyment, but im not too good with problems that arise. I just recently bought a 17" MBP, and a powerful G5 for work and a macbook for personal use. I have an old Powerbook G4 that i let my cousin use for a little, and I just got it back from him and now it will not boot.

Here is what happens...I push the power button, i hear the power on chime, and it goes to a black screen for awhile, then goes to a screen with a little folder in the middle with what looks like the os 9 icon, and it flashes to a question mark.

I cannot find my system cd's, but is there anything else I can do to try to get it to boot or is it done forever?

More info on the powerbook:
15"/1.67GHz/1GB/100G/SuperDrive/BT/APX/Backlit K B

If it is shot, so be it, i dont want to spend any money on trying to fix it, i was just going to give it to my fiance for home use.

Thanks a lot in advance!!

Serenak - Dec 31, 2007 - 1:09 pm

Hello Anthony

thanks for using macosx.com and I will try to assist you

Right then, the flashing folder icon/Question mark means that the Mac cannot find a valid/complete sytsem folder to boot from.

You could try to boot into single user mode (hold down the S key on startup) and if you get the scary unix text at the command line type /sbin/fsck -fy
(don't worry that should appear a line or so above the prompt.)
then restart the Mac by typing shutdown -r now.

There is a chance that will fix it, but as you say your cousin was using it is hard to tell whether or not they have broken or removed a vital component.

If you can - beg/borrow/steal some installer disks.

Unfortunately you will need either a full retail set or some compatible with the PB if you want to reinstall but basically anything that proves the Mac is functioning would be a start - OS9, TechTool, DiskWarrior, or anything else that can boot the PB. Even a PPC LiveCD such as Ubuntu...

You could also try to boot the Mac into FireWire Target Disk Mode (hold down T on startup till you see the big FW symbol) then connect it to another Mac with a FW cable and try running Disk Utility from there...

Let me know if this is any help or if you need more detailed advice.

espo - Jan 2, 2008 - 1:24 pm

I sold the machine, thanks for all your help, I will return here if I have any other problems/questions!!