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TICKET ARCHIVE -> "the Application Cannot Be Launched Because This System Is Incompatible"
just browsing - Oct 2, 2005 - 5:54 am
My Mac knowledge is seriously limited, and I'd appreciate any help or suggestions.
I have a G4 Ti that I got secondhand about 4 years ago. The guy I bought it from had done a fair amount of updating/upgrading (he'd put in a combo drive, added memory, etc.). Other than minor problems (which I'd caused myself by adding random software, I'm sure), it's been good to me. About a month ago, however, I started getting strange (to me) multi-lingual error messages and Safari started crashing all the time. I did some research, and it turned out that these were kernel panic messages. I tried some simple stuff -- verifying and repairing permissions, but I think I'd left it too late, and one day, the computer just gave up. I then tried restarting with the system disks, but then, nothing. It wouldn't even start from the disks.
I took the Ti to the only Mac place within a 2 hour drive, explained what had happened, and the dude told me it was a problem with the memory. I told him I hadn't added any memory, but he was convinced. He took a look, and said that whoever had added the memory had used chips that weren't the right size (?) and that they'd damaged the connector. He tested both chips (512MB each) and said that they both worked singly but not together. He gave back the computer, and suggested I try it for a while with just one. So it works. Kinda. None of the files I thought I'd die without are missing (and i've since made a backup), but Safari won't work, in fact, a lot of programs won't work (i get the error message above in the subject line).
I also noticed that the Ti is now running 10.2 (whereas it had been running 10.3 something). Perhaps the version of Safari I have requires a later version of Safari? Would that explain everything? Also, when I try to run Software Update, it says I need to install the update for 10.2.8 combo, but it won't download succesfully (gets about halfway through and quits).
Again, any suggestions (and really, no suggestions are too simple; my knowledge base is really elementary at best) would be really welcomed.
Thank you.
I have a G4 Ti that I got secondhand about 4 years ago. The guy I bought it from had done a fair amount of updating/upgrading (he'd put in a combo drive, added memory, etc.). Other than minor problems (which I'd caused myself by adding random software, I'm sure), it's been good to me. About a month ago, however, I started getting strange (to me) multi-lingual error messages and Safari started crashing all the time. I did some research, and it turned out that these were kernel panic messages. I tried some simple stuff -- verifying and repairing permissions, but I think I'd left it too late, and one day, the computer just gave up. I then tried restarting with the system disks, but then, nothing. It wouldn't even start from the disks.
I took the Ti to the only Mac place within a 2 hour drive, explained what had happened, and the dude told me it was a problem with the memory. I told him I hadn't added any memory, but he was convinced. He took a look, and said that whoever had added the memory had used chips that weren't the right size (?) and that they'd damaged the connector. He tested both chips (512MB each) and said that they both worked singly but not together. He gave back the computer, and suggested I try it for a while with just one. So it works. Kinda. None of the files I thought I'd die without are missing (and i've since made a backup), but Safari won't work, in fact, a lot of programs won't work (i get the error message above in the subject line).
I also noticed that the Ti is now running 10.2 (whereas it had been running 10.3 something). Perhaps the version of Safari I have requires a later version of Safari? Would that explain everything? Also, when I try to run Software Update, it says I need to install the update for 10.2.8 combo, but it won't download succesfully (gets about halfway through and quits).
Again, any suggestions (and really, no suggestions are too simple; my knowledge base is really elementary at best) would be really welcomed.
Thank you.
skapp - Oct 2, 2005 - 5:10 pm
I'm sort of guessing here, but I would say your computer just needs to be restored from scratch. I would backup your personal files, then erase the hard drive and reinstall OS X from scratch. However, to do this means you will need a bootable OS X Installer diskset. I don't know what you actually have. If the computer came to you originally with 10.2.x installed, and then you used upgrade disks to get to Panther, then you will need to do that again.
It would be helpful if you could provide the specific model you have as well as what OS X installer disks you possess (and if they are upgrade disks or standard retail installers.) If you open System Profiler in your Utilities folder, locate the Machine ID information. Let me know what the Machine ID is and also look for the BootROM version and let me know what that is, too. It would also help to know the size of your hard drive and amount of free space available.
It would be helpful if you could provide the specific model you have as well as what OS X installer disks you possess (and if they are upgrade disks or standard retail installers.) If you open System Profiler in your Utilities folder, locate the Machine ID information. Let me know what the Machine ID is and also look for the BootROM version and let me know what that is, too. It would also help to know the size of your hard drive and amount of free space available.
just browsing - Oct 4, 2005 - 3:26 am
Thanks very much for your reply. If you could help guide me through the re-install process, that would be great.
I've made a copy of all important files, and looked for the info you asked.
As for disks, i've got:
PowerBook G4 Software Install
PowerBook G4 Software Restore
Apple Hardware Test
iMovie 2
Mac OS X v 10.2
In the System Profiler, it says:
Machine speed 500 MHz
Bus speed 100MHz
Number of processors 1
L2 cache size 1 MB
Machine model PowerBook G4 (version = 11.3)
Boot ROM info 4.1.8f5
As for the size of the hard drive/free space available, um, where can I find this info?
Thanks again; I really appreciate the help.
I've made a copy of all important files, and looked for the info you asked.
As for disks, i've got:
PowerBook G4 Software Install
PowerBook G4 Software Restore
Apple Hardware Test
iMovie 2
Mac OS X v 10.2
In the System Profiler, it says:
Machine speed 500 MHz
Bus speed 100MHz
Number of processors 1
L2 cache size 1 MB
Machine model PowerBook G4 (version = 11.3)
Boot ROM info 4.1.8f5
As for the size of the hard drive/free space available, um, where can I find this info?
Thanks again; I really appreciate the help.
skapp - Oct 4, 2005 - 9:19 am
Since you have 10.2 installer disks that's a good place to start. The process is pretty simple.
1. Boot from the 10.2 Installer Disk 1.
2. After the installer has loaded proceed through the installation process. When you reach the point of selecting the target disk, select your hard drive, then click on the Options button and select the Erase and Install option. Continue on, the installation process is pretty much automatic at this point. After you have selected the installation option, the next panel will present a Customize button. If you click on that button you can customize the installation by adding or unselecting certain optional components such as language localizations and printer drivers.
When you reach the Setup Assistant be sure you enter the same username and password that you were using for your admin account.
Once you've reinstalled 10.2 and have the computer back to normal you can then transfer your personal files back to the hard drive from your backups.
Because you don't have Panther installer disks you will not be able to upgrade beyond Jaguar until you obtain either the Panther installer disks or the Tiger installer DVD. You can upgrade 10.2 to 10.2.8 by downloading the 10.2.8 Combo Updater from Apple's support site.
1. Boot from the 10.2 Installer Disk 1.
2. After the installer has loaded proceed through the installation process. When you reach the point of selecting the target disk, select your hard drive, then click on the Options button and select the Erase and Install option. Continue on, the installation process is pretty much automatic at this point. After you have selected the installation option, the next panel will present a Customize button. If you click on that button you can customize the installation by adding or unselecting certain optional components such as language localizations and printer drivers.
When you reach the Setup Assistant be sure you enter the same username and password that you were using for your admin account.
Once you've reinstalled 10.2 and have the computer back to normal you can then transfer your personal files back to the hard drive from your backups.
Because you don't have Panther installer disks you will not be able to upgrade beyond Jaguar until you obtain either the Panther installer disks or the Tiger installer DVD. You can upgrade 10.2 to 10.2.8 by downloading the 10.2.8 Combo Updater from Apple's support site.
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