g3 powerbook 400 problemS

Nathan Burke · Aug 1st, 2004, 03:16 PM

Hi.
I've been having a lot of problems with my G3 powrebook.
First, after I had it for a month, I was getting problems:
1. keychain problems
2. can't save files
3. death.

So, I bought a new, 60 gig hd at the same speed as the other. reinstalled OSX 10.3
Everything was fine for 2 months

now, I was online last week, and I got the infamous swirly rainbow. Followed by nothing. Now when I try to start the book, I get the apple sign, then the circle with a diagonal line. The hard drive won't spin at all. I've zapped the PRAM, etc., but no luck. It just won't spin. So I know it's not a hard drive problem. I've had people tell me it's a logic board problem, a harware failure, etc. Can anyone give me some advice?

Also, the last time the thing died, I went to the apple store and they thought it was a software error. they looked at the drive and said it was completely fine. so I reinstalled the OS and things were cool. So it must be something else. Something that allows me to reinstall the OS, lets me get everything all set, then lets me go insane because it breaks again.

thank you so much for your help. I am forced to type this on my POS windows PC that has a memory leak....so I've typed this 3 times already!!! it just keeps restarting....the reason I bought the power book in the first place!!!

MacDoc · Aug 1st, 2004, 03:25 PM

You need to do regular maintenance. Onyx. Macjanitor etc

Heart · Aug 1st, 2004, 03:56 PM

Per: Keychain

Start up the Keychain program.
~/Applications/Utilities/Keychain Access.app

And click the menu 'Window' > Keychain First Aid

At that point you can verify or put your Administrator password in and repair. Every month or so it fixes some ports and stuff in my keychains. An ounce of prevention.. blah blah blah.

---
Cocktail is another maintenance program. <shareware>

I have been having some odd scripting errors with the recent builds of Onyx, but it is free if it works on your machine.

Nathan Burke · Aug 1st, 2004, 04:55 PM

Thanks for your advice, but right now I can't even start the computer. I think it'll be okay if I reinstall the OS, but I'm wondering why it keeps doing this. Do you think it's hardware or software that is the problem...b/c if I keep reinstalling the OS and I keep having this, it'll be a bandage on a gaping wound.

thanks again.