Grey Screen crash - iBook G4

core_upt

Hello everyone,

Long time lurker, but i finally signed up due to an issue with my iBook.

my iBook has been acting up on me. First, my USB ports stopped communicating. They show activity by lighting up my wireless mouse 'remote' thing or it will charge my iPod, but I can't use my mouse and iTunes can't read my iPod as being connected.

Then, my volume control dissapears, fromt he top of the screen nad from the Settings screen.

Then, the top bar that runs across the screen disappeared too, along with Finder and all the dektop icons! I couldn't open Finder from anywhere, and the only way to see the top bar (where 'File' and 'View', etc are) is by opening an application (Firefox/Preview/etc).

At this point my computer is hobbling around, but since it is currently used for interent only, I could live with these issues for a bit.


Then... I was using Firefox a few days ago when all of a sudden - black screen crash, restart needed. I push and hold the power button and it powers off. I try and restart, nothing, no response. I try again, nothing, no response. I read up on it and decide to try a PRAM or NVRAM or whatever its called restart (removed battery unplugged AC, and let it set for a few minutes, restarted holding command, option, P and R) and it chimed three times and the fired right up. I still had the USB issues, and no top bar, and no desktop and no Finder, but it started!

A few days later, I was runnign Firefox and BAM! Black screen of death - had to restart. I push and hold the power button, computer shuts down, but doesn't boot back up. I push and hold power, it starts up, loads to the grey screen and then just shuts off.

For the last three days, if I try to start up its the same thing: Hold Power for a few (2-3) seconds, the drive whirrs, the speakers chime, grey screen with Apple logo comes up, circle thing spins for about 60 seconds, then the whole goes black and shuts off. Come to think of it, the drive stops whirring pretty much right away... I think it used to whirr all the way through startup before? I can't remember....

So htere it is... I've read up on what i could, not knowing ANYTHING about computers. I *think* its a logic board failure, but am not sure. I *think* it could be a hard drive failure too...who knows.

Here are my bigger concerns: HOW DO I GET STUFF FROM MY HARD DRIVE BACK!!! My music is all downloaded or from my CDs, so i can spend the time to get it back if I need too, BUT my photos - I'd really like those!! Of course, nothing since January is backed up.

Here are the specs on my machine:
iBook G4
1.33 GHz
60GB HD
upgraded to 1GB Ram
14"
2 USB
1 FireWire
Bluetooth 2.0
Superdrive
OS X 10.4

Thanks for takig time to read - I know its long, but I figured the more info the better! Please let me know if there is any more info. My computer is a paper weight right now and I am using a PC (shudder)!

Thanks,
Justin

chas_m

Okay, first, please allow me to smack you around a little for not having backed up your important data since January.

*smack smack smack*

Okay, now that's done, here's something to try. You will need another Mac computer with lots of hard drive space, and a firewire cable. DO NOT DO THIS USING YOUR PC, IT WON'T WORK. Also, if the root problem is indeed a total hard drive failure, this won't work. But it's worth a try.

1. With both machines powered OFF, connect the iBook to the other Mac using the firewire cable.

2. Start up the other Mac. This machine will be referred to henceforth as the receiver.

3. Start up the iBook, holding down the T key. This machine will be the "giver."

4. Continue holding the T key until a purplish-blue screen with a giant yellow "firewire" symbol appears.

5. The hard drive of the giver should now appear on the receiver's desktop. You should now be able to drag files and folders freely from the giver to the receiver. I would recommend just copying your entire Home folder from the Users directory and that's all. All your music, pictures, movies and such are in the Home folder so that should cover you.

6. When you've transferred everything you need to transfer, drag the mounted HD of the giver to the trash. Then touch the power button on the iBook to turn it off (just a touch is needed, it will turn off immediately). Then disconnect the firewire cord and breathe a sigh of relief.

__________________
Cheers
chas_m

Evangelist, ACDSee Pro for Mac: Get the beta! Join the community!
Help us build the next great Mac photo manager!

Our life in Victoria BC • Music blog • My Podcast • Film blog
Victoria Macintosh Users Group