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batty1

Q: Crashing on connecting to network

Hi

I connect my PBG4 via a USB Sparklan wireless and recently put a password on the broadband. Since then the computer crashes every time I enter the password. In Network preferences the USB is active (green) but says '... has a self-assigned IP address and may not be able to connect.'
In the Ralink Wireless Utility I can see the newly password protected network, but when I try to connect I get the black screen of doom....
MacBook Pro and iPhone connect fine.. Help, please?

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 5, 2010 10:50 AM

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Q: Crashing on connecting to network

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  • by BGreg,

    BGreg BGreg Nov 6, 2010 6:12 AM in response to batty1
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    Nov 6, 2010 6:12 AM in response to batty1
    Welcome to the Apple discussions.

    It would help to know which Powerbook you have, at least it's processor speed (click the apple to the left on the menu bar, click about this mac and you'd want the processor information). Have you tried using the native wireless networking in the Powerbook to see if that works, before using the USB adaptor?
  • by batty1,

    batty1 batty1 Nov 6, 2010 12:46 PM in response to BGreg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 6, 2010 12:46 PM in response to BGreg
    Thanks - it's an 867 MHz PowerPC G4 1 MB L3 cache (to be precise).
    It's so doddery it didn't come with wireless, hence USB because ethernet won't stretch to the hub. It used to work well, right up until I finally put a password on the wireless network....
    Thanks
  • by BGreg,

    BGreg BGreg Nov 6, 2010 1:29 PM in response to batty1
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    Nov 6, 2010 1:29 PM in response to batty1
    Well, before exploring the esoteric, lol, you might want to download the 10.5.8 combo update. Sometimes, when flakey stuff happens, it's due to a glitch in the update process, especially if you used Software Update to get to 10.5.8. Download from http://support.apple.com/kb/DL866. Repair permissions, apply combo update (it will take a little while), then repair permissions afterwards. Then do Software Update in the event anything else needs updating. This won't hurt anything, and it just might fix the problem.

    Also, reset PRAM (instructions below) and PMU (see note reference below):

    1. Shut down the computer.
    2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
    3. Turn on the computer.
    4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
    5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
    6. Release the keys.

    PMU: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

    Please report back after these actions.