ib00k4
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Q: Ibook G4's log-in screen will not appear after initial gray screen

I began having this problem late yesterday night after I was fiddling with the hard drive's permissions and applied the default permission settings  to all sub-folders while transferring backup files from an old external HD to a newer one. I no longer had permission to acess the newer HD after the permissions were set (other PCs won't recognize it either) so I opened disc utilities and attempted to restore permissions but I got an error. I then proceeded to restart the PC and was met with it's current state. The start screen had lagged before but not like this.

 

I've already attempted to reset the PRAM and PMU as detailed here.

 

command-S does nothing.

 

could this be a result of poor upkeep? (I purchased this Ibook used from a trusted source I'm acquainted with earlier this year so I'm certain I wasn't tricked into buying a shoddy product.)

 

Stats:

Ibook G4

1.42 ghz processor

1.56 gb RAM

MAC OSX 10.5.8

IBook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.8), start-up

Posted on Dec 6, 2013 7:28 AM

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ib00k4

Q: Ibook G4's log-in screen will not appear after initial gray screen

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Dec 20, 2013 2:28 PM in response to ib00k4
    Level 6 (14,304 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 20, 2013 2:28 PM in response to ib00k4

    With a bootable install-restore disc or system disc for the later OS X installed in the computer a few more options may be available. To add Admin users, and change ownership of files, ownership of shared files, and the like, can be tedious even with the correct tools, skills and abilities. Macs can be stubborn, too.

     

    A reset of home folder permissions, ACLs and other topics; some of which require booting into system user account, root, or superuser. And the install disc that can boot the computer. As a last resort, a major effort to install a new system to make the computer work under your control utilizes the installer disc running the Mac.

     

    When you can boot into Terminal and enter unix commands knowledgably, (that I don't do) there are ways of doing things in a shortcut mode that could be faster than the interface of OS X, esp. when not available. You may be able to search Support for troubleshooting documents and other articles by topic.

     

    You may have to re-word your inquiry and post it into the systems software discussions area and be sure to note the computer is a PPC G4 because many 10.5.x models out there are Intel-based, not PPC.

     

    •Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache corruption:

    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/repairprocess.html

     

    Due to this distinction, using Disk Utility to Repair Permissions will not resolve issues related to objects in the user’s home folder.  To resolve these issues, we need to “reset ACLs.” This process varies with OS version. With Snow Leopard and Lion, etc that won't run on old G4s, this requires other steps...

    This example shows Snow Leopard: http://www.fixkb.com/2011/08/reset-home-folder-permissions.html

     

     

    Do you have a suitable boot install disc for the computer?

    If so that may be helpful, since you can install a new

    system folder and a new Admin user. However the files

    on the older systems folder(s) are incorrectly permited.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!