ibook won't start up

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ibook won't start up

I bought a new imac 10.4 in January and recently purchased an ibook g4 10.3.9 (on ebay). My issue is with the ibook. It worked fine for a while, though I didn't really use it much, then it started locking up and then it wouldn't start up occasionally and now it is making a terrible noise on startup. If it gets to the mac os X screen it gets stuck on "waiting ofr printing services" or something about the network. I stupidly thought I could put the install disk in and that would help-- NOW I CAN'T GET IT OUT. It's stuck in the drive and I've tried manually ejecting (option command O and F) but that doesn't do anything either. Now there are somewhat loud dinging sounds as it attempts to start up.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be wrong, how to get the disk out and/or how to fix the problems?

Thanks.

ibook g4 and imac, Mac OS X (10.3.9), imac is 10.4.10

Posted on Jul 30, 2007 7:33 AM

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Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Jul 30, 2007 10:00 AM in response to tkwhit74

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Be sure when you are using the open firmware option you are following the steps of this article:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106752

If that does not work, the disk may truly be stuck and need to be removed by a service technician who knows the machine.

Also when you tried to insert the installation disk, was it the iBook installation disk? An iMac's installation disk won't work on an iBook. If your seller did not give you the disks labelled iBook, you should ask them to either give you the disks, call AppleCare if they lost the disks, or accept your returning the machine for a refund. Selling the machine without the proper disks is not advisable as my FAQ on selling (x) explains.

(x) Links to my pages may give me compensation.

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Answer 2

tkwhit74 Author

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Jul 30, 2007 10:53 AM in response to a brody

I followed the instructions on how to eject the cd-- IT WORKED!! THANK YOU. Now it is trying to start up, but still nothing. Right now it just has a blank gray screen. It also sounds really bad-- really loud motor sound. I also looked at the cd that I inserted-- it is for an ibook, but I had inserted the software restore instead of the install disc. I do have the install discs as well. Is there anything I should do before inserting it, since it's not booting up?
Thanks.

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Answer 3

tkwhit74 Author

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Jul 30, 2007 11:40 AM in response to tkwhit74

I went ahead and put the disc in and held c down as it started with the disk, however when I get to "Select a Destination" there are no options in the window! Does this mean the hard drive has died?
Thanks.

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Answer 4

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Jul 30, 2007 11:51 AM in response to tkwhit74

Is the data on the machine's hard drive backed up?

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Answer 5

tkwhit74 Author

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Jul 30, 2007 1:43 PM in response to a brody

There really isn't anything to back up. I haven't really used it much.

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Answer 6

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Jul 31, 2007 9:52 AM in response to tkwhit74

OK, try to repair its directory and permissions*.

- * Links to my page may give me compensation.

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Answer 7

tkwhit74 Author

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Aug 11, 2007 3:43 PM in response to a brody

I am not seeing a drive to repair on the ibook at all. I've even tried plugging in an external hard drive to see if it would read it, but it doesn't recognize this either.

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Answer 8

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Aug 11, 2007 4:01 PM in response to tkwhit74

Notice my directory FAQ says you can attempt repair with Alsoft Disk Warrior if Disk Utility doesn't work. That's an extra purchase. If Disk Warrior doesn't see it, the drive is dead.

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