Powerbook G4 (OS X 10.4.11) won't boot up after latest security update

I too did the 09 security update SecUpd2009-001PPC.dmg on my PBG4 OS X10.4.11. Now every two minutes the display "blinks" and goes back to Finder. It boots up OK, but you're taken out of any application back to Finder, which drives you nuts!

I wonder if jimbog's "Terminal" suggestions would work with this prob. I tried it, but too couldn't get past step 13 with all its forward and back slashes and spaces.

That's the trouble with "security", I guess. It screws a lot of stuff up.

Any suggestions, thoughts? Thanks

The backslashes appear directly in front of spaces in filenames. If your Hard Drive does not have a space in it, it will be much easier.

You can rename your Hard drive whenever you want, just like any other Icon. Mine is called "X-Drive", for example. You could call yours "MacintoshHD" without the space.

I've renamed my HD to PWRBKHD to remove the "white space".

I still can't get past step 13, the /Volumes/PWRBKHD/usr/sbin/installer -pkg
Terminal responds with File Not Found.
I've got the .dmg security file on my external backup drive but not a .pkg file.
Also, my security update was the PPC one, not Intel.
So I'm fighting on .pkg or .dmg. I know that the package contains the .dmg.

If you've got time, appreciate how to proceed. Thanks again.

The plain response "File Not found" may indicate you are not finding the command "installer" in the specified directory. If you found installer, but made an error in its syntax or the source to be installed was missing, I would expect to get the built-in syntax help:

Usage: installer \[-volinfo] \[-pkginfo] \[-allow] \[-dumplog] \[-help] \[-verbose | -verboseR] \[-vers]
\[-config] \[-plist] \[-file <pathToFile>] \[-lang <ISOLanguageCode>] \[-listiso]
-pkg <pathToPackage> -target <mountPoint>

If you are adventurous, you can use the "cd" command to change the default directory, and the "ls" command to list what is there.

"cd /" takes you to top-level at the default Drive.
"ls" shows you the files and folders that are there, including a folder named "Volumes".
"cd Volumes" takes you down one level from your current location into the Volumes folder.
"ls" shows you the names of the available volumes. N.B.: Your mounted .dmg should also show up as a Volume! (If not, it did not get mounted properly in step 12).
"cd PWRBKHD" (or whatever the name of your Hard Drive) takes you to your Hard Drive.
"ls" shows you the files and folders available, including one called usr
"cd usr" takes you down a level into the usr sub-directory
"ls" and shows what is in the usr sub-directory. sbin should be there.
"cd sbin" takes you into the directory where you expect to find installer among dozens of other executable commands.
"ls" shows you all their names. At this point, you should see that installer is among them. and be able to just enter installer (no prefixes) and the -pkg parameter and its full pathname, and the -target parameter and its full pathname.

When I boot up using my Startup Disk, it says or shows nothing about "Terminal" where is that located or how do I start up "Terminal" so I can proceed to get my Powerbook up and running again? Thanks for your help.

In 10.4, you must choose a language first, before it will give you a MenuBar. Once you choose a language, the menus that appear include a "Utilities" menu, about fourth from the left. On that Menu, you will find several utilities including:

Terminal
Startup Disk
Disk Utility
Reset Password

In 10.3 and earlier, you make NO choices, and these items appear on the "Installer" menu after a slight delay.

Well, I do have 10.4 but I also do have a powerPC and not an intel, if that makes a difference. Because after I choose my language, The MenuBar shows up as well as the installer. In the MenuBar, my only options are (besides the apple which all in that are greyed out)

Installer
File
Edit
Window
Help

In Installer (in the MenuBar) I have the options of
Change Startup Disk...
Reset Password...
Open Disk Utility...
Quit Installer

Nothing that mentions Terminal.

Can You Help? Any suggestions?

Are you sure that is a "Full Retail" Mac OS X 10.4 DVD?

HT2055- Mac OS X 10.4: About the utilities available on the Mac OS X 10.4 Install DVD

I finally typed the correct data into Terminal and got the hard drive to properly mount the new 09 Security update for PowerBk.

But it didn't help the problem of the computer every couple of minutes "blinking" back to Finder out of any application you might be in. When I get time, I'll start a new subject line to see if I can get additional help.

For now, I did an Archive and Install from the main Tiger 10.4.6 installation disk and am working off of this "new" part of the computer. The blinking drove you crazy, and raised havoc with trying to do simple things like using a credit card online...

Thanks again to Grant Bennet-Alder for the help he offered.

I am using the PowerBook G4 15-inch Software Install and Restore Disc 1 of 2. Is that not the Disc I'm suppose to be using?

If this is the spec for your Mac:

PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz) - Technical Specifications

That article says it shipped with 10.3 Tiger. (12th entry in the table.)

I was expecting you to use the DVD you used to upGRADE to 10.4 Panther. That is the Menu structure described in the article I cited above.

Here's a another twist on this problem: I don't have my install / restore disc.
MY G4 is a hand-me-down. Is there a way to effect a repair without the disc??
HELP!

Here's a another twist on this problem: I don't have my install / restore disc.
MY G4 is a hand-me-down. Is there a way to effect a repair without the disc??

zzzz1-

I have a concept to consider, but not a complete recipe.

If you boot into Single User mode, it leaves you essentially running Terminal. Your Hard Drive may not be mounted yet.

HT1492- Mac OS X: How to start up in single-user or verbose mode

There is a little support for how to use fsck in single-user mode in this article, but fsck is not a cure for the problem of this thread, just background information:

TS1417- Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

This article suggests fixing a somewhat unrelated problem by using terminal commands in single user mode. N.B.: I am not suggesting you USE the procedure in this article, only that you inspect the article for ideas:

TS1543- Mac OS X 10.5: Unable to log in after an upgrade install

If you downloaded the update before you installed it, the .pkg file is likely to be available in:

/Library/Packages

It cannot be attached or mounted as a .dmg, but could probably be used directly by specifying its pathname in the -pkg part of the install command.

Message was edited by: Grant Bennet-Alder

I too installed the Security Update 2009-001, Quick Movie, and iTunes updates this morning. I note that before completion, the installation window said that the installation on one of the items was incomplete, but to restart to incorporate the software updates.

I did so but the apple log/spinning wheel seemed to be hung up. I shut down the computer. When I tried to start up, I finally got past the spinning wheel to the blue screen with the OSX logo and install progress bar, which remained inactive. I waited, over several attempts, for over an hour but no action on the bar.

Based on what I have read here and elsewhere, I assume that the problem is with the Security Update. I have tried the following, with no success in starting up the computer:
- safe boot
- PRAM boot
- unplug computer; reboot
- unplug ethernet and UBS cables; reboot
- command "s" boot; typed fsck -yf after prompt; got all files ok; reboot
- "c" with OSX cd boot

So, in addition to not being able to repair whatever is wrong, I cannot even boot up with the OSX disk to either repair the disk or access the terminal mode.

Any clues to what I can do next?

Thanks

Dave