iBook Clamshell won't boot, error 0xF3C481F6

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Level 1

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iBook Clamshell won't boot, error 0xF3C481F6

Hi everyone, I came across an old but fantastic iBook clamshell, 1999, 300 mhz, base model I guess. No extra ram installed (at the moment). The laptop isn't booting. I thought the hard drive failed so I replaced it but I still can't boot it. I always get this error, no matter what I do:

MacOS: Boot Failure! (0xF3C481F6)

Mac OS: parcel initialization failure - bad checksum

I also put an hdd with osx 10.2 and during the boot I get a kernel panic. Any idea of what it could be?

I am very motivated to get it going with macOS 9 and keep it, forever!! :-)

Posted on Jul 17, 2019 4:37 AM

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Answer 1

QuickPost

Level 10

103,437 points

Jul 17, 2019 3:43 PM in response to rider88

Hello,

When you try to boot macOS 9, have you tried booting from the Open Firmware command line? If it can boot from Open Firmware then that should allow you to get a fresh copy of macOS installed. If you can’t boot from Open Firmware then I think it is a Logic Board issue. If I’m not mistaken Apple recalled a model of the iBook for issues with the logic board. Since you’re not afraid of disassembling your iBook then I suggest looking online for a replacement logic board. As you know, disassembling the iBook is not for the faint of heart!

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

69,482 points

Jul 17, 2019 9:31 PM in response to rider88

The PRAM batteries can keep the system from booting properly so this would be my first guess on a system this old. Just disconnecting the battery from the board should be enough to test it. I forget how the PRAM battery is soldered onto the board, but sometimes you can clip a lead and slide an insulator between or have someone unsolder it for you. IIRC there used to be two Open Firmware reset commands we used to perform, but it has been too long ago for me to recall them.

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Answer 3

QuickPost

Level 10

103,437 points

Jul 17, 2019 3:00 PM in response to rider88

Hello,

Here’s an idea, have you tried booting to a specific device from Open Firmware? Since you can still access Open Firmware it gives us a few different options to troubleshoot. Checkout this webpage for assistance with booting to a device from Open Firmware.

Open Firmware

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Answer 4

QuickPost

Level 10

103,437 points

Jul 17, 2019 2:06 PM in response to rider88

Hello,

Do you hear the startup “bong” or does the display turn on? It sounds like a logic board failure.

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Answer 5

rider88 Author

Level 1

18 points

Jul 17, 2019 2:18 PM in response to QuickPost

Hello, thanks for answering!

yes, there is the startup bong and I can also access open firmware and type commands into it. I can load cd’s and USB drives, but every boot from USB, CD or HDD fails.

i was reading about the pram battery but apparently it isn’t swappable. It shouldn’t break the computer though... otherwise it means that every laptop with soldered battery out there is doomed to fail.. it doesn’t make sense.

i tried to reset pram, vram and pmu, nothing...

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Answer 6

rider88 Author

Level 1

18 points

Jul 17, 2019 3:35 PM in response to QuickPost

Hi, yes I did try to boot from USB stick with MacOS9 bootable image but no luck. The same stick boots on another clamshell of a friend of mine and also from my iMac g4. But on this iBook I keep getting the same error over and over no matter what I do..

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Answer 7

QuickPost

Level 10

103,437 points

Jul 17, 2019 5:50 PM in response to rider88

Hello,

Fingers crossed you can get something working! I sure do love mine! I’ve done a few upgrades after the past few years. I installed a 512MB RAM card along with an AirPort card and a SSD. I then was able to use a patcher tool to let me install macOS 10.4 Tiger. The G3 was still able to keep up with moderate web browsing and other various tasks. It is defiantly a system that functions in today’s world!

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