Level 1

0 points

Ibook will not Boot - goes to DOS, error message inside

Hi folks,

The old ibook (late 2004 model) is slowing down more and more, and yesterday refused to boot after crashing.

I left it booting on its blue screen for a while and it eventually went to a black dos screen with the following message:

SystemStarter[47]: The following StartUpItems failed to properly start:

/System/Library/StartUpItems/PrintingServices
- execution of Startup script failed

Now i'm assuming the problem is with the start up script, so I've looked around and done a few things suggested.

For example:

1. Reset the PMU ~ Shift - Control - Option - Power, waited for 5 secs, then rebooted, same problem.

2. Ran single user commands as detailed here http://missionitgroup.com/blog/?p=1490

Tried this twice to make sure, same thing happened. When checking the disk for errors (/sbin/fsck -fy) it would not find any volumes.

Also it would not run repairPermissions, it just kept giving me the options under diskutil, but not running the repair (Im assuming this may be due to it not being able to find any volumes)

3. Someone has suggested running the Mac from its original startup OS X DVD.

The problem is that there is a DVD (movie) already in the drive and pressing eject does not eject it.

4. I put the ibook into Firewire mode with it attached to my iMac. The iMac could see the DVD that was in the ibook drive but could not see the ibooks harddrive.

sooooo!!!!! a bit lost as where to go from here, any help would be greatly appreciated!?

Ibook G4 1.33GHZ, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jan 4, 2011 4:39 AM

26 replies

srojtas

Level 2

430 points

Jan 6, 2011 12:35 PM in response to Drewdrops

Did it ask you to choose your language? Or can you access the Disk Utility from the Utilities menu while booted from the disc, even with the error message? If so, we may be able to install Leopard with these discs, over TDM. It may work or it may not work. Seeing that there's a new drive in the computer, there should be no damage by doing this.

Message was edited by: srojtas (added clarification)

Drewdrops Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 6, 2011 1:54 PM in response to srojtas

Yep i Choose the language but thats as far as i get and then it says its not compatible. It doesnt boot from the disc.

Theres no new drive in the computer yet, unless your talking about the iMac?

srojtas

Level 2

430 points

Jan 6, 2011 2:57 PM in response to Drewdrops

OK, well nothing can be done until the drive comes in 😉, so we'll wait on that.

But when you boot from the disc and then it tells you that it is not compatible, without clicking any buttons on the window, does it show the menubar on the top? Can you click on Utilities and open Disk Utility. If so, you may be able to install via FireWire TDM, however I cannot guarantee it will actually boot from it. We'll see when you get a working drive. Did you take the drive out of the computer? If not, while in Disk Utility, if you see the hard drive there, click on it, then go to the bottom of the window. You should see the SMART status of the drive. If it shows the drive, does it say verified or failing? I've had a few cases where the directory got corrupt and the disk couldn't be seen, but yet it was still operational after being erased.

Also, when you restart and want to eject the disc, you can just tell the computer to restart and when the computer chimes, hold the eject key until it ejects.

Drewdrops Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 12, 2011 3:43 AM in response to srojtas

I have got a snow leopard install disk is this compatible with my ibook??

Drewdrops Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 15, 2011 8:06 AM in response to Drewdrops

Hi,

I've now installed the new HD, i bought this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002KYE096/ref=oss_product

went through the ifixit instructions.

I've got my original Tiger Install disks, and tried to insert it into the DVD drive.

The DVD is not being sucked into the drive, even when ive booted the laptop.

Also when the laptop is booted it comes up with a little folder in the middle, with the smiley Finder face, flashing to the a Question mark ?, and it alternates between those two images.

Any ideas what this could be?

Drewdrops Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 15, 2011 11:28 AM in response to Drewdrops

I can boot the ibook in TDM and it can be seen in Disk Utilities.

When i first boot in TDM it does state on my iMac :

'! Disk Insertion
The disk you inserted is not recognised'

But i can see it in DIsk Utilites. I have the original Mac OSx for my ibook 10.3.7, also have the 10.5 disks for my iMac.

Im pretty sure i can install Mac OSx onto my ibook via TDM, wondered if anyone could assist me in this??

Drewdrops Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 23, 2011 2:04 PM in response to Drewdrops

Anyone got any ideas about the above???

i

Feb 24, 2011 7:44 AM in response to Drewdrops

Hi Dewdrop,

Yes, you can install OS X on your new iBook drive from another Mac in TDM.

Start your iBook in TDM after you have connected the Firewire Cable. Just choose the firewire drive volume during the installation.

do you need instructions for formatting your new drive? You will have to do this with Disk Utility on the second page of the install.

Let me know.

Randy

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,022 points

Feb 24, 2011 2:08 PM in response to Drewdrops

The old PowerPC-based Macs can't use Snow Leopard 10.6 DVD install discs; nor can
any Mac use the install-restore disc set of another model or build-version series Mac.

The retail or full (universal) Leopard 10.5 DVD would be the last system disc a PPC-Mac
could use to install a new latest supported OS X version, and would be needed to help
to maintain the computer and its OS after installation. Also, one single-user install disc
equals one license to install and operate one computer at a time; unless the install disc
is a 'family pack' allowing one household to install up to 5 systems from the one disc.

All of this assumes the computer is one of the supported models that could run 10.5;
and not have a problem with too small a processor capacity, or other issues.

Usually, an upgrade in RAM to the most a computer can support, is a good idea when
a system upgrade is expected to function; also a large hard disk drive with plenty of
free or unused capacity. Then the OS X can utilize automatic Virtual Memory easily.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Drewdrops Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 24, 2011 4:28 PM in response to K Shaffer

thx for the replies, i have the 10.5 iMAc specific DVDs. I'm assuming that they wont work on my ibook.

So i tried using my ibook 10.3.7 install dvd on my iMac to install via TDM, but it wont allow me to to get to the install stage where i can select the ibooks new harddrive. I just says that this is not compatible with this iMac.

Do i need to purchase a new Leopard 10.5?? I have fully maxed out my RAM on my ibook.

Feb 25, 2011 7:17 AM in response to Drewdrops

Hi Dewdrops,

You will have to use the retail version of Leopard as that OS wasn't in existence when your iBook was built. You can find Leopard on eBay, however, I just read a post here on AD that said if you call Apple you can get a copy of Leopard for $129 (?), which is about what the used copies are going for on eBay. Sounds like a better deal.

Randy

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Ibook will not Boot - goes to DOS, error message inside