imac g4 only boot up to mac osx login screen ,then just sit there , did the fsck .

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IMAGEIMAGEN2 Author

Level 1

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imac g4 only boot up to mac osx login screen ,then just sit there , did the fsck .

THIS IMAC G4 FAILS TO COMPLETE THE STARTUP PROCESS.

CAN GET IN SINGLE USER MODE AND RUN FSCK ETC.

EVERY THING LOOK NORMAL.

LOOK S LIKE A NORMAL BOOT APPLE LOGO AND PROGRESS MARKER.

THEN THE MOUSE POINTER TOP LEFT CORNER AND BLUE BACK ROUND SCREEN.

WITH BOX IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN WITH "MAC OSX"

STOPS RIGHT THERE ,

NO OTHER MESSAGES .

THE MOUSE CURSOR MOVES .

LEFT IT FOR HOURS .

THANKS IN ADVANCE EVERY ONE.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4), MAY BE 10.4.+ ?

Posted on Sep 30, 2011 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

a brody

Level 10

82,941 points

Sep 30, 2011 9:01 AM in response to IMAGEIMAGEN2

Welcome to Apple Support Communities!

Was it ever able to boot normally? Is there any data on it that is not backed up that you would like to backup? If it was able to boot up normally when was that, and what has happened between now and then on the computer?

P.S. Please refrain from using ALL UPPERCASE. It is generally known that this means you desire to shout, and some may take it as rudeness and would be unwilling to help if you persist doing that.

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

411,193 points

Sep 30, 2011 9:39 AM in response to IMAGEIMAGEN2

Will it start in Safe Mode if you hold down the shift key while starting and be patient? (And I agree with an earlier comment about uppercase postings not encouraging a response. 🙂)

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Answer 3

IMAGEIMAGEN2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 30, 2011 5:52 PM in response to IMAGEIMAGEN2

@a brody thanks for CAPS tip , new to apple etc "when i started in 73 did not have low case" guess its stuck with me all caps.

yes we have some applications on the disk and data, like final cut pro, it worked perfect until 3 days ago.

@Limnos Safe Mode , did try and held it (shiftkey) down from beep thru the boot logo box MAC OS X,

no safe mode appeared. did try this a number of times. took some time to start up.

I am familiar with UNIX system but not with MAC OSX 10.4

Also renamed the .globalpreferences.plist to .globalpreferences.dead in directory /library/preferences/

made no change ,still booted to blue screen cursor in corner with white box center screen MAC OS X in large letters .

The mouse can move the pointer around ,click it on the white box the colored busy circle appears.

It just sits there for hours.

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Answer 4

a brody

Level 10

82,941 points

Sep 30, 2011 6:13 PM in response to IMAGEIMAGEN2

Sounds like a dying hard drive. Get a data recovery tool if needed*:

http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html#RECOVER

Make sure the tool is designed for PowerPC Macs running 10.4.

The fact FSCK sees nothing, says the only other that might cause it, the directory, is likely not the issue.

If a data recovery tool can't boot with the Option key off CD, it says some other hardware is failing either in addition or on its own. It might be the RAM, or you might need to replace the PRAM battery. Good luck!

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