smilemiwa
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: I got a gray screen after start up, only access to open firmware possible

My Powerbook G4 does not startup it takes some minutes with normal sound, but it ends in a gray screen.

I tried to boot from DVD but it doesn't work, I delete PRAM and NRAM, but it doesn't help.

I tried to start in verbose mode, safe boot mode etc. nothing help.

The only start function that works was the starting with Open Firmware entry.

 

What should I do?

 

Thanks

 

smilemiwa

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 2 GB

Posted on Jan 25, 2012 1:40 PM

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smilemiwa

Q: I got a gray screen after start up, only access to open firmware possible

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  • by 6ITManagement,

    6ITManagement 6ITManagement Feb 3, 2012 2:43 AM in response to smilemiwa
    Level 1 (115 points)
    Feb 3, 2012 2:43 AM in response to smilemiwa

    Once you get it booted with the Open Firmware, try reinstalling the OS, maybe something went wrong there.

  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man Feb 3, 2012 2:48 PM in response to smilemiwa
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    Feb 3, 2012 2:48 PM in response to smilemiwa

    What model G4 PB do you have?

     

    Try this. Reset the power manager by pressing the key combination Control-Option-Shift-Power.

     

     Cheers, Tom

  • by old comm guy,

    old comm guy old comm guy Feb 3, 2012 3:26 PM in response to Texas Mac Man
    Level 4 (2,244 points)
    Feb 3, 2012 3:26 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

    With reference to Tom's suggestion, you might check out this Apple KB article:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

     

    As you say you can get to open firmware, you should at least be getting a chime, which is a good start.

     

    One thought is that sometimes a failed or run-down PRAM/clock backup battery could cause some mischief like this, so you might try leaving the machine on a power adapter overnight with the main battery removed to see if it can get enough charge to work properly.

     

    Also, have you tried to get the boot manager to come up by powering while holding down the option key?  Just a diagnostic point, I guess.  If you have a bootable install disk in the optical drive, it should show up in the boot manager.