Powerbook G4 with prohibitory icon
I'm helping someone with a Powerbook G4, 17-inch Double-Layer SD, running Leopard. Original symptoms developed over time; desktop items disappearing, unable to open Finder, top menu bar disappearing after using Mail. After some initial troubleshooting, she decided to do a clean install. The original install disks were Tiger, so she used those and did an erase and install. (The option to save system files or user files was greyed out.) So far so good. Then she tried to upgrade to Leopard, using her Retail Leopard Install Disk. In the middle of the installation, (about 10 minutes in, I think while verifying installation), she received a kernel panic, and followed the instructions to resart her computer.
It would then not boot up, stopping at a Prohibitory Icon that appeared after the Apple Logo and spinning gear.
I ran a Hardware Test from Tiger install disk, and it indicated all items passed.
We had already ordered additional RAM, as her computer had only 1GB in one of the slots. We installed the new RAM in the second slot, with the same results. Then we took out the old RAM, and the computer beeped once, indicating no RAM detected. I then put the new RAM into the first slot, and no more beeps. Seems that the one slot was empty because it was bad.
However, changing the RAM didn't solve the problem, it actually has gotten worse. Now I can't get it to recognize any disks.
Current symptoms:
- Regular power up - start up tone, and then a grey screen.
- Starting up with either install disk (original Tiger or retail Leopard), and holding down C key results in start up sound, then Apple logo with turning gear, then prohibitory sign (circle with diagonal line through it), and then eventually a small icon of the finder folder alternating with a question mark in the folder icon.
- Starting with either install disk and holding down Option key results in start up sound, and arrows for selecting options, but no drives show up in options, and small watch icon replaces mouse pointer.
I have tried - all to no avail
- Replacing RAM (as explained above).
- Resetting PRAM
- Tried to start up in Safe Mode, but couldn't get in - just a grey screen.
- Tried to start up in Single User mode to do fsck, but couldn't get in - just a grey screen. Save with Verbose Mode.
- Thinking it may be the optical drive, I booted my iMac in Target mode with the firewire connected and the install disk in the iMac drive, then power/option on the Powerbook, but again only go the arrows for the Options; the iMac drive didn't show up.
I'm at a loss, and think there may be a problem with the logic board. I've searched all the discussions, and haven't found anything that I haven't already tried. I'd appreciate any help, as the person I'm helping really can't afford a new or used computer at this time.
Thanks
PowerBook, iOS 5, Label inside Powerbook says Refurb.