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You Must restart your computer error on Powerbook G4

Hi All

I am in need of some help trying to diagose what is wrong with my 1.5GHZ PB G4 12" 1.25GB RAM.

I just installed a fresh copy of 10.4 after zeroing out the HDD.

All installed ok with no errors.

When I boot into the OS, I either get the message saying I need to restart my computer by holding down the power button. Or, it will boot up to the grey apple with the whirling wheel and then just go to a blank screen and no further not even to the welcome video.

I have tried single user mode and verbose mode and no errors have appeared.

Swapped out the RAM and this has not resolved it.

Reset the PRAM and NVRAM and this has not resolved it.

Repaired the HDD permissions and this has not resolved it.

Please has anyone any ideas?

Thanks

Garry

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), PowerBook G4 12 1.5GHZ 1.25GB RAM

Posted on Jul 24, 2013 11:38 AM

20 replies

Aug 12, 2013 9:46 PM in response to garrywestwelluk

The error log seem to show difficulties with the local host.

Me personally, I'd boot into safe mode and edit the local host file.

I'm surprised that it's corrupted on a fresh install of OS X. Maybe time to get a new Mac OS X 10.4 retail disk.

Aug 12, 2013 10:16 PM in response to Knucklesmac

Thanks for your reply Knucklesmac. What I don't understand is why the PB will not boot from the 10.5 install DVD when this same install DVD works fine on my other macs. I just assumed that because 10.5 is more resource hungry on the video card that maybe this is why it is not working on my PB. How do I edit a local ost file BTW?

Also, on a freshly install 10.4, I now no longer get the 'You must shut down your computer....' error, i just stalls on the blue screen after the grey apple boot logo.

Aug 12, 2013 10:30 PM in response to garrywestwelluk

Ah well this makes more sense.

Maybe not a corrupt disk, but a corrupt hard drive.

The reason I say this, whenever I've had any blue screen startups, it been due to a fault with the hard drive or the memory. This may explain why the host file was corrupted and you kept getting a kernal panic.

Three things worth trying here if you haven't already done so.

Boot the 10.4 disk and use disk utilities to repair the hard drive and see if hat has an effect.

Try removal of the memory from the bottom of the PowerBook.

These have internal memory of around 256, so try booting without the extra memory.

It's not uncommon for there to be a fault with the internal memory.

If you have the correct Apple Hardware disk, try again to boot from that. Remember to hold down the option key to use AHT disks. Select AHD from the selection screen. (Took me some time to learn to boot from the AHD) holding down C won't work.

I doubt it's the GPU.

Aug 13, 2013 10:54 PM in response to Knucklesmac

Ok am going to try with a new HDD as I already did all the tests with removing the RAM, Airport Card, Reset NVRAM and all of that. I just don't understand why the PB will boot and install from the 10.4 disk and not from the 10.5 install disk (which works fine on all my other macs!).

Aug 14, 2013 12:33 PM in response to garrywestwelluk

Hello,

Which type of Mac OS X 10.5 disk is it?

I'd agree a new hard drive would be the next thing to try.

You Must restart your computer error on Powerbook G4