I keep getting kernel panics when I start my computer. I can only start in safe mode and cannot get online to update, if that's what needs to be done. I believe the problem started when we tried to use the DVD player and the computer froze up. The OS is 10.4.6, which is old, but not sure how to update it. This Mac was a hand-me-down, and I have the book but no disk. Any ideas on how to solve this?
iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.6)
Do you know what model iMac? That can make a huge difference in troubleshooting. "About this Mac" from your Apple menu is a good start as it will show the processor type:
The four iMac families can be sorted by processor so knowing that will help us better help you.
Safe mode disables most extensions that control things like your built-in communications hardware, so that's why you can't go online.
You really need disks. It's a long shot but you can phone the Apple Store at 1-800-MY-APPLE (if you are in the US), give them the serial number and ask them to see if replacement system disks are available.
Hmmm. I don't remember, and I am not at home. It is a 10.4-something. I called the support line yesterday and they told me the OS is too old for phone support! I thought as some point I had upgraded the OS but maybe I just did some automatic updating. If I found or bought a disk, can I upgrade to a more recent OS once I use it or should I just buy a newer disk?
Whether you can upgrade past 10.4.11 depends on our knowing the model.
G3 iMacs (colored translucent case with CRT display) can run no higher than 10.4.11
G4 iMacs (white half-dome base with a flat-panel display on an articulated chrome arm) can run 10.5.8 if the processor is faster than 867 mHz
G5 iMacs (flat-panel display and computer all in one white case can all run 10.5.8
The first Intel iMacs had the same basic case designs as the G5s. Any of these can run up to OS 10.6.8
Recent (2006 and newer) iMacs with the aluminum case and Intel processors can run 10.6.8. Depending on the exact model, they can run OS 10.7. or 10.8. If yours is an aluminum model, we'll have to do some deeper probing to see the exact variant and what it can run.
If I found or bought a disk, can I upgrade to a more recent OS once I use it or should I just buy a newer disk?
Not necessarily. Gray system restore disks that came with another Mac model probably won't work at all. Your best bet is to find a retail install disk, but let's not worry about that until you help us pin down what version you have.
Please give us an approximate geographic location. Where you are affects your shopping options. U.S. users have many more resources than do users in other countries.
Thanks, Allan. It is a G5, 2005 model. My real question is, should I bother to fix this. As I mentioned, it is a hand-me-down, but it's nice to have. We would like to use it for watching DVDs, iTunes, Garage Band, some basic word processing programs and email. We are pretty low-tech, but if the DVD will never work and we keep encountering kernel panics, there is no point in fixing it. Part of the problem is that I don't know what is causing the panics and how to keep them from occuring once we get it up.
Restore Tiger 10.4 & Leopard 10.5 DVDs are available from Apple by calling 800-767-2775 as of January 20, 2013. Have your serial number ready. Have your credit card ready too. There is a small fee -- $20.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4720126?tstart=0
Should be able to get the machine on the internet if the machine run in safe mode. How much do you want to play around?
Things to try:
1) define a new user and log onto the new user.
2) repair permissions.
blue apple > System Preferences... > disk utility
3) this will get you on the inernet, I doubt you will be able to play dvds
You may have a problem with the video chip.
Here is how to tell...
Shutdown your machine. Hold down the shift key. Poweron. Bootup will be longer.
Wait awhile while you harddrive is being checked.
An article on how to boot into safe mode.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455
Runs OK in safe mode...
Running in Safe mode leaves out some video drivers. Which results in your machine not using advanced video hardware. As luck would have it, you can run the safe mode video drivers in normal mode.
Here is how:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3263472?answerId=16057567022#16057567022
Look through the above thread. See the second page. You don't have to read through the first page. Just go to the part where I try a solution that works.
Using the safe mode video driver results in these limitiations:
-- OpenGL acceleration is not supported on this mac
-- Your mac lacks quartz extreme acceleration
Summary of G5 problems. Includes instructions on a hardware fix for the brave at heart:
See -Rotten Apple- articles in both of these threads.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4023152?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4043819?answerId=18700825022#18700825022
Robert
can't get online from safe mode
