ibook g3 - grey/loading screen stuck on start up
As a teacher, every so often the school my mother works for gives her a new laptop; she gave me her old one after it was replaced years ago (with the school's permission). Unfortunately since it was a gift, I don't have any manuals or disks that come with purchase. The computer techs where she works say with such an old computer, it's a waste of time for them to look at it. But up until recently it worked like a charm! I have a new desktop for most of my work, but I would still like to use this one for simple tasks. When I try to start the laptop, I get stuck on the grey screen with the spinning pinwheel. It will stay on this screen for days (literally).
Nothing I have tried will get past this screen! I've tried starting it up while plugged in and charging. I've tried starting it up completely free of any charger. I've started in "open firmware" and reset everything, but that hasn't helped. I've tried holding "command + r" but that leaves me with the never-ending loading screen as well. I've tried starting it up with disk 1 of 3 inserted and holding down "c," but that hasn't worked either. I don't know where the problem is exactly, and I'm not computer savvy enough to understand what the error messages mean. When run in "safe mode" (first 3 pictures) or holding down "command + v" (last 4 pictures) here are some screen shots:
I've tried starting up while holding the alt/option button, but I get this screen (even when the restore disk is in, and I've hit the reload button):
I'm afraid since it was set up as a school computer for her, there are some locks or safeguards that are preventing me from making any changes to fix the machine. I'm hours away from any Apple stores and Apple Support has nothing for this old of a model. Please help! Thank you.
computer info:
iBook G3 (this model or this, not sure!)
500MHZ, 128MB, 15GB, 2001
Amazon restore CD info:
iBook G3/G4 9.2.2 (3 disks)
iBook