stefanocps

Q: Powerbook G4 only start safe mode

Hello i have powerbook g4 with cpu 1.25ghz. I use to have mac os4.1.1 installed. Lately had freexing problem and as it was a very old install i tried a fresch install. I downloed os as i lost my original dvd. Tried 10.4.3. Install go fine but never start when it finish. Only in safe mode will start. What could i check?please help

PowerBook, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Mar 3, 2015 7:08 AM

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Q: Powerbook G4 only start safe mode

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Mar 4, 2015 10:43 AM in response to stefanocps
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 4, 2015 10:43 AM in response to stefanocps

    When there is a problem with an OS X, such as those usually installed from DVD system media

    you would need to use the boot-able install-restore DVD (or later retail DVD, if not original grey

    color label discs) to see about repairing the problem. You cannot update or upgrade to make a

    problem go away. And an offer/download of a complete OS X system (torrent?) is not legal.

     

    With an older computer, there is a fair chance the original hard disk drive may be failing; so that

    is something to think about when you have an internal hard disk drive that spins thousands of

    rotations per minute and gets written to & read from millions/billions of times a year....

     

    The download update is only a minor step, and if you chose to download that from somewhere

    other than the Software Update (via computer access to Apple Server) the actual one to seek

    if everything was in great shape with your computer, would be the Combo 10.4.11 last update.

    These steps are considered updates & not upgrades. The distinction is more than a word deep.

     

    You will have to locate the correct DVD install media since a download from the internet of a

    complete OS X Tiger 10.4 system is not available online; anything you may find very likely is

    an illegal download and may be full of bogus content, such as malware or missing files, etc.

     

    Apple no longer sells these discs, you may contact Apple sales support and have your product

    serial number (PowerBook G4) available to ask an OS X specialist, if it is possible to get some

    kind of operating system install DVD for that old a computer. The newest it could run would be

    Leopard 10.5 (install from DVD, then download update to 10.5.8) however the Tiger 10.4 DVD

    may be an expensive item if you look at Amazon or eBay sites online. Expect to pay...

     

    You may have some luck if there happens to be an Apple User Group in your locality or if a

    school or university has a computer lab and has not cleaned out their archive of old OS X.

    School rummage sales, second hand shops, and other local finds are random luck events.

     

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Mar 7, 2015 4:24 PM in response to stefanocps
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Mar 7, 2015 4:24 PM in response to stefanocps

    You could try using single user to repair your drive.https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203176 If you have another mac and firewire cable and both mac's have firewire. You could go to apple support to the bottom of the page. Click on downloads and updates. Then click on browse by product. Then type in oS 10.4.11 update. Download the combo update for ppc mac and use target disk to install lit on the power book https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1661

  • by stefanocps,

    stefanocps stefanocps Mar 10, 2015 7:50 AM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2015 7:50 AM in response to my ginger

    i am almost sure it is a metter of fan

    when the apple get hot it will not start but in safe

    i have dismounted and after spraying the 2 fan i have this

    the left fan i can see spinning

    the right fan only have a start of a spinning now and then.like little i mpulse and stop.

    there could be a problem with the fan control system?or temperature control system?

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Mar 10, 2015 11:30 AM in response to stefanocps
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Mar 10, 2015 11:30 AM in response to stefanocps

    Most likely it's the fan itself that needs to be replaced. My wife's macbook, which has one fan, had to be replaced. If would ether not work or work sporadically. Finally making noise. A pram reset or a PMU reset might help if it is not a defective fan.  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1431 Pram reset is Command/Option/P/R keys at startup for three chimes.

  • by stefanocps,

    stefanocps stefanocps Mar 10, 2015 1:43 PM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2015 1:43 PM in response to my ginger

    i think fan is not brohen. it spin for some short wile. and it has been fully cleaned and lubricated

    if it was broken will never spin

    that s why i think of the control system

    this also explain the safe mode

    when in safe mode control system is not checked and apple start..then later get stuckedù

    when start normally  the part of the system check will prevent to start

    this my idea

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Mar 10, 2015 2:01 PM in response to stefanocps
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Mar 10, 2015 2:01 PM in response to stefanocps

    Fan operation is controlled by your PMU in system management. Not through your operating system. Like the first post you got from K Shaffer. Downloading a 10.4.11 operating system via internet is likely to be very problematic. The only possible way to correct this without an install disk, is to be able to go to apple downloads in support and get the 10.4.11 combo update and run it. Single user is a way to repair an operating system from command line. It you cannot do so from there. And you cannot get the update. Then you do need to find a retail install disk to run.