startup problems - G4 iBook 800 - OS 10.4.6

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Level 3

704 points

startup problems - G4 iBook 800 - OS 10.4.6

Good afternoon.

Initial problem: startup to Apple logo and spinning flower pattern -> pattern stops spinning and gives restart box (in multiple languages). Restart is same.

So, Safe Mode: booted OK (contents of all look OK) BUT no access to AirPort (so no WiFi) usage. Not nice.

What should I do to eliminate the things that the Safe Mode ignores, so that the normal boot will be good?

I do like this little laptop. It's a nice travel computer.

Thanks for your time!

iBook white 12" G4 800 mHz-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 17, 2016 10:04 AM

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Answer 1

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,058 points

May 17, 2016 1:30 PM in response to Bruce A

There were a few older iBook models that had kernel panics associated with the wi-fi

hardware failing; usually the logic board can have contributing issues that may result

in a kernel panic.

Sometimes as simple as a memory chip... or an airport card, if replacement helps.

A log file in the Console utility, can help in some instances, but not definitive.

The professional companies who can repair logic boards & graphic cards are

set up to test them, and replace components on boards. Not a local repair.

Some solder joints on the logic board that heat-flex and get micro-breaks in the solder

can cause problems. Of those a few graphic chip issues were known to result. A re-flow

of the affected solder joints could help once those are determined, to resolve them.

Does the computer start up from the OS X system install disc? Sometimes troubleshooting

is a matter of going at it until you've either exhausted practical options or run out of time.

Been awhile since I sought to repair an iBook... 🙂

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Answer 2

May 31, 2016 11:47 AM in response to Bruce A

Remove the Airport card under the keyboard to check it caused the failure

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