Gray screen Powerbook G4 867, doubtful hardware problem...
Paul Soderman
showing a gray screen on startup a few times, then ultimately starting
properly. I now am unable to get it past the gray screen so as to boot
at all. I doubt that there is a hardware problem, as I got the PB to
start OK in Target Disk mode and used my G4 desktop to run Disk
Utility, Disk Warrior and finally to reinstall Tiger (updated to
10.4.9) so as to rule out those potential problems. None of those
utilities indicated any problem with the drive in the Powerbook.
The research I've done led me to fell that it could be the Power
Manager, so I reset that too, to no avail. The issue is not likely
with the screen itself, since I've held down the option key to check
to make sure that the Startup Disk was properly set and the screen
would briefly show the startup drive and the arrow button, but then
would go away before I could even move the cursor to respond. Also, in
running the PB in Target Disk Mode, you could see the yellow Target
Disk mode symbol briefly on the screen before the return to gray.
The PB makes noises as though the drive is being accessed, but nothing
happens beyond the gray screen. Are there any recommendations which
might help me to identify and resolve this issue?
Thanks much for any help!
Paul
Tim Murray
> My Titanium G4 867 Powerbook has acted a little flaky lately, only
> showing a gray screen on startup a few times, then ultimately starting
> properly. I now am unable to get it past the gray screen so as to boot
> at all. I doubt that there is a hardware problem, as I got the PB to
> start OK in Target Disk mode and used my G4 desktop to run Disk
> Utility, Disk Warrior and finally to reinstall Tiger (updated to
> 10.4.9) so as to rule out those potential problems. None of those
> utilities indicated any problem with the drive in the Powerbook.
>
What about starting up from CD or DVD? And do you have a TechTools disc?
Paul Soderman
have the Powerbook boot up, I've inserted the Tiger install disc, as
well as DiskWarrior, however, the PB does not start up from the disc
even though I hold down the "C" key when restarting. As noted in the
original post, the drive appears OK when in Target Disk mode and I
even see the Apple logo for a second when attempting to start up.
On Jun 10, 8:09 pm, Tim Murray <no-s...@thankyou.com> wrote:
> On Jun 10, 2007, Paul Soderman wrote:
>
> > My Titanium G4 867Powerbookhas acted a little flaky lately, only
> > showing agrayscreenon startup a few times, then ultimately starting
> > properly. I now am unable to get it past thegrayscreenso as to boot
Tim Murray
> I do have TechTool Pro, but haven't tried it yet;
I'd take a shot at that. Further, I always stress the importance of a decent
external hard disk ... and now you have an excuse to get one. Make it
bootable, and see if you can boot from it.
- Command+v: Start in verbose mode
- x: Force startup (whatever the heck that is)
- t: FireWire target disk mode
- Option+Command+Shift_Delete: seek a different startup volume (as in
your new external drive)
- r: Force screen reset
- Shift: Safe mode
- Option+Command+p+r: Reset parameter RAM
TaliesinSoft
(in article <0001HW.C2922D34...@newsgroups.bellsouth.net>):
> I always stress the importance of a decent external hard disk ... and now you
> have an excuse to get one. Make it bootable, and see if you can boot from it.
I'm a strong advocate of having a bootable clone of my regularly booted hard
drive. Such a clone is easily created and maintained by SuperDuper! -- I
recommend paying the $30 so that you can do the so-called "smart backups"
which only take a few minutes to bring the clone into synch with the
regularly booted drive. I hate to think of the times my, er, uh, "sitter" has
been saved because of that clone.
--
James Leo Ryan ..... Austin, Texas ..... talies...@mac.com
Nashton
If you can't even boot from the install disks, it's probably hardware
related. If you've zapped the PRAM, try removing RAM and attempt to see
if it boots with one stick and then try the other, if you have more than
1 stick of RAM. If not, try to get some from a local store to try it out.
Could also be a display issue if you were able to do so much via TDM.
Don't forget to ground yourself and turn your computer off and/or unplug
it from the mains before removing RAM, just in case you didn't know.
HTH
Paul Soderman
the Powerbook could show some stuff on the screen, yet have a screen
problem, or have the drive appear and work on a desktop in Target Disk
mode, yet possibly a drive problem, but not start up properly or at
all from the disk drive, I may have stumbled onto a solution. I took
out the battery for a day and then reinserted it. Tonight the PB works
OK. I don't know why, but it does. The drive is burning a CD right now
as the laptop recharges the battery (I don't know how it managed to
discharge since I had it in the PB at all times while trying to get
the thing started and it should have been properly charged at all
times).
Who cares? As long as it works......
Thanks again for all of the suggestions and for your time!
Paul
On Jun 11, 3:58 pm, Nashton <n...@na.ca> wrote:
> Paul Soderman wrote:
> > I do have TechTool Pro, but haven't tried it yet; in attempting to
> > have thePowerbookboot up, I've inserted the Tiger install disc, as
Tim Murray
> FWIW, while I was quite frustrated and couldn't figure out how or why
> the Powerbook could show some stuff on the screen, yet have a screen
> problem, or have the drive appear and work on a desktop in Target Disk
> mode, yet possibly a drive problem, but not start up properly or at
> all from the disk drive, I may have stumbled onto a solution. I took
> out the battery for a day and then reinserted it. Tonight the PB works
> OK. I don't know why, but it does. The drive is burning a CD right now
> as the laptop recharges the battery (I don't know how it managed to
> discharge since I had it in the PB at all times while trying to get
> the thing started and it should have been properly charged at all
> times).
>
> Who cares? As long as it works......
>
>
> Thanks again for all of the suggestions and for your time!
>
Glad to hear it.