Slow booting in Mac OS tiger powerbook G4
 

Hi all
I am wondering it takes quite long for my powerbook to boot. Has anyone sorted this out. I was pretty amazed when I saw an macbook booting very quickly.
Thanks for suggestion
s

Please answer ALL the questions below.

1. How long exactly does it take to boot, from the startup chime to the login screen? Please time it, so we know exactly what we are talking about. I don't perceive my PowerBook G4 as booting slowly, but perhaps you have a different standard of what is slow and what is fast.

2. Does your PowerBook G4 perform well after it is booted? In other words, is this only a boot problem or is it indicative of a larger issue?

3. In your signature, you say that you are running Panther, but your question implies (without saying so) that you are running Tiger. Which is it? Tiger boots much faster than Panther, so that might be the reason for the difference that you see.

4. If you hold down Command-V during bootup, you should see the text 'behind' the gray screen with the Apple logo. Does the boot sequence seem to pause on some line of text? If so, what is that line, and the three or four lines before it?

5. If you look in your system.log (easily viewed using the Console app in /Applications/Utilities) do you see any timeout messages with timestamps indicating that they occurred during your computer's boot?

Trevor

my slow boot too
 

I'm experiencing the slow boot also. I have powerbook g4, upgraded to tiger recently, new software: Missing sync, and just replaced the recalled battery on my laptop. I noticed the slowness after i put in the new battery...not sure if that makes a difference. Here are the answers to your questions. Hope you can help.

1. 3 minutes in total from chime to log in screen. It seems like it slows down during the blue progress bar screen. Then the log in comes up but it doesn't even respond right away. It is still clocking for another 30 sec or so, then the password box is available for me to use.

2. The powerbook performs as usual after it is booted.

3. Running Tiger

4. I did command V but it runs by so fast can't really catch what it said. is there a way to pause? It might show on the system.log? It looks familiar.

5. there was not timeout but i can send or show the log? (not sure if i should post all the logs that's way long).

please help.

The messages from verbose boot will be recorded in the system.log which you can access via the "Console" application.

You can paste the relevant parts of system.log in your next post (note that entries in that log file are tagged with the date & time).

One other question...how often do you reboot, and why?

Chris

I shut down every night and reboot every morning.

here's my log:
Oct 16 15:59:24 TgirlG4 shutdown: halt by taneya:
Oct 16 15:59:25 TgirlG4 SystemStarter[252]: authentication service (266) did not complete successfully
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
Oct 16 16:00:58 localhost mDNSResponder-107.4 (Jan 30 2006 22: 07:48)[40]: starting
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: vm_page_bootstrap: 125633 free pages
Oct 16 16:00:58 localhost memberd[50]: memberd starting up
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: mig_table_max_displ = 70
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost DirectoryService[60]: Launched version 2.1 (v353.2)
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: 87 prelinked modules
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost lookupd[49]: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Oct 16 16:00:59 2006
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: using 1310 buffer headers and 1310 cluster IO buffer headers
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: IOPCCard info: Intel PCIC probe: TI 1510 rev 00
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Apple ID 31 built-in now active, GUID 000a95ff fed12ef4; max speed s800.
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: ADB present:8c
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: IOBluetoothHCIController::start Idle Timer Stopped
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: Security auditing service present
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: BSM auditing present
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: disabled
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: E389EBA7-430E-3BC8-925D-4D64E9F98663
Oct 16 16:00:59 localhost kernel[0]: Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/MacRISC2PE/pci@f4000000/AppleMacRiscPCI/ata-6@D/AppleKauaiATA/ATADeviceNub@0/IOATABlockStorageDriver/IOATABlockStorageDevice/IOBlockStorageDriver/TOSHIBA MK8025GAS Media/IOApplePartitionScheme/Untitled@9
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk0s9, major 14, minor 9
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Jettisoning kernel linker.
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Resetting IOCatalogue.
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 0
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 3
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 3
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 3
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 3
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 3
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: IPv6 packet filtering initialized, default to accept, logging disabled
Oct 16 16:01:00 localhost kernel[0]: disk0s9: I/O error.
Oct 16 16:01:01 localhost xinetd[44]: xinetd Version 2.3.11 started with libwrap options compiled in.
Oct 16 16:01:01 localhost xinetd[44]: Started working: 0 available services
Oct 16 16:01:01 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet: Ethernet address 00:0a:95:d1:2e:f4
Oct 16 16:01:01 localhost kernel[0]: AirPortPCI_MM: Ethernet address 00:0d:93:81:0d:76
Oct 16 16:01:01 localhost launchd: Server 3107 in bootstrap 1103 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd"[49]: exited abnormally: Hangup
Oct 16 16:01:01 localhost diskarbitrationd[48]: disk0s9 hfs E389EBA7-430E-3BC8-925D-4D64E9F98663 Macintosh HD /
Oct 16 16:01:02 localhost configd[45]: WirelessConfigure: 88001003
Oct 16 16:01:02 localhost configd[45]: initCardWithStoredPrefs failed.
Oct 16 16:01:02 localhost configd[45]: WirelessConfigure: 88001003
Oct 16 16:01:03 localhost kernel[0]: [HCIController][setupHardware] AFH Not Supported (0x179a770)
Oct 16 16:01:03 localhost lookupd[70]: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Oct 16 16:01:03 2006
Oct 16 16:01:04 localhost kernel[0]: ATY,Jasper_A: vram [b8000000:04000000]
Oct 16 16:01:04 localhost mDNSResponder: Adding browse domain local.
Oct 16 16:01:05 localhost kernel[0]: ATY,Jasper_B: vram [b8000000:04000000]
Oct 16 16:01:07 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow: Login Window Application Started
Oct 16 16:01:16 TgirlG4 configd[45]: setting hostname to "TgirlG4.local"
Oct 16 16:01:51 TgirlG4 kernel[0]: disk0s9: I/O error.
Oct 16 16:02:33 TgirlG4 kernel[0]: disk0s9: I/O error.
Oct 16 16:02:35 TgirlG4 kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Active: "TNetwork" - 000d93877de8 - chan 10
Oct 16 16:02:42 TgirlG4 configd[45]: SecKeychainFindGenericPassword err= -25308 ( =0xffff9d24, secErrStr=User interaction is not allowed. ) (current= TNetwork)
Oct 16 16:02:44 TgirlG4 launchd: Server 0 in bootstrap 1103 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd"[70]: exited abnormally: Hangup
Oct 16 16:02:44 TgirlG4 configd[45]: executing /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/Kicker.bundle/Contents/Resources/enable-network
Oct 16 16:02:44 TgirlG4 configd[45]: posting notification com.apple.system.config.network_change
Oct 16 16:02:44 TgirlG4 lookupd[128]: lookupd (version 369.5) starting - Mon Oct 16 16:02:44 2006
Oct 16 16:02:48 TgirlG4 loginwindow[73]: Login Window Started Security Agent
Oct 16 16:03:37 TgirlG4 kernel[0]: disk0s9: I/O error.
Oct 16 16:03:40 TgirlG4 configd[45]: target=enable-network: disabled
Oct 16 16:04:51 TgirlG4 kernel[0]: AirPort: Link DOWN (Client disAssoc 0)
Oct 16 16:04:51 TgirlG4 kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Active: "TNetwork" - 000d93877de8 - chan 10
Oct 16 16:04:52 TgirlG4 configd[45]: SecKeychainFindGenericPassword err= -25308 ( =0xffff9d24, secErrStr=User interaction is not allowed. ) (current= TNetwork)

There are several "disk0s9: I/O error" messages in your log.
A disk I/O error often indicates a hardware problem with the hard disk.

So you should do an immediate full backup as your disk might be on its last legs.
A bad disk would be an obvious reason for the slowness and in fact some of the I/O error messages come at a time in the log where there is an apparent delay.

Check the "SMART status" for this disk in Disk Utility.

REALLY??? Noooooooooooo
OMG my laptop is expiring??? :( i just spent $$ upgrading and new software. I only had it for 2 1/2 yrs. There's so much crap on here! Pictures, music...I'm so very saddd.

Should i visit the apple store and have them take a look?
If i have to buy a new one, can they transfer everything for me?
sad very sad.

thanks for everyone's help : (

I don't know for sure that it is a hardware problem.
Did you check the "SMART status" as I asked above?

And as I said above, you should make an immediate full backup (to an external disk). Then you won't need to be sad about your pictures, music, etc.

An Apple Store will be able to advise you and help you to transfer data to a new disk. But they will likely charge for this service.

I've seen it said that 3 years is about the expected lifetime of a hard disk in a well-used laptop.

Just because the hard drive is [maybe] failing, there is no need to give up on the laptop. You still have a very good machine. If the hard drive does fail, you'll just need to replace it. That should cost a lot less than a new machine. :)

Data, on the other hand, is usually irreplaceable. Maybe I can recommend buying an external Firewire HD and backing up your data onto it. If the internal disk goes south, then you can boot your system from the Firewire HD.

Question to all others: Since she's getting I/O disk errors will she need to do a checksum or similar process after she backs up her data? I would imagine that this kind of error results in corrupted files being written when copied.

I don't know.
When you have hardware problems, all best are off.
I think the best thing to do would be to examine the copied files (e.g. open data files in whatever app they are for) and see if they look okay.

But for sure, you shouldn't let any questions like this delay you from making a full backup.

the smart status? i don't fully understand what i'm suppose to do but i hit Verify Disk in First Aid and this scary messages came up : (

Verifying volume “Macintosh HD”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Invalid key length
The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired.
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit

1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair

you guys are like Mac angles helping the cluelesstechnical people. thank you.

See the screen capture below - I took this from the bottom part of my Disk Utility window when the disk (not the partition) was selected on the left side of Disk Utility.

This means that you need to do "Repair Disk" (different from "Repair Disk Permissions"!) in Disk Utility when booted from the Install CD/DVD. I.e. you restart from the Install CD/DVD, then run the version of Disk Utility that is available from one of the menus there.
See this Apple doc:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

You'll notice from Hayne's thumbnail that not all drives support S.M.A.R.T. diagnostics, so that information may or may not be available for you. If the S.M.A.R.T. status is available and indicates a problem, you can be pretty sure that you need to make preparations to replace the drive.

Most repair places will NOT transfer data, and those that do will charge you for it, sometimes a seemingly unreasonable amount. If you can get a 2.5" enclosure that will support a drive that can fit into your laptop, you can "clone" your current drive to the enclosure, then ask the repair people to use the newly-cloned drive to replace the failing (or questionable) drive and you should have precisely what you started with (or better, if you get a higher-capacity drive).

Your disk's file system definitely needs repair, however, and you should do that before cloning the drive. Sometimes, Apple's Disk Utility is good enough; sometimes more powerful utilities are needed. Disk Warrior is a product definitely to be recommended (from Alsoft) if Disk Utility is unable to do the repair (and that is not all that uncommon).

Since it is obvious you value your data and that you may not have it securely backed up, now is the time to act as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Now, after all of this alarmist talk, it is certainly possible that there is no serious problem with the disk, but it is probably not worth the risk unless you are completely certain of its health!

Joe VanZandt

Crappy day in NYC...
So when i clicked on the disk all it says on bottom that
S.M.A.R.T. Status : Verified

Ok...so I'm in the process of trying to backup all my files. When you say full backup, you mean just backing up all my data files correct? I happen to have a Lacie external firewire harddrive that I haven't used yet. I just partitioned the drive. Trying to figure out how to use silverkeeper to copy everything. So Once I'm done I should then do a "Repair disk" right?

thanks again peeps!

Well, "verified" is good. "Failing" would be bad. There's a good chance that the problem isn't hardware related at all. I would verify the disk BEFORE backing it up, otherwise, any problematic files will follow your copy to the backup. It is beginning to look more like a file system problem to me, so I'd run the disk repair recommended by Hayne and see what happens. You may need to run it multiple times until it comes back reporting that it has found and corrected all errors.

Once you're reasonably sure the filesystem is healthy, THEN do a full backup. There are many options out there, but Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper are mentioned frequently here in this forum as good choices. If, at that point, you are still not feeling secure about the drive (the S.M.A.R.T. utility isn't foolproof!) you can add a new drive, boot from the firewire drive and clone back to the new drive and you're home free.

Joe VanZandt

I will have to find the install cd. i'm assuming that came with my tiger install package. i found the old 10.3.2 that came in original powerbook purchase...would that work? so how do i do it. just stick the disk in, shut down, reboot again?

You really NEED to find the Tiger DVD because there are differences in the filesystem between 10.3 (Panther) and 10.4 (Tiger). If you cannot find it, you should obtain a copy of DiskWarrior and allow it to repair the disk. It is a GREAT utility to have even if you weren't having problems, even though in this case, you may not actually -need- it if you can find your Tiger DVD. Those items are really important to keep track of. There's just not telling when a re-installation might be necessary. In any case, the 10.3.2 disks will (I believe) -NOT- repair your disk properly.

Joe VanZandt

thanks Joe...i have the disk at my other home. i won't be able to get it til this weekend though. I'll let u know what happens. thank you very much.

I'm not sure, but I think older versions of Disk Utility (e.g. that on the 10.3 disks) will work to repair tiger filesystems if the problems are relatively minor, but the older versions are not as capable as the newer ones so some problems might not be fixable with the older versions but would be with the newer ones. And as JDV has said, DiskWarrior is far more capable than even the latest versions of Disk Utility.

Hey everyone hope u had a good weekend. I got the disk and booted up with it. Then chose disk utility from the menu. clicked the repair disk. The "First Aid Failed" pop up box appeared. the message said that "1 volume could not be repaired because of an error".
i guess i need to go out and buy disk warrior and repair it.

Yes, buy DiskWarrior and run it ASAP. You can usually find it at any Apple Store or CompUSA.

Just for reference (you don't want to buy a downloaded version--you need the bootable CD), here's Alsoft's website: http://alsoft.com . Alsoft is the publisher of DiskWarrior.

Trevor

thank you for you help but ya know what guys. i decided to bkup everything and erased and reinstalled Tiger. It seems to be working ok.

No worries. That's a workable solution as well.

Trevor