Powerbook G4 Won't boot up in any mode

cragnomad · 03-22-2010, 08:47 PM

While watching a movie on my 12" Powerbook G4, it froze up and I had to shut it down. Now it won't reboot at all.
I press the power button and I hear the tone and get to the grey screen with the apple and the little working wheel and it will stay on that screen for eternity.
I used the command-s upon startup and ran all the fsck checks and typed reboot, and it still won't go past that grey screen.
I have tried typing some commands that I have read on forums including exit after the checks and single user mode etc. nothing gets me past that grey screen and the wheel of death.

I am currently looking at the following message

INIT_Processeses(), could not establish the default connection to the WindowServer.(date and time) launched: /System/Library/Core Services/loginwindow.app/contents/MacOS/loginwindow port /dev/console exited abnormally: Abort trap (date and time) launched: getty repeating too quickly on port / dev/console, sleeping

This message repeats over and over.

Do I need to new hard drive? Can anyone get me past this?

I am not exactly savy when it comes to diagnostics and stuff, and I am also low on funds at the moment, which is why I cannot take this in to a specialist right now. If I do end up needing a new hard drive, there is another problem with reloading the OS in that I DO NOT HAVE A WORKING CD DRIVE. It just spits everything out.

What new hardware might I need?
Is this piece of crap worth salvaging?
and if not, how do I get my data off of the old hard drive?

appleman_design · 03-23-2010, 08:33 AM

i dont think you need a new HDD, try doing a archive and install and report back.
do you have a friend w/ a mac.. you can do a remote install that way. plug a firewire cable between the two and place your mac into target mode(hold down the T key @ startup) that will load your HDD to his desktop for reinstall of the OS.

cragnomad · 03-23-2010, 02:31 PM

How do I do the archive part?

trevor · 03-23-2010, 05:15 PM

Google search: Archive and Install site:apple.com

Trevor

03-22-2010, 08:47 PM	#1
cragnomad Prospect Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2	Powerbook G4 Won't boot up in any mode While watching a movie on my 12" Powerbook G4, it froze up and I had to shut it down. Now it won't reboot at all. I press the power button and I hear the tone and get to the grey screen with the apple and the little working wheel and it will stay on that screen for eternity. I used the command-s upon startup and ran all the fsck checks and typed reboot, and it still won't go past that grey screen. I have tried typing some commands that I have read on forums including exit after the checks and single user mode etc. nothing gets me past that grey screen and the wheel of death. I am currently looking at the following message INIT_Processeses(), could not establish the default connection to the WindowServer.(date and time) launched: /System/Library/Core Services/loginwindow.app/contents/MacOS/loginwindow port /dev/console exited abnormally: Abort trap (date and time) launched: getty repeating too quickly on port / dev/console, sleeping This message repeats over and over. Do I need to new hard drive? Can anyone get me past this? I am not exactly savy when it comes to diagnostics and stuff, and I am also low on funds at the moment, which is why I cannot take this in to a specialist right now. If I do end up needing a new hard drive, there is another problem with reloading the OS in that I DO NOT HAVE A WORKING CD DRIVE. It just spits everything out. What new hardware might I need? Is this piece of crap worth salvaging? and if not, how do I get my data off of the old hard drive?

03-23-2010, 08:33 AM	#2
appleman_design Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,550	i dont think you need a new HDD, try doing a archive and install and report back. do you have a friend w/ a mac.. you can do a remote install that way. plug a firewire cable between the two and place your mac into target mode(hold down the T key @ startup) that will load your HDD to his desktop for reinstall of the OS. Last edited by appleman_design; 03-23-2010 at 08:35 AM.

03-23-2010, 05:15 PM	#4
trevor Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO USA Posts: 19,551	Google search: Archive and Install site:apple.com Trevor __________________ How to ask questions the smart way

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03-23-2010, 02:31 PM	#3
cragnomad Prospect Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2	How do I do the archive part?