IBook G4 Crashing... Error Code 00DAEB78

Question

For the past two weeks my IBook has been crashing. Sometimes the power button doesn't respond when I try to turn it on, sometimes it crashes during startup, sometimes 5 min. later, other times after hours of use. It leaves me with an unresponsive screen showing the last page viewed, and no turning wheel shows either (its just the cursor, which doesn't move). It's not just the screen, as all sounds from the computer (including the fan) cease. One time it happened I had a bar across the top of the screen showing:
System Failure: cpu=0; code=00DAEB78 (unknown failure code)
I've ran the extended hardware test (which showed nothing wrong), repaired all disk permissions, reinstalled all original software... nothing has fixed it. I don't know where to go to check into the error code. Any ideas?

Answer 1

There may be an authorized Apple specialist if not an actual Apple Store in your region; where
you could call ahead to see what they do, and if it is possible to leave the computer there for
some time (maybe several days) or send it in to a private company if they're beyond a reason-
able day's drive. The Apple Store online also has a finder page to see where a nearby reseller
may be located; if you use that, the information given in reply may help you find a reseller with
the product specialist on staff. If nothing else, you could call the phone number shown for a
reseller with a service department, and you could ask if you could speak to a tech; and get some
idea on your down time and initial estimates for them to look it over and test the computer.
I'm not familiar with the Apple trouble codes; and assuming your iBook no longer has an Apple
Care protection plan in effect, a call to AppleCare support would require a credit card and a fee.
A reseller with on-staff repair facilities and product experts could give you a better idea of what
you are up against than a call to AppleCare; unless your product still has an active extended
product warranty from Apple. If you are not sure, and less than three years has gone by since
buying the computer, you may be able to run the iBook serial number in the space provided in
the Support page (online) to see what is on record about your computer. (AppleCare optional
coverage was available for purchase to extend the initial product support and repair coverage.)
Hopefully a not so far away authorized repair tech can help you resolve the issue; it could be
one of several things, but that error code could help someone narrow down the problem and
somebody should be able to tell you on the phone what you may be up against; but further
testing and what not would probably be required in troubleshooting and repairing the machine.
You may be able to find a reseller with authorized product repair specialist through this link:
http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/ (if there is no longer a warranty, you have a few other
repair options outside the AppleCare plan; such as wegenermedia.com online.)
Good luck in this matter!