IBook Illegal Instruction, Black Screen... Death?

I have an ibook G4... I just got an iPhone and was told to update iTunes before synching.
I chose to do the most recent software updates on iTunes, iPhone, and the Security Update.
I walked away while downloading/updating and came back to a white/grey screen with "Illegal Instruction at %ssro: ff85e778 %ssr1: 00081010" blah blah... "type to reboot or type to shut down"...
I did the reboot... It rebooted and I got a blue screen with a small icon that flashed between a "sad mac" atop a file folder and a "?". I let it run thru that cycle for 5 minutes and shut it down. I rebooted and the same "Illegal Instruction" came up, so I just shut it down, then restarted to get my install cd in, then restarted and tried booting from disk...
I get nothing now. No matter what I do, my iBook chimes up, spins up, but the screen is black.
HELP!

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Here's a place to start:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1573?viewlocale=en_US
Try the resets and see if they help. Then see if you can boot from your install CD. If you succeed, navigate to Disk Utility and see if you can repair your boot drive.
Does your iBook still have its original hard drive? If so, it could be beginning to go south, and that could be the underlying reason why things have gotten messed up.
Good luck!

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[urgent] Help! iBook AirPort connect, Black Screen (force restart) out!

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If you upgraded the RAM, and issues result, you'd remove the RAM
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Also, in the process of upgrading and installing new software updates
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I recommend from experience, to get and use the freeware utility OnyX
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Your computer's bootable install disc #1 includes an Apple
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Black Screen During Update Optimization

I have read as much as I can about update problems and I have yet to see my specific problem, nor a solution.
While updating to 10.4.9 through "software update" my computer screen went black in the middle of system optimization. I originally assumed it went to sleep and tried the normal methods to wake it from sleep. When that did not work, and the computer screen remained black, I assumed it shutdown (instead of restarting like it said it would after update). So, I tried to restart it.
When I first tried to power on the laptop, it did not work. I figured out that the computer was in deep sleep mode where I must hold down the power button to force it to quit. Then, I pushed the power on button again and it started up. The first startup quit while the thing was spinning. The next startup quit right after the blue screen popped up. The following right after the computer fully started up. The following same.
So, I booted from the installation disks that came with the MacBook and ran disk utility. It repaired the permissions. On reboot it worked.
Then, today I tried to load a word document and the computer went to black screen death again. I decided that maybe I never fully updated the OS so I decided to download the combo updater and to install from the file instead of the software updater.
Installation went fine until I hit optimization again. Same errors as above and same problems. However, when running disk utility this time, no problems detected.
So, I am online now, computer is working, but I haven't tried any applications other than firefox. I am afraid to try Word or any other application.
I have read about the black screen errors of the past. I have never had these errors prior to updating to 10.4.9. My computer was not overheated on either update occasion. The fans weren't even on and the computer was not being exerted.
As a 4 time Mac owner since the first Powerbooks were released in the 90's, I am baffled. I have never experienced such a blatant flaw in the OS or updates. I am even more confused as to why Apple is mum about this.
I need help. My computer was flawless before and wouldn't you know it my support just ran out last month.

Thanks for the tips... but here is what I have done and some of the recent problems I have encountered.
1. While using the HD as the startup volume, I have:
-Verified and repaired disk permissions
-Verified disk for the Hard Drive
-Verified disk for the Startup Volume
-Verified that the build # is current with the new update 10.3.9 build 8P2137
-Checked S.M.A.R.T. status = verified
-checked RAM in hardware profile = ok for both slots
-reinstalled update using combo intell installer (screen went black about halfway through system optimization)
-reinstalled Java update to be sure it wasn't the culprit
To better clearly describe the black screen issue... I shall elaborate:
1. the computer screen instantly goes black
2. the computer is in a state of sleeping not completely shutdown because if you close the lid the little white light glows.
3. Cannot be woken from this sleep mode like normal, forced to hardboot by pushing power button down and holding it until you can hear disconnect.
This has happened 3 times while writing this
I cannot boot from installation disk using option at startup. It allows me to select the install disk, but the screen goes black right after the loading screen turns blue.
I can boot into Hardware test holding D on startup with the install CD and it reports everything is fine in both normal test and extended tests.
Edited to add: I do not understand where to start doing the more intensive stuff here. Apple has several suggestions all depending upon specific symptoms which mine does not meet. and I am not savy enough to understand half of it anyway (i.e. command line, fsk, etc..) Here people have suggested numerous technical steps in various orders.
I am not able to utilize apple care... computer 4+ months old and I don't have the extended support package.
And, paying for tech support is really not an option for me right now.
If you have tips, please be specific in order and steps (or provide links to detailed steps) Sorry to be so picky, but in my research over the past few days I have uncovered about 50 different suggestions from apple and mac gurus.

2013 MacBook Air black screen of death

My wife's MacBook Air (late 2013) suffered the Black Screen of Death. Looked at the Mac forums for advice, looked at some YouTube videos about changing the battery, was on the verge of ordering a new battery from Amazon. My wife took it to the local Best Buy, and they said they'd be glad to fix it for just $200. Called the nearest Apple Store, got a recording that said I could buy time just to talk to tech support. Finally called Computer World in Appleton, Wis., and talked to Jack. He said it sounded like the latest OSX install wasn't complete. Told me to restart with shift key down, hit right arrow and then the return key, type in the password (even though the screen was still black), hit return again and BINGO! The screen came back on, showed OSX had 2 minutes left to install! All's right with the Mac again thanks to Jack the Mac Guy!

"they said they'd be glad to fix it for just $200.": That's a lot for a simple OS reset...

IBook G4 - Black screen in open firmware

Hi, i have a strange problem with my iBook G4.
When switched on it chimes and starts loading but the screen is completely black (not no backlight but completely black). In otherwords it does not show the grey screen or apple logo.
Once the OS boots the blue screen comes up and everything works perfectly.
So the problem is that anything before the actual OS loads is black. That means the grey screen with apple logo, open firmware and the drive selection screen (if you boot holding ALT/OPT) are all black.
I have tried resetting the PMU, Pram and blindly (with black screen) in open firmware did reset-nram and reset-all but nothing changed.
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This is a strange one, isn't it?
I'd count my lucky stars that it will boot into the OS, and I'd be saving up for a new MacBook Pro (or used MacBook).
I'm going to kick this one around with some of the gang in the Lounge and see if any of them have any ideas about what may be causing this.
Good luck with it.

How can i Use my apple 4 phone again - I was instructed to restore my phone with itunes and now it's stuck with the itunes logo and black screen Itunes has said unable to restore and now left unable to use my phone and not sure if I have any data on it?

I was instructed by I Tunes to restore my Iphone 4 - ITunes has since said it is unable to restore. I am now left with a black screen with Itunes logo on it and a picture of the charger attachment at the base of the screen and I am unable to do anything now with the device. I think I may have lost all of my information on the device too ~ can anyone help please?

You have lost all your data, but hopefully you were backing it up with iCloud or iTunes. You can try this:
Turn your phone off and connect your cable to the computer, but not the device just yet. Start up iTunes. Now, hold down the home button on your phone and plug it in to the cable - don't let go of the button until iTunes tells you it's detected a phone in recovery mode. Now you can restore to factory settings.

I am using an iphone 3Gs and Itunes won't allow me to restore it?!?! help me fix my black screen of death!

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Also i have tryed all the things in the error support page and nothing works, uninstalled itunes completely and did all that other stuff but still the same problem and i have not found a way to fix this.

Basic troubleshooting from the User's Guide is reset, restart, restore (first from backup then as new). Try each of these in order until the issue is resolved.

Black screen of death after warning "Disk 1 has the same disk identifiers as one or more disks connected to the system. "

Hi,
I am having the same problem / event warning, only one second after the warning occurs, I face a black screen of death leaving me with no other option than to switch off and reboot. After reboot I can work for some time but as far as I can see there is a
spontaneous re-occurance of the same warning and subsequent black screen of death.
It is hugely frustrating and don't seem to be able to solve it. It occurred in W8/W8.1 and W10 TP. All hardware seems fine. There are no other events that occur near the time when the BSOD occurs so I suppose its that.
HD (SSD'S) seem to have unique identifiers so I don't understand it at all. It does not matter whether I am browsing the internet, rendering images or simply leaving my laptop untouched (M6500 DELL).
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Mike

Hi MAVH2014,
Which version are you running? Do you installed all updates for current Technical Preview?
Can you find any related events in Event Viewer?
For your disk identifier issue, if you have checked them already, I suggest you use following command to change the value:
Uniqueid
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730793.aspx
Alex Zhao
TechNet Community Support

I have an iBook g4 14" 1.42 ghz. I recently installed a new hard drive. I put the install CD in. Then, I pressed the power button, then the "C" key. Black screen and No chiming. Please tell me, what I can do to resolve this? What is the problem with it?

I have an iBook g4 14" 1.42 ghz. I recently installed a new hard drive. I put the install CD in. Then, I pressed the power button, then the "C" key. Black screen and No chiming. Please tell me, what I can do to resolve this? What is the problem with it?

Since it will not boot then a hardware test can't be run. You could try FireWire Target Disk Mode and if it works then access from another Mac to run tests on the new drive. You could also try installing the OS X software from the host computer. If this does not work then professional help should be considered.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
http://osxdaily.com/2010/04/07/how-to-boot-a-mac-in-target-disk-mode/
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/answers/how-to-use-target-disk-mode-to-boot-from- another-macs-hard-drive

White screen of death going temporarily black screen of death.

I have a iphone4s that went white-screen-of-death on me just last week. recently its now giving me a multi-coloured screen show, and a finale of black-screen-of-death. Not sure what to do, and whether its worth going to the apple store when I can't afford repairs, and its a year out of warranty. I can still answer calls, or access apps, etc, but can't see what I'm actually doing.

I have a iphone4s that went white-screen-of-death on me just last week. recently its now giving me a multi-coloured screen show, and a finale of black-screen-of-death. Not sure what to do, and whether its worth going to the apple store when I can't afford repairs, and its a year out of warranty. I can still answer calls, or access apps, etc, but can't see what I'm actually doing.

So now a black "screen-of-death"???

I don't know what happened but when i suddenly got the urge to play some of my games on my ipod while listening to some music, probably bored or something, my ipod flips out and now is stuck on the "black screen of death"! the wheel locked up, my music stopped, and the screen won't shut off.
it reads:
This game cannot be launched.
This may be the result of a full iPod. (*)
For more information, please visit
http://apple.com/support/ipod/
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I was thinking about letting the battery deplete then go from there, but any idea can and will be useful
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This may be the result of a full iPod. (*)
More likely it's the result of a corrupt temporary file on the iPod. Connect the iPod and delete \iPod_Control\iT.tmp . Probably also a good idead to check the drive thus:
*Checking hard-drive for errors*
Hold Menu+Select on the iPod for about 6 seconds until it resets, then hold Menu+Play as soon as the Apple logo appears, again for about 6 seconds to put the machine in disk mode. Connect to your computer, closing iTunes if it opens. Browse *My Computer* and right-click on the drive for the iPod, click Properties, then click Tools. Under Error-checking, click *Check Now*. Under Check disk options, select *Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors* (Optional - takes ages but a good idea if you've reason to suspect physical damage). Click Start. Mac users should run *Disk Utility / Repair Disk* for the equivalent process. This should find and correct any errors in the logical & physical structures of your iPod's hard drive.
tt2

W700 - Random, frequent. Black Screen of Death

Hello,
I have a W700 that I acquired in june 2010 and that I enjoyed very much until the beginning of this summer.
Gradually I started to get black screens of death, no cursor, no response, no solution but to hard reset the computer.
At first it was only when I used one kind of browser, then all kind of browsers, then any progran then just at any time. At its worst it became a real russian roulette, any minutes I could get a crash no matter what I was doing but any activities increased crash chances.
I tested all my hardware, more specifically cpu, motherboard, ram, hard drive and graphic cards with various programs but they all returned a green light, a-ok. "no problem here".
I did maintenance on my registry, hard drive, culled unneeded start-up programs, upgraded drivers. Finally the crashes were so frequent I installed ubuntu.
Ubuntu did not cause any single crash in a couple months, reinforcing me in the idea that the problem was software in nature.
Yesterday I received a windows 7 ultimate and I reinstalled windows ... and after a few hours, after doing the updates and reinstalling programs, it started crashing again.
(By the way, my DVD player isn't reading dvds anymore I found out yesterday, that is also quite annoying)
Now, as I can number the installed programs on one hand, it crashes... moderately often.
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Thanks in advance : )

I tried to do the FurMark stress test and, indeed, it crashed after a while.
However a few weeks ago I did a GPU stress test with another program ( I forgot its name but it was rendering an earth in increasing details) and it passed without crash.
Since it crashes no matter what program I use and how intensive graphically it is, I am not sure how conclusive the fact it crashed during FurMark is.
(As I said, for a time the most stable activity I could do on this computer was play a MMORPG, which was noticeably more intensive graphically than, browsing internet).
I don't know ... I would be very happy if the cause of the problem was something I could fix since I really don't have the cash to buy a brand new computer right now.
Anyway, thanks for the help : )

Im trying to reset my ibook g4. when I hit command s all I get is a black screen. is there another way?

Im trying to reset my ibook. When I hit command s all I get is a black screen. And command r does not work.

There are some references, over a period of time, for some vintage
hardware models of Apple computers covering older software and
the keyboard commands haven't changed all that much. Some are
more directed at later OS X versions, in recent reference sites...
•OS X Keyboard Shortcuts:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343
•Magical Macintosh Keyboard Sequences: (2004)
http://davespicks.com/writing/programming/mackeys.html
•TUAW Tip: keyboard shortcuts during OS X Startup: (2006)
http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/27/tuaw-tip-keyboard-shortcuts-during-mac-os-x-start up/
Why were you trying to start in Single user mode or Command-line?
Do you have the OS X system install-restore DVDs?
Good luck & happy computing!

Inbuilt isight camera is detected in system profiler but no image is being detected only a black screen shows up. I have tried all of the troubleshooting instructions and it still wont work. The iMac im using is OS X 10.6 and was an ex-floor model

inbuilt isight camera is detected in system profiler but no image is being detected only a black screen shows up. I have tried all of the troubleshooting instructions and it still wont work. The iMac im using is OS X 10.6 and was an ex-floor model

Hi,
I would try a Safe Boot first. (This will take longer than a normal Boot and you will need to Restart afterwards).
If it were an older OS I would also suggest going to System Preferences > Displays and making sure the display is set to Millions. (My MacBook Pro does not have this option in Snow Leopard so I did presume Snow Leopard does not have it).
With some laptops there have been some issues with the cable up the back of the screen pulling loose with regular and frequent use of the lid, but this will not apply to you based on your specs. (it does take time to appear and is also somewhat rare). However it seems enough contact with the camera can make it appear in System Profiler and power it on but not give a pic.
If a Safe Boot does not work I would also try a PRAM reset.
Shut down the computer.
Restart it holding down Apple/CMD (or ⌘)+ALT( ⌥)+P+R Keys until you have heard three Start Up Bongs.
This is actually "less" destructive in that it clears less memory items than Safe Boot but they are different enough to warrant trying.
Do you have an older version of iGlasses installed ?
The one for Leopard does not work for Snow Leopard.
Do you have Web Browser open ?
This may point to Google Video Chat Plug-in and Flash Conflict. It would be rare to allow another app to access the camera even if not displayiong a Pic.
(Chrome Installs the Plug-in as does the standalone download).
Knowing what "any application" exactly you are trying might help us pin it down.
Any additional downloaded apps that can use the camera ?
Do you happen to have something balck in front of the camera ?
8:20 PM Sunday; October 9, 2011
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Anyone else getting the BLACK screen of death after Kitkat 4.4 update?

Ever since the update, my phone is wacked, like everyone elses. I got my Samsung Galaxy S4 a month ago. Beautiful, loved it. Update happens: I want to pitch this thing as far as I can throw it.
The phone rings. I go to answer it but all I have is a BLACK SCREEN which is LOCKED. I have the lock on the screen, but if the screen is black, you can't see it - and you can't answer the phone! One day, I got a message, and could not get to that. Why? the BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH.
Someone told me to turn off Samsung Watch On and that has helped with some of the issues. But I still get the screen occasionally, and my battery life is GONE.
How do we get rid of this update? Should I just call Verizon and get a new phone with the OLD software? I hate this. I feel like I was the victim of bait and switch.

ltg123 - did you resolve the problem yet? If so, let me know how.
My (hopefully temporary) solution was to turn off my "Lock Screen" ... to do this, go to Settings, My Device, Lock Screen ... and select None.
The only issue is that you would no longer have any security for your phone and would be vulnerable to someone stealing your phone and having full access to whatever is on your phone that does not require a separate id and password. Dangerous, yes ... but, for me right now, it's better than not having any access to my own phone!
The Android update simply sucks ... some heads should roll for allowing such a crappy update to get (no pun intended) rolled out.

IBook Illegal Instruction, Black Screen... Death?

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