Powerbook G4 (12" aluminum" won't start up (freezes with apple screen up)

I'm on the road, and my Powerbook freezes during startup, with the apple on the white background, but no pinwheel. Tried starting in "Safe Mode", and it got to the pinwheel, then process bar/startup, but froze afterwards before the desktop came up. There's a blank blue screen, and occasional flashes of a pinwheel, but no desktop or mouse arrow. Any suggestions that can be done while traveling and without the startup disks (which were stupidly left at home)? Running OSX Tiger.

Find a local Apple Authorized Service Center who can help you out, tell them first before they do anything whether your data is backed up, and they'll take whatever measures you need:
http://www.apple.com/buy/

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  • Please help!  2.7 Power Mac froze, won't start up past white apple screen!

    Hello!
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    Hi-
    Don't give up yet.
    There are a few things to try before hauling the machine in for diagnosis.
    What I think you should do now, is to follow all the steps (in order) as listed/described in this article:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
    Even if you have tried before, please follow the order of troubleshooting.
    Each step helps to isolate the problem.
    Removing all but keyboard, mouse, and monitor is important.
    Try the Safe Mode boot, followed by resetting the PRAM.
    In lieu of repairing with Disk Utility, try and start to your DiskWarrior disk.
    Remember, booting to Disk warrior can take several minutes, so be patient.
    In the "Remove third-party RAM and internal hardware" step, try removing and reseating the RAM, and graphics card, attempting to boot after RAM, and again after graphics card.
    Instructions for removal and replacement are here:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22565
    Also, it wouldn't hurt to try booting the G5 to firewire target disk mode.
    but I wonder what my G5 (the fans, in particular) would make of that interaction. hmm . . .
    The fans are just noisy. They will insure that overheat damage doesn't occur.
    If the firewire boot is successful, it may be wise to copy your files so that you can try a reinstall of the OS, should that be necessary.
    Also, again worst case, check for coolant leakage:
    http://www.fusina.net/G5coolantleaks/gallery.php
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  • I've updated to yosemite from Mavericks, but since i can't connect to the internet I used my time machine back up which was march 2013. Now my macbook pro won't start and ends with a prohibited ted sign. Any suggestions pls.

    I've updated to yosemite from Mavericks, but since i can't connect to the internet I used my time machine back up which was march 2013. Now my macbook pro won't start and ends with a prohibted sign. Any suggestions pls.

    Install or Reinstall Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, or Lion from Scratch
    Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
    How to Clean Install OS X Yosemite
    OS X Mavericks- Erase and reinstall OS X
    OS X Mountain Lion- Erase and reinstall OS X
    OS X Lion- Erase and reinstall Mac OS X
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  • HT1430 My Ipad won't start up.  The apple logo appears and just stays on the screen. after a while it starts blinking every minute

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    Try recovery mode as described here.
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    HT1808

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    You need to start the MacBook with the original DVD that shipped with the MacBook. then run disk utility on your hard drive to repair it, also repair your permissions. 

  • My computer won't start up past the gray screen

    My computer won't start up past the gray screen and then shows up with the forbidden sign where the apple logo should be. I have tried booting in safe mode and PRAM and neither works. Any suggestions on what I should do next? Or any idease of what might be wrong?

    I had the same problem, I believe it is called a kernal panic. They had to replace my hard drive. I did have apple care or it would have cost $450. The guy at the genius bar did some tests to see if he could fix it, he couldn't, so I had to have the hard drive replaced.

  • My macbook air won't get past the white apple screen.  I've tried power cycling the batter but won't help

    my macbook air won't get past the white apple screen.  I've tried power cycling the batter but won't help

    Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
    Step 1
    The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
    There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
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    b. If Step 1a fails because of disk errors, and no other Mac is available, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.
    c. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
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    Step 2
    If the startup process stops at a blank gray screen with no Apple logo or spinning "daisy wheel," then the startup volume may be full. If you had previously seen warnings of low disk space, this is almost certainly the case. You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use the technique in Step 1b, 1c, or 1d to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.
    Step 3
    Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
    Step 4
    If you use a wireless keyboard, trackpad, or mouse, replace or recharge the batteries. The battery level shown in the Bluetooth menu item may not be accurate.
    Step 5
    If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
    Step 6
    Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
    Step 7
    If you've started from an external storage device, make sure that the internal startup volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
    Start up in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
    Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
    When you start up in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, the startup volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 11. If you ever have another problem with the drive, replace it immediately.
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    If the startup device is an aftermarket SSD, it may need a firmware update and/or a forced "garbage collection." Instructions for doing this with a Crucial-branded SSD were posted here. Some of those instructions may apply to other brands of SSD, but you should check with the vendor's tech support.  
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    Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
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    This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
    Step 13
    If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

  • Macbook pro-Freezes with black screen at start up.

    Macbook pro-Freezes with black screen at start up. I've tried inserting the Mac OS X install disc to run the hardware test(Restart and hold down D), But it still does nothing. Just the black screen. Now I can't get the disc out. I've tried holding down the track pad key upon start up but that doesn't work neither.
    What do I do??? Please help.

    Remove the battery to find your serial number in the battery bay. Then you can look your MBP up on EveryMac.com:
    http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/
    That will give you all the information on your Mac.
    This is assuming that you have the MBP with the removable battery and not the unibody. The unibody has different graphic chips.
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    Message was edited by: S.U.

  • OS X won't start; stuck on the Apple logo

    I went out of town on Friday and shut down my iMac G5 (Intel, purchased brand new January 2007). When I got home today and tried to boot it up, it stuck on the grey screen with the Apple logo and spinning gear. It will stay there until I either unplug my iMac or hold down the power button until it shuts down. This happens every time I attempt to boot OS X. I try to start in Safe Mode (holding down shift), but get the same result, same when I unplug all peripherals. I can, however, boot Windows XP via Boot Camp, which is what I am using to access the internet right now. Everything seems to be working perfectly in Windows XP, but it won't boot at all in OS X. I don't have access to my Install disc right now (It's at my dad's house; we got the family version of Leopard.), but I could get it if I absolutely have to.
    Any suggestions? Thanks.

    Your problem may be different, so it might serve you better to start your own thread. That said, both problems occurred when switching locations, so I wonder if the network/wifi might be involved. However, Niels, if you are unable to start at all, with any of those methods, there may be something more serious involved (we have had no feedback from the OP in the last few hours).
    Showing the last screen suggests a total (and unusual) freeze with the computer not having shutdown or gone to sleep. Did you close the lid and leave it? If you cannot start with the disk or with the Option key it is not simply the OS gone awry, IMO.
    Last resorts?
    One thing not tried is to hold down the Command, Option , P , and R keys on the keyboard to reset PRAM.
    Also, as a really last resort, hold down the Command, Option, O, and F keys. A grey screen will appear with a command line. Type +reset all+ and if that does not work, it is off to the shop.

  • IMac won't start up passed the grey screen

    Last friday my iMac (late 2006, 24", 2.33 duo core Intel, OS 10.6.8) gave me the spinning beach ball.
    Restarting resulted in: first the apple screen with the progress indicator, followed by grey screen..
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    I've been busy this weekend testing all kinds of ideas to get my imac to fully start up again.
    I checked the RAM, it's fine.
    I flushed NVRAM, wild guess, but nothing changed.
    Starting up in safe mode doesn't work.
    Starting up in recovery mode doesn't work.
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    But on start up my beloved iMac still won't get passed the grey screen.
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    I'm thinking maybe something could be wrong with the graphic card's RAM, though on start up I can see the apple logo just fine.
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    So is there anybody out there who has an idea that could help me further along?
    Any help is greatly appreciated!
    Frank

    Hi Jan,
    If you have another firewire Mac you can check if the HD of your Mac is OK by connecting them with a firewire cable and use target-mode. That way I found out my HD was just fine.
    It also offers you the chance to run a diagnostic program to check if anything else is fine. I used TechTool to do that. But everything checked out fine.
    In the end I decided the problem is probably hardware. Some electronic part that broke. Very frustrating that some small transistor or so is keeping me from using my otherwise fine iMac.
    I contacted a repairshop that also works for the local Mac retailer. They told me my iMac was concidered 'classic' and therefor it wasn't economically not worth the trouble trying to repair it.
    I gave up, took two weeks to mourn the loss of my beloved iMac, and bought a Mac mini.
    FrankV
    Judging by your name I'm guessing I could've anwered this in Dutch.

  • Powerbook won't get past OSX gray apple screen

    powerbook pismo running OSX for years...much joy and happiness,
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    Upon starting up my powerbook, I get the good chime and then the gray screen with the apple but no spinning wheel at the bottom, it will go no further.
    It just sits there with the gray screen and the apple. I've tried the following:
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    Reset pram
    target mode from another mac shows the pismo hard disk. I can run disk utility on it and the drive is ok.
    Still no startup.
    Reinstalled the OS from the other mac using target mode and it installed ok. Still no further than the gray apple screen.
    It will not start from DVD or from a firewire drive with the OS installed on it
    It does see the system folder when I tell it to let me choose a system at startup. I choose it and we are back at the gray screen.
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    I have other macs, and I can move on, but still would like to solve this puzzle.
    Thank you very much.

    zydeco,
    I am not sure if I can help, but here are a few suggestions...
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    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112433
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    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50028
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  • Macbook Air won't start up past the "apple" page, and has a spinning icon. help!

    The computer was left on for over a week while I was out of town, came back and it was slow, then it started doing the "spinning beach ball" so I shut it down and now it won't start up again.

    Hey Sarah.
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