Problem starting Power Mac G4

I'm running the latest version of Tiger. An apple support professional told me not to install Leopard, that I would have problems, so Tiger it still is.
Every 2-3 months I have the same problem. When trying to start (or restart) I get the grey screen with the apple logo and it won't go further.
I can start in safe mode, but restarting after that doesn't go further than the Apple logo.
I removed all peripherals. Same thing.
I reset the PRAM. Same thing.
I was able to boot from the install disc and run Disc Utility. Same thing.
I used Tech Tool Pro 5 and Discwarrior, booting from the repair discs. Did all the tests in TTP5. Redid the directory thru both programs. Same thing.
I try to archive and install and although it goes thru the whole routine, same thing.
Several months ago I bought a brand new internal hard drive reinstalling everything fresh, and still, every 2-3 months the same thing.
The only thing that works is erasing the whole drive and reinstalling the operating system and all the programs from scratch.
This gets to be boring, doing it every 2-3 months!
Before I reinstall, luckily I am able to get access to the hard drive and back up all the important files and folders which weren't backed up previously.
I know the G4 is old by now (got it in 2001) but I can't afford a new computer right now.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you very much in advance.
Donko

I don't know what I'm looking for in this log.
Here's the transcript of the system log, maybe you can give me an idea of what information is relevant ...
Thank you again.
Jul 5 17:36:06 tarados-power-mac-g4 SystemStarter[189]: authentication service (198) did not complete successfully
Jul 5 17:36:06 tarados-power-mac-g4 SystemStarter[189]: Qmaster services (193) did not complete successfully
Jul 5 19:07:16 localhost kernel[0]: standard timeslicing quantum is 10000 us
Jul 5 19:07:15 localhost mDNSResponder-108.6 (Jul 19 2007 11: 33:32)[33]: starting
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: vm_page_bootstrap: 379457 free pages
Jul 5 19:07:15 localhost memberd[40]: memberd starting up
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: mig_table_max_displ = 70
Jul 5 19:07:16 localhost lookupd[44]: lookupd (version 369.8) starting - Tue Jul 5 19:07:16 2011
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: using 3932 buffer headers and 3932 cluster IO buffer headers
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: Extension "com.apple.driver.KeyLargoATA" has no kernel dependency.
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: USBF:    49.565    AppleUSBOHCI[0x2faf000]::start OHCI controller will be unloaded across sleep
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: USBF:    49.566    AppleUSBOHCI[0x3073000]::start OHCI controller will be unloaded across sleep
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in now active, GUID 000393ff fe3efd4c; max speed s400.
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: enableClockSpreading returned with 0
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: Security auditing service present
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: BSM auditing present
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: disabled
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 27B25911-06F7-361B-8C49-B80B136BEB07
Jul 5 19:07:17 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>
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/MacRISC2PE/pci@f2000000/AppleMacRiscPCI/ACARD,6280M@12/AEC62XXSCSICo ntroller/IOSCSIParallelDevice@0/IOSCSIParallelInterfaceProtocolTransport/IOSCSIP eripheralDeviceNub/IOSCSIPeripheralDeviceType00/IOBlockStorageServices/IOBlockSt orageDriver/ATA WDC WD3200AAJB-0 Media/IOApplePartitionScheme/Untitled@3
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk2s3, major 14, minor 17
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: Jettisoning kernel linker.
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: Resetting IOCatalogue.
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: Matching service count = 1
Jul 5 19:07:17 localhost kernel[0]: NVDANV10HAL loaded and registered.
Jul 5 19:07:18 localhost diskarbitrationd[39]: disk2s3    hfs      27B25911-06F7-361B-8C49-B80B136BEB07 newG4HD2                /
Jul 5 19:07:18 localhost diskarbitrationd[39]: disk1s9    hfs      1BB58489-0FD0-3D3A-A227-065527526295 photos                  /Volumes/photos
Jul 5 19:07:18 localhost diskarbitrationd[39]: disk0s3    hfs      BFBCD55D-7212-3933-93A7-42812ECE8034 Music                   /Volumes/Music
Jul 5 19:07:18 localhost diskarbitrationd[39]: disk0s5    hfs      019AD1CD-CD2B-3F7B-A302-77B2F709161D My Documents            /Volumes/My Documents
Jul 5 19:07:18 localhost DirectoryService[48]: Launched version 2.1 (v353.6)
Jul 5 19:07:18 localhost kernel[0]: UniNEnet: Ethernet address 00:03:93:3e:fd:4c
Jul 5 19:07:18 localhost diskarbitrationd[39]: disk0s6    hfs      534F3AFE-3BFF-347A-9290-0AED56378D80 eDrive                  /Volumes/eDrive
Jul 5 19:07:19 localhost launchd: Server 330f in bootstrap 1103 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd"[44]: exited abnormally: Hangup
Jul 5 19:07:19 localhost lookupd[73]: lookupd (version 369.8) starting - Tue Jul 5 19:07:19 2011
Jul 5 19:07:20 localhost kernel[0]: NVDA,Display-B: vram [98000000:08000000]
Jul 5 19:07:22 localhost mDNSResponder: Adding browse domain local.
Jul 5 19:07:22 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow: Login Window Application Started
Jul 5 19:07:25 localhost loginwindow[79]: Login Window Started Security Agent
Jul 5 19:07:26 tarados-power-mac-g4 configd[37]: setting hostname to "tarados-power-mac-g4.local"
Jul 5 19:07:43 tarados-power-mac-g4 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framewo rk/Support/ATSServer: (-3230) Cannot use ATS Persistent Store - switching to old FODB cache code
Jul 5 19:11:11 tarados-power-mac-g4 KernelEventAgent[32]: tid 00000000 received unknown event (12)
Jul 5 19:11:32 tarados-power-mac-g4 sudo:   Tarado : TTY=ttyp2 ; PWD=/Users/Tarado ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/bin/rm -df -r /System/Library/StartupItems/WiUtilityCardbusPCIStartUp
Jul 5 19:11:33 tarados-power-mac-g4 sudo:   Tarado : TTY=ttyp2 ; PWD=/Users/Tarado ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/bin/rm -df -r /System/Library/Extensions/RT2860WirelessDriver.kext
Jul 5 19:11:33 tarados-power-mac-g4 sudo:   Tarado : TTY=ttyp2 ; PWD=/Users/Tarado ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/bin/rm -df -r /Applications/WirelessUtilityCardbusPCI.app
Jul 5 19:11:33 tarados-power-mac-g4 sudo:   Tarado : TTY=ttyp2 ; PWD=/Users/Tarado ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/bin/rm -df -r /Library/Receipts/CardbusPCIWireless-Tiger.pkg
Jul 5 19:28:16 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1349.705    [0x318a700] The IOUSBFamily is having trouble enumerating a USB device that has been plugged in. It will keep retrying. (Port 3 of hub @ location: 0x13000000)
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:19 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1352.525    OHCI driver: OHCIRootHubPortPower bit not sticking (0). Retrying.
Jul 5 19:28:20 tarados-power-mac-g4 kernel[0]: USBF:    1353.326    [0x318a700] The IOUSBFamily was not able to enumerate a device.

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internet is available makes all kinds of sense, to just update
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someone with no credible amount of experience. Anyone
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{edited}

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The solution given is to re-install just the Core OS files. In order to do that iou will need to use an OS 9 Install CD valid for that machine, and of a version equal to the installed OS 9 version.
Boot to the CD, run the installer - when you select your hard drive and click okay, you'll be asked what you want to do - click Reinstall. On the last page of the installer, the page with the Start button, click the Customize button.
On the new page, uncheck everything (make sure they have neither checks nor dashes) except Mac OS 9.x; to the right of it is a pulldown menu, preset at Recommended Installation - select Customized Installation from that.
In the new window, uncheck everything except the first item, Core System Software - again, make sure none of the other boxes have checks or dashes. Click Okay, click Start. That will re-install the System, Finder, other basic OS files, and nothing else.
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Even if I had to reinstall the a new operating system...how do I by-pass the the aforementioned loop within my computer to get to the installation information, etc.
In order to do a re-install (Core System or complete) you will need to boot the machine to an appropriate CD.
When you boot the machine to a CD, the OS on the CD is running the machine. This means that nothing on the hard drive is in use, including any damaged files. This is one of the primary virtues of retaining install disks - they allow the machine to be booted, and usually repaired, regardless of the state of health of the OS on the hard drive.
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If you do not have an OS 9 Install CD of a version equal to that of the installed OS 9, you will need to re-install the complete OS. The easiest way to do that is to use the Software Install CD that came with the machine, or a later version retail OS 9 Install CD. Boot to that CD, and on the page where you select the destination drive click the Options button. On the new page checkmark the Clean Installation option, okay the page, continue the installation.
Note that with OS 9 a Clean Install will not remove anything - it will install a brand new System Folder and do little else.
Article #TA43881 - Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9: Performing a Clean Installation
A Software Restore CD can not be used to do a Clean Install, and, if appropriate care is not taken, can result in the loss of data on the hard drive.

Power Mac G4 400 Startup Problem

Working on my brother's system. He ran software update and rebooted and now we get the grey screen with the apple logo and the counter icon, then the starting Mac OS X screen, the progress bar gets to about the half way point then the screen alternates between being totally blue and briefly flashing the round counter icon.
I've tried resetting PRAM, NVRAM, booting to OS boot DVD and running Disk Utility - nothing has worked. Although it did boot to the DVD with no problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom

Tom, welcome, it is always a good idea to Repair Permissions before and after updates.
Bootup from the install CD (C key held down) and once the disk mounts (X window) open Disk Utility from the Main Menu under Installer. Choose your drive in the left column then select First Aid, now run the Repair, if it does not repair run it again. Now select the startup volume (with the OS) and run the Repair Permissions, quit Disk Utility.
Now go back up to the Main Menu under Install/Change Startup Disk and select your startup volume then Restart.
Repair Permissions.
Joe
Power Mac G4 Gigabit Ethernet Mac OS X (10.3.9) 1.5 GB Ram, ENCORE/ST G4, Tempo SATA, ATI Radeon 9000, Adaptec 4000

Power Mac G4 won't start up after shut down

I have a Power Mac G4 (dual 1 GHz with 2 GB of RAM) running OS X 10.4.11. It has the mirror drive doors and was once referred to as the “wind tunnel”.
The problem is that it will not start up after it has been shut down unless I first push the reset button. I have tried replacing the battery and resetting the p-ram. When I try to start it without first pushing the reset button nothing happens. The light for the start button doesn’t even come on. But if I disconnect the power, open it up and push the reset button it will start up and run perfectly.
Thank you for any suggestions that you might have.

Thanks BDAqua, it does sound like a bad capacitor. The PSU is one that I put in a few years back when Apple was giving them out so as to reduce the fan noise. I kept the old one until last week when I sent it off to be recycled. I suppose it would be a tough job to find the bad capacitor and I doubt that I would have the skill to replace it even if I could find it. It's not like I really need this power mac since I have a Mac Pro 1,1 but I do occasionally want to run something in OS 9 and I do love this machine for what ever reason. There was remarkably little dust inside but I went over it with a can of dust remover.
Don

Problem starting Power Mac G4

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