G4 PowerBook (2000) taking 9-12 tries to boot up without freezing

[Frealas]

Hello all- new to the forums. I have a hand-me-across G4 PowerBook that's worked fine up until a couple of weeks ago. I now have to reboot and force quit it multiple times (usually at least 8 or 9 times) for it to come up with my normal screen and access to my programs without it freezing up. Usually the first 3-4 times it cycles through with the Apple icon, then I get the blue screen of doom and no more noises, as though it's not checking itself out (Bios stuff, I believe??). Sometimes it cycles all the way through, but the monitor doesn't come on. Sometimes it gets to where I can see my desktop and applications and whatnot, and I move the cursor across the screen and- wham. Frozen. Usually the second try after that happens it actually works for a while and I'm able to access the internet (I have an ethernet cable) but I get really nervous about using my key drive as sometimes simply inserting it makes the computer freeze up.

I spoke with one of our students about it and he said it sounds like motherboard problems, ie: plan on getting a new computer. Anybody else have suggestions? I'll also admit that about 6 weeks ago it slid off of my lap and fell and the wireless card holder bent a bit, making my keyboard wonky, though my stepdad fixed it. Perhaps it dislodged part of the inner workings, though he did a more thorough job recently of getting it evened out and it worked much better for a couple of days, as though there were some circuts or something whose connections weren't the best.

Any advice/recommendations would be helpful! Oh, and I'm in a town with no Mac specialist, of course.

-Frealas

 

[Ric]

Hi there and welcome,

to rule out whether this is a hardware or software fault, I would back everything up, then wipe the drive and reload the OS.

This may be a bit drastic, but at least you will know whether it works, or if it is a hardware problem.

It's hard to tell whether there are internal connection problems, without getting a look inside ;-)

regards

Ric

 

[Frealas]

to rule out whether this is a hardware or software fault, I would back everything up, then wipe the drive and reload the OS.

Thanks for that- I've never done that with a Mac, the drive wiping part. Any recommendations as to how to do that or a website that can walk me through it? Thanks heaps!!

~Frealas

 

[Ric]

Hi there,

if you have everything backed up...reboot with the OS install Cd or DVD (depending on what you have) hold down the c key, this will force the Mac to boot from the CD/ DVD...

If you are running OS X the installer menu should come up, then do a "Erase and Install" this will erase the drive and then put on a fresh copy of your OS.

regards

Ric