Post by: Gregg on March 09, 2007, 07:27:50 AM
I only have sketchy information, but maybe someone can make a suggestion or two. It is a sporadic problem. Sometimes it boots. Sometimes it stops at a grey screen, sometimes the screen remains black.
I told him to bring his OS CD home. Maybe we can boot from that? Do you still hold down the "C" key in X?
Once in (
) should we repair permissions? How do you do that?Anything else???
Thanks!
Post by: weldiger on March 09, 2007, 07:53:02 AM
Type in mac-boot - and then hit return. It will probably start correctly. However, this is usually a sign of bad ram, or loose connection on one or both chips.
Then go to resolving kernel panics
and also go to this site and read up on what else.
Mark both of these as you will need them from time to time.
HTH
I haven't used a start up disk in a while, but I think that holding down the c key is correct.
Post by: kelly on March 09, 2007, 07:53:20 AM
Your Mac won't start up in Mac OS X (Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464
Post by: Gregg on March 09, 2007, 12:04:04 PM
Post by: Gregg on March 10, 2007, 09:19:21 AM
Post by: Gregg on March 10, 2007, 01:29:57 PM
I don't know if it will be any better on a weekday, but the whole idea of going today was to get it in ASAP and get it back before next weekend. That's not going to happen.
It's kind of ironic that you have to pay $99 for something that's free.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 10, 2007, 02:54:12 PM
Post by: RobW on March 10, 2007, 03:16:37 PM
Recently, they took me 20 minutes early. FWIW, I've had to use them a few times for my older daughter's iBook and my dad's Mac Mini. Each time they've been courteous and clearly knew what they were going. Last time I was there, I felt a tap on my shoulder--and it was the guy from the genius bar that had helped me with my dad's Mac a few months prior to then. "How's your dad's Mac Mini?" he asked. I was shocked he remembered. Another time when I was there I told the guy who was helping me how courteous he was. I'll never forget when he said "I like the company I work for." You don't hear that very often, do you??
Post by: Gregg on March 10, 2007, 06:49:46 PM
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 10 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]121568[/snapback]
aYou might also try calling the store and setting up an appointment, bthey used to have a machine that was for doing it while at the store, also.
a You can't call the store. You can call a robot in Cupertino; that's it.
b The machine is called a computer. You walk in and sign up - except when all appointments are already taken by ProCare members, which was the situation today. A friend of my son who used to work at this store says that weekdays are busier than weekends.
Post by: RobW on March 10, 2007, 09:31:45 PM
Heck, Here's the link to make a reservation for the store in Mayfair, Wisconsin. Again, you should do it very early of the day you want or possibly the night before.
Post by: Gregg on March 11, 2007, 03:02:49 PM
Unfortunately, there are no more reservations available today. Please check back tomorrow.
I must have skipped over your post yesterday in my haste. My son suggests that it might not render a different result until after midnight, but we'll try after the store closes and see if our experience is the same as yours. It was my recollection that it was impossible to schedule an appointment unless you are a ProCare member. Are you? But, that first screen gives me hope!
To ask a specific question about the symptoms...
Does a grey or black screen tell you that it could be a kernal panic?
I'm going to check the other links above, and if he can get it to boot up, we'll try to repair permissions, just on the outside chance that it might help. Or maybe not, unless I find instructions on how to do it.
Post by: RobW on March 11, 2007, 03:15:07 PM
This will show you what the kernel panic looks like. I've never seen it without the print message in the box.
Post by: RobW on March 11, 2007, 03:21:48 PM
Post by: Gregg on March 11, 2007, 04:08:06 PM
We had booted it up today, but it was very slow, and there was a "louder than normal" noise coming from the upper left corner of the iBook. Then we tried to run Disk Utility. That would only allow verifying or repairing permissions. (so that answers one question) It would not allow us to select Verify or Repair Disk.
We just restarted in Safe Mode. The Safe Boot was also slow, but the Restart afterwards occured more quickly; seemed to be normal. But, it's still made more noise that it used to. So I don't know if the Safe Mode disk repair has cured it of its ills or not.
Post by: krissel on March 11, 2007, 06:45:17 PM
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/
Post by: Gregg on March 12, 2007, 07:33:47 AM
Post by: Gregg on March 13, 2007, 07:24:40 AM
I tried from home this morning, and made it to an appointment time, but did not get a confirmation. I chalk that up to my "prehistoric" browser. I came to work and got a confirmation for the very same time I was attempting to reserve at home.
Post by: Gregg on March 13, 2007, 08:47:28 PM
I don't think it's worth the bother to set up file sharing and copy his drive (30GB) to mine. Besides, what good will that be to him when they send his iBook to him 350 miles from home? Then we'd have to connect them again anyway.
They will back it up and restore it (I think) for $50 so I told him to do that. Of course, he has to go back to the store. I just checked, and the Concierge site did tell me what appointment times are available, but I still can't get a confirmation using Mozilla. (It's not time!) He has a dentist appointment tomorrow right across the street from the Mall. Of course, no time is available until 2 hours after his scheduled visit there. So, he'll have some time to kill.
Post by: krissel on March 13, 2007, 09:09:10 PM
Post by: Gregg on March 14, 2007, 07:24:31 AM
Post by: Gregg on March 16, 2007, 07:36:22 AM
Cost for backup: $0
Knowing we didn't screw up: Priceless
The Genius said "according to Apple" there is no way to transfer music from an iPod to a hard drive it did not originate from.
So, there must be a way. It would be nice of them to do that, since it's a product failure issue. I'm told that the only way to add music to an iPod is to wipe it clean and reload what was on it again; all from the same hard drive, and that it will put a track back on that hard drive if it has been accidently deleted. But, if your hard drive fails, you're up a creek.
Post by: chriskleeman on March 16, 2007, 08:46:51 AM
I cannot over-stress the importance of a verified back-up... these days, drives and Firewire enclosures are really inexpensive, and compared to the time and hassle a drive failure or computer failure costs someone when it happens, well, they're Priceless!
Wish I had a better understanding of the iPod issue you've brought up... I don't do anything with an iPod... but maybe I'll consult the iPod Oracle in the family (my daughter)
If I hadn't bought a Firewire case and hard drive I'd be so dead in the water after the last month and a half! I got off real lucky, as I was able to start from the hard drive I had removed from my MDD and had put in the Firewire case. Connecting it to my iBook saved my bacon!
And SuperDuper is a great program.
Chris K
Post by: Gregg on March 16, 2007, 12:05:45 PM
Post by: Thomas S. England on March 16, 2007, 12:11:49 PM
QUOTE(Gregg @ Mar 16 2007, 07:36 AM) [snapback]122133[/snapback]
The Genius said "according to Apple" there is no way to transfer music from an iPod to a hard drive it did not originate from.
So, there must be a way. It would be nice of them to do that, since it's a product failure issue. I'm told that the only way to add music to an iPod is to wipe it clean and reload what was on it again; all from the same hard drive, and that it will put a track back on that hard drive if it has been accidently deleted. But, if your hard drive fails, you're up a creek.
So, there must be a way. It would be nice of them to do that, since it's a product failure issue. I'm told that the only way to add music to an iPod is to wipe it clean and reload what was on it again; all from the same hard drive, and that it will put a track back on that hard drive if it has been accidently deleted. But, if your hard drive fails, you're up a creek.
use Senuti, with the added benefit of being free:
http://www.fadingred.org/senuti/
Post by: krissel on March 16, 2007, 10:46:49 PM
Post by: Gregg on March 17, 2007, 04:10:34 PM
QUOTE(krissel @ Mar 16 2007, 09:46 PM) [snapback]122231[/snapback]
Hmmm, wonder where they got that name.... Senuti....
revelc !
I didn't notice that.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on March 18, 2007, 09:50:13 PM
Post by: Gregg on March 20, 2007, 07:21:51 AM
Post by: RobW on March 20, 2007, 01:13:42 PM
to the Apple Store genius bar folks in the King of Prussia store.
Post by: krissel on March 20, 2007, 11:32:27 PM
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 18 2007, 10:50 PM) [snapback]122395[/snapback]
!lessirk, aedi on evah I
I just remembered an April Fool's trick I pulled on my principal years ago.
With the help of his secretary I went into his office after hours and loaded a trick extension on his Mac that made all text on screen and whatever he typed backwards.
Then it was a matter of waiting the next day to hear his response. He actually didn't notice until he opened an email and I heard "Hey, what the...? What language is this?" coming from his office. Then, "Something's wrong with this computer!" Then silence as we were all holding our sides trying not to laugh out loud.
A few seconds later it dawned on him that it was a practical joke and he pleaded for someone (me) to fix it. After I explained to him what was done he decided to take home a copy of the extension and put it on his son's computer.
Post by: Gregg on March 21, 2007, 07:23:43 AM
I like your "prankster" avatar.