I cannot install OS 10.2-It won\'t let me!

[Gary S]

I have wasted all afternoon and evening trying to install OS10.2 or 10.2.1 (I recieved both installers with the new G4).

Here is what happens:

The G4 currently has OS X.1.2 on it, that's what it shipped with.

I put in the 10.2 CD and double click on the installer and then when the screen comes up I click restart just as I'm supposed to. I'm asked for my password and I type it in and the machine restarts.

I get a white screen with a grey Apple logo on it and the little grey thing that spins below the apple. Then the screen turns either blue or grey and a transparent window appears with the words, " You need to restart your computer. Push the power button for a few seconds or push the reset button. The screen is frozen each and every time this message comes up.

This also happens when I use the 10.2.1 CD also.

It won't let me update.

I'm trying to get to the installer so I can partition the disk!

Right about now I feel like booting with my old OS9 disk and
forgetting about OSX!

This is rediculous!

Does anybody have any idea what is going on here?

Any and all ideas would be appreciated.

   
 
 [ 03-16-2003, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: Gary S ]

[Paddy]

Gary, I'm part way through updating and installing myself (another post for that very different experience) but I'd suggest that you do the following:

Start up from your OS disk and run Disk Utility. Erase your drive, repartition and run verify disk. Repair any problems. Then try installing again. I just had the experience of Jag quitting early on in the installation process. I restarted and found the partition I was attempting to install onto was grayed out. Great. So, I tried running disk utility, which reported some errors, fixed them, but still left the partition grayed out. So, I did as I'm suggesting to you - started over again. This time - no problem.

If that fails, then do you have a version of 9 on an install disk that will boot this Mac? If so, I'd use it to do the erase, and partition bit and then install 9. Upgrade to 9.2.2 and then install X.

[kps]

You're getting a kernel panic, that's what it looks like in Jaguar. No more gray screen with all that broken up text. Kelly posted a picture of it in your other thread

Have you connected any USB (like a USB hub) devices or did you install a SCSI card?

Pop the case open, make sure all cables are properly seated, etc. remove all peripherals except the original keyboard and mouse.

Try it again.

[Gary S]

Paddy,
The problem is I can't start up Start up from my OS disk and run Disk Utility, erase the drive, repartition and run verify disk. Repair any problems. Then try installing again.

I'm getting Kernel Panics, I think, everytime I boot from the OS disks!

   

quote:If that fails, then do you have a version of 9 on an install disk that will boot this Mac? If so, I'd use it to do the erase, and partition bit and then install 9. Upgrade to 9.2.2 and then install X.

I do have a 9.2.1 CD that came with one of my copies of Jaguar. That might work.

Congats on your upgrade! And thanks.    
 
 [ 03-17-2003, 12:48 AM: Message edited by: Gary S ]

[krissel]

This may sound stupid but have you tried starting from the CD by holding down the "c" key, like the good old days?  If that doesn't help, startup and hold down the Option key to see if it will give you the valid OSes to chose for booting including the CD.

If you only see the request to restart that probably isn't a kernel panic. What you describe happened to me at my folks the other night after the console report recommended a reinstall of the system. I just kept on trying the c key and Option til it gave me the startup from the CD. After reinstalling the system I had to repair permissions from the CD with the Disk Utility,  NOT from the installed Jag.

Also be sure you aren't using the restore disks.

[Gary S]

No peripherals except the keyboard and mouse.

I removed 3rd party Ram. I have only the 256 that Apple installed in it.

I've tried booting with the C key.

I'm still getting the kernal panics. Krissel, It looks like like the picture Kelly posted. At the bottom it has FF: FF: FF: FF: FF

Where is that picture?

 

It looks like tis only it has those FF: FF: FF: FF: FF: at the bottom.
 
 [ 03-17-2003, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: Gary S ]

[kps]

Gary, try booting into Single User mode and run the unix file system utility...it may fix the problem if you can boot into it.

At boot hold down Command+s

wait for it to do it's thing until you see the prompt:

localhost#

at the prompt type:

fsck -y

wait, you should hear the hard drive working

If it comes back with something to the effect that the "File System was Modified" , run it again until it returns : "File system OK"

Then, at the prompt, type

reboot

Machine should boot into the system stored in NVRAM...to reset NVRAM to factory defaults zap the pram for 4-5 chimes (you know this part).

or
reset using Open firmware. Boot into OF and type :

reset-all

If the machine worked before, it may not be a hardware issue, so try this...otherwise check the hardware.
 
 [ 03-17-2003, 10:08 PM: Message edited by: kps ]

[Gary S]

Long story short.

Worked on it till1:30 last night and then this morning.

 fsck -y said Hardrive apeared to be ok.

Command +Option+O+P. Open firmware-reset-all.

Still wouldn't boot from the CD's they sent me without Kernel Panic.

Called Apple. Talked to Tech. Had me
Command +Option+O+P. Open firmware-reset-all.

Still wouldn't boot from CD- Kernel Panic.

Tech gave up after a while and said he thought it was a hardware problem and to take it to an Apple service Center.

I don't know if that will be tommorrow or what. This has made me kind of tired.

We'll see what the morning brings. There's a service center an hour north of here or 1 1/2 hours East.

It will work out.

I think........I can't think. Good night and thanks for everyones help. Your a bunch of winners in my book.

         
 
 [ 03-17-2003, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Gary S ]

[kps]

Sorry to read it may be a hardware problem, hope it works out for you. Keep us posted.

[Spartacus]

Perhaps Gary, you're experiencing a similar problem to the one I had with OS 10.2.
In the end Apple replaced my G4's motherboard and eversince it works like a charme.

Do you still have waranty left? If so, you shouldn't worry and let Apple do the checking and repairing.

Good luck!

[kelly]

Hang in there Gary.  

I'm sure it will all work out in the end.

[Gary S]

The G4 is now in the hands of "Happy Mac", an Apple service center. It was a refurbed unit from Apple to begin with and when I took it to Happy Mac this morning we opened the case. They said it looked like Apple had put a new motherboard in.

They are going to check it out and then contact me.

I hope they get to the bottom of the problem.

Thanks everyone. I'll let you know when I hear something.

[beacher]

Sorry 'bout your problems with the machine, Gary; I know what a hassle it is, and it does hurt to just lose that time you spent trying to figure it out, without having the satisfaction of being able to cure it. . .

[Gary S]

A bit of an update.

I talked to the service center and they have at least formed a theory. They disconnected the Superdrive and it didn't panic.
So........it may be a defective CDdrive or controller. They're not sure though.

At least it's a start.

[Dreambird]

Been following your trials and tribulations with all this Gary... sorry I don't have a clue about any of it...  

But you'll get there, I'm sure of it...  keep hanging in!