confusing message

[pursuant]

I brand new to macs, I got an older Ibook G4 from my daughter. I have been getting a message that say"press the restart button" to restart your computer. I happens when I shut down but it will also happen at other times. The screen goes dim and a black box open with this message in 3 different languages. So I just hold down the power button and restart, sometimes it will and sometimes it will go back to the message again.
Any advice as to what this might be?

thanks

 

[MacDawg]

It is a Kernel Panic

Here are some resources on that issue for you to look at:

Isolating issues in Mac OS X

Resolving Kernel Panics

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[pursuant]

thanks

I'll see what I can do I am not much good at resolving issues let alone on macs, but thanks for the help!