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iBook 14inch 1ghz freezes during install

Ih8reno

Ih8reno

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 10, 2012
1,383
207
I recently acquired an iBook and want to put a fresh install of the os on it. When using my leopard disk it freezes at 38min left. Same result when I try installing Tiger. I've switched out the ram (has 512mb combined with the built in ram) to another stick and nothing. Also the hdd shows up as in good condition when using disk utility.

Any ideas?
 
Not sure how but it finally allowed a Tiger install. Will only boot when in safe mode though, otherwise it goes from an apple logo to blue screen. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Ih8reno said:
Not sure how but it finally allowed a Tiger install. Will only boot when in safe mode though, otherwise it goes from an apple logo to blue screen. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I am guessing that there is an internal issue with the onboard RAM. Try getting the appropriate ASD tests done at an AASP if possible.
 
I had the exact same symptoms on a Powerbook 12". ASD showed a failing GPU. The blue screen happens when the graphic drivers kick in. Only remedy is a new logic board unless you want to play with shims or baking.
 
Odd thing is originally the hdd wasn't recognized. I took it apart and fixed it (loose wire) and it booted off the drive. Then I tried to erase and reinstall and the comp won't work properly.
 
From all the googling I did when I had the issue with my Powerbook only two things seem to cause a blue screen on booting up - a duff graphics chip or a problem with your Administrator account set up. In the latter case, you should have a moving cursor on a blue screen. If you only have a static blue screen you are pretty much SOL.

The fact that it all seems to work with extensions off points to a hardware issue. Loading basic framebuffer drivers does not tax the discrete graphics chip and masks the real problem. That and the fact that iBooks are notoriously prone to cracking on the GPU BGA solder joints.

Time to get that ASD disc out.
 
Well it boots now into a fresh install of tiger. After taking time to download updated it suddenly freezes. The fan does work so I am very confused. When started from cold the mac works fine, but after 20 min use if I reboot it goes to a blue screen after the apple logo.
 
When the chips heat up the logic board bends fractionally causing the minute cracks in the joints to open. At best, you might have a dodgy hdd. Only way to find out is to run that ASD test.
 
Well I ran a disk utility test and it shows that it's working fine.
 
Oh and when I download the updates now it freezes but the mouse sill scrolls around the screen
 
Ih8reno said:
Well I ran a disk utility test and it shows that it's working fine.
Click to expand...

Disk Utility is hardly an exhaustive test of your hard drive, let alone of your logic board. You can carry on playing a guessing and hoping game or bite the bullet and run some more thorough diagnostics. It is really up to you.

TechTool or Drive Genius would give your more details about your hard drive but you really need to get that ASD/AHT test run now.
 
switched the hdd out with another. Freezes within minutes I can only assume the hdd is fine. Any other suggestions? I don't have the original disks so i can't run the asd.
 
Was able to run the test thanks to the help of a friend and it shows results as pass. Any other ideas?
 
Ran all the ads tests and it showed a pass. I never saw any problems with the graphics either. I really am stumped. The new hdd has leopard installed on it and I know that it works.
 
Ih8reno said:
Odd thing is originally the hdd wasn't recognized. I took it apart and fixed it (loose wire) and it booted off the drive. Then I tried to erase and reinstall and the comp won't work properly.
Click to expand...

This is the only other clue I can think of for the cause of your woes. There is another thread here with a faulty HDD cable as the problem area. However, booting with extensions off shouldn't make a difference if it is the HDD cable. The only thing I can suggest is trying to get hold of a Firewire external drive to run from. If it runs from that without locking up then the HDD connection is the problem. If you don't have a FW drive then you can get it to boot from a USB drive if you go via Open Firmware.
 
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