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iBook G4 kernel panic on start, then won't spin up HD

more on the kernel problem

i have also been having this problem with my ibook g4 (which is one of the later models, with built-in airport).

it first surfaced when i could not wake up the ibook after it had gone to sleep. i had to force it to shut down by pressing the on-off button for several seconds. then when i restarted, i got the unix screen -- i guess that's what it is -- telling me i could boot by typing mac-boot, or shut down by typing shut-down. but mac-boot got only what i suppose people are calling "kernel panic"; the question-mark oscillating with another icon. i once again manually shut down, and the next time i tried to start up, i got the regular apple screen. the pointer, however, was frozen, so i shut down again, restarted, got the unix screen, typed shut-down, it shut down, i restarted, got the bitten apple and everything started up just fine, including the pointer. however this process continued to occur over the next few days -- sometimes i could restart successfully, sometimes it took several tries. i did run all of the mac diagnostics from the original discs, and both hardware and software tests detected no problems. specifically, the logic board tested ok.

then i found this forum (by googling on 4.9.3f0, the boot rom version), and i've read all of the inputs. i don't see how it could be the logic board itself at fault, as some here feel is the case, because after all, the board tested ok, and the machine is working now. i wonder if it could not be a problem with the boot rom (which may itself be on the logic board).

unfortunately, like many in this forum, i am not anywhere near an apple dealer -- i'm in mexico, in the state of jalisco. my ibook is still under warranty, but the warranty will expire before i get back to the states.

i have turned off airport, which i can't use where i am now (i'm limited here to 56k dialup), and so far the machine is working ok, tho i don't know whether airport has anything to do with it. however next week i will be in a city where i have access to airport, so we'll see what happens there.

in the meantime, has anyone else investigated the boot rom issue? that seems to me to be a logical choice, because the ibook won't boot correctly. and most importantly, does apple know about this flaw and has it commented about it anywhere? if the problem is common, apple certainly ought to know something.

thanks,

cliff barney
 
still more on kernel problem

i went to apple.com's support section and found this nugget,with respect to problems with ibook booting:

"3. Start up from the system CD that shipped with your computer.
Start your system from the system CD by holding down the C key until you see the smiling Mac face. If the system works properly when started (booted) from the system CD, you can generally assume that the problem relates to the software which is installed on your computer."

this may assuage fears that the logic board is fried.

i also found some indication that resetting the parameter ram may help when one gets the screen advising one to type mac-boot or shut-down.
 
cbarney said:
i went to apple.com's support section and found this nugget,with respect to problems with ibook booting:

"3. Start up from the system CD that shipped with your computer.
Start your system from the system CD by holding down the C key until you see the smiling Mac face. If the system works properly when started (booted) from the system CD, you can generally assume that the problem relates to the software which is installed on your computer."

this may assuage fears that the logic board is fried.

i also found some indication that resetting the parameter ram may help when one gets the screen advising one to type mac-boot or shut-down.
Click to expand...

Hi Cliff.

I too had that nice little loop of the open firmware screen leading into the failure to boot screen. (Flicking between the old OS 9 folder and a question marked folder). But that was after I had run every kind of test and reinstalled the whole system (writing zeros on the whole HD 'just in case')

The Kernel panic is not this, that is a failure in the boot rom.
A Kernel panic is when the screen goes dark and displays a message saying you must shut down using the power button or reset button. It displays in several languages.

If you read back a few replies (somewhere near the middle of page 2) you will see that many users have experienced this and documented it on the Apple support forums. Apple however, are still refusing to acknowledge the issue on our machines (assuming you also have a late model 12 inch 1.33 processor iBook G4).

It could be that a replacement firmware could fix the issue but from reports of people who have experienced this while there machine is still in warranty, it's always been a replacement of the logic board.

Pity really because for me it happened in month 13.. first displaying as Kernel Panics using Airport, I connected via Ethernet instead and was fine.
I fully intended to update my airport drivers (if there were any) but this all happened as I was moving house and I had a month long period with no internet to get things sorted.
In this month it went into full on melt down.
I found a few solutions to get it working for a while but it has ended up so that I cannot boot at all. I haven't even tried in almost a month now. It gets to the login screen (or the blue screen just before) and kernel panics every time.

I've got to the point where I've read enough from other posts on the Apple forum and here to know that it's a logic board issue and therefore an expensive one.. Apple are refusing to acknowledge it and people are forced into buying new machines because the replacement parts are not worth the money compared to a new machine and warranty.

If you're still under warranty I'd get that call in quick! even if you're out of the country where you purchased the machine. Even if it's just to see where you stand if you need an overhaul.

good luck!

Ben
 
boot rom problem -- just in time

thanks ben -- i called apple support and they gave me a half-hour free time with a techie, who also thinks it's the boot rom. he wrote a report and gave me a report number, so i have another couple of weeks to get the computer to an authorized center. not so easy where i am, but may be possible.

anyway, thanks for the tip. i still don't see how it could be the logic board when the hardware check reported all ok. but such is the digital life.

best,

cliff
 
Hw faliure

I have the same problem as above no doubt - on two 1,33Ghz 12". What seems a bit weird is that no one (including me) is able to get anything from the hw test, and still everything points at the built in AirPort.

I went to have it repaired with the same result as you all. (No warranty, 14 months old...) The odd thing is that they said that they tried to remove the airportcard and that worked, so when i picked it up i got the message that everything was fine. Of course it wasn't, just one thing: Isn't the AirPort card integrated on the logicboard? In that case, can you really remove it...?

Weird that apple doesn't acknowledge this problem yet, but i guess they're playing american corpration and doing it well...
 
I am having exact same problem as documented here. iBook g4, one month out of warranty and Kernel Panics like crazy. The panic logs all point to the airport card as the culprit, but I cant remove it because apparently it is built in and not accessable like in earlier iBook g4s. I have been able to boot into safe mode (hold shift while starting up) but otherwise I can't boot without a kernel panic and immediate shut-down.
My girlfriend was using it earlier and she said she could boot up for a few moments until she tried to access the internet. But i don't think it will even get that far anymore.

Does anyone know the best way to convice apple that this is a widespread problem?

There is a thread going over at macosxhints forums
and one user has set up a page to document individual cases.

Does anyone have any experience with digg? I've heard that lot's of attention there might make some kind of difference.

I hope we can find a solution for those that are out of warranty!
Thanks,
Seth
 
Temporary solution

I tried installing Ubuntu instead since it uses Linux kernel instead of OS X. So far, no panics... But there are som bugs related to the last version of iBook G4 12".
Most of them where just stuff you could search for and then edit conf-files.

Anyway, so far no kernel panics - and working a LOT faster than OS X :)
Could be worth trying out.
 
Ben Kei said:
Hi Cliff.

I too had that nice little loop of the open firmware screen leading into the failure to boot screen. (Flicking between the old OS 9 folder and a question marked folder). But that was after I had run every kind of test and reinstalled the whole system (writing zeros on the whole HD 'just in case')

The Kernel panic is not this, that is a failure in the boot rom.
A Kernel panic is when the screen goes dark and displays a message saying you must shut down using the power button or reset button. It displays in several languages.

If you read back a few replies (somewhere near the middle of page 2) you will see that many users have experienced this and documented it on the Apple support forums. Apple however, are still refusing to acknowledge the issue on our machines (assuming you also have a late model 12 inch 1.33 processor iBook G4).

It could be that a replacement firmware could fix the issue but from reports of people who have experienced this while there machine is still in warranty, it's always been a replacement of the logic board.

Pity really because for me it happened in month 13.. first displaying as Kernel Panics using Airport, I connected via Ethernet instead and was fine.
I fully intended to update my airport drivers (if there were any) but this all happened as I was moving house and I had a month long period with no internet to get things sorted.
In this month it went into full on melt down.
I found a few solutions to get it working for a while but it has ended up so that I cannot boot at all. I haven't even tried in almost a month now. It gets to the login screen (or the blue screen just before) and kernel panics every time.

I've got to the point where I've read enough from other posts on the Apple forum and here to know that it's a logic board issue and therefore an expensive one.. Apple are refusing to acknowledge it and people are forced into buying new machines because the replacement parts are not worth the money compared to a new machine and warranty.

If you're still under warranty I'd get that call in quick! even if you're out of the country where you purchased the machine. Even if it's just to see where you stand if you need an overhaul.

good luck!

Ben
Click to expand...



Ben's correct in addition to being looked at by an AASP, mine was looked at the genius bar in my local apple store once I was back in the UK who confirmed it was the logic board with a staggering 700 GBP repair cost. There was no way they'd help with costs or acknowledge the problem (despite me taking several print outs of various forums) saying only that if I had bought the extended warranty it would be covered.

They did however, as a good will gesture, offer me the extended warranty at a reduced price when i bought a new macbook that day so in the end I got something but not any acknowledgement that iBook logic boards are failing a lot of users.
 
Mine has done the same now :(

Its an iBook G4 bought in October 05, its looking to me like Apple want us to upgrade to Macbooks and they are doing it forcibly :mad:

Its running ok at the moment, but I have switched off the airport and I'm connected physically to my switch.

I really need this to be sorted, because I sort of can but can't afford a new Macbook at the moment :(
 
Ok just to let you all know, I have the last rev. iBook (1.33 12") even though the airport and bluetooth is standard, it isnt technically part of the logic board.

The reason the panics are occuring, it seems, is because the Airport's connection has become loose.

The best way to fix it, is to disassemble your iBook and reseat the Airport. While your at it you could even chuck in an 80, 100 or 120GB hard drive :)

It isnt an easy job and if you have a warranty still I recommend you don't do it yourself. If you do, you will have sorted the problem.

I think the positioning of it isnt great as if you pick up your iBook left handed, it will flex slightly and I guess this could be how it has come loose.

Anyway, for me it seems to be a happy ending, as I'm typing this from my room with a wireless connection from my Airport to my netgear router :D
 
I have the same problem

Hi All,

Read and will read again your thread.
I have a 12" ibook The last edition they had. 1.33Ghz, 512 Mb mem. Airport built in.
Bought in Sept 2005. Until now work very good. Kept well, never felt down, did not shaken, always was clean.
Suddenly came a message "please make restart ..." in some languages. MAy be that happen "cbarney" just did not see the message before he made a reset.
I also tried as "Subliminal" with Ubunto "live" and was working perfectly without install it. So I thiugh it is the HD.
I made new installation and the problem came back.
I am an electrinc technician so I know if something sometimes work sometimes not will be a log story. So wanted buy the HD and change. But before it think more what to say. Now I find this forum, read it and signed for it.
Here is a good link if somebody want to know how to do:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/iBook-G4-12-Inch/83
Before come here find out that when I turn on the airport comes the problem. It started that I closed the screen and when I opened got the Please restart....screen.
We have to work out a petition to Apple. We have check our serial numbers and prove that our iBook is victim. Not looking logic to me that until now work perfect and suddenly some computers make the same problem.
Please send me private message and we will act together what is more strong like one by one.
Best regards,
doki
 
Hi All, (again)
Happened this problem to somebody with external airport???
This is an important question. I think do not.
Somebody tried to change the airport card?
As I read out the airport card seat on a warm place and it
electronically broke somehow and make problem.
Please answer for these questions.
thanks.
doki
 
Hello there people...

i have a ibook 12" bought december 2005.. standard config..
i have exactly the same problem... kernel panic.. and then nonable to boot the next many hours... as long as my ibook is staying all still - not turned, not lifted, not moved - the kernel panic aint popping up so much.. but as soon as i move it - Blam ! - Kernel Panic.. my log says this:

Wed May 9 19:49:05 2007
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8A00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 00000000006B152C, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 40000000, dar = 00000000173DA040
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000952D8 0x000957F0 0x00026898 0x000A8A00 0x000A7C90 0x000AB980
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x25661280)
PC=0x006B152C; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x173DA040; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x006C6078; R1=0x0D073D30; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x016F1640 0x006C6078 0x002D15CC 0x002D0494 0x000A9514
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.AppleAirPort2(405.1)@0x687000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5b4000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x460000
Exception state (sv=0x25672A00)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

gonna visit a apple dealer next week to hope for some enlightment.. cant be true that a 14-15 month old perfectly cared ibook is acting this way...
 
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