ibook start up / hardware test error code

[brizzleben]

hello.

I have just bought a non-working G4 ibook hopefully to fix or, failing that, for spares.

On startup, you see the face and question mark. If I hold C with mac os x 10.4 disc inserted, after the 'select language' screen, you get an alert saying "This software cannot be installed on this computer"

If you choose "Start up disc" and select the install disc and restart, it happens again.

I have run the hardware disc but the test progress bar goes for about a minute and then I get an error code 2STF/1/4

The Hardware Profile seems to work fine, (see below if the profile is relevant)

What does this indicate? Any ideas would be appreciated.


Profile:
ibook version 2.5 pOWER pc 1.33GHZ
1.GB RAM : 256 + 1024 K
CACHE 512K
MLB serial UV44832LRCP
There is more: all the fields have information in them and i can supply if needed

 

[ftaok]

Is the OS X 10.4 disc a retail disc or did it come with another computer? A G4 iBook should be able to load 10.4 without any problems. I have 10.4 on my G3 iBook.

I'm guessing that your disc is specific for a certain Mac model.

 

[brizzleben]

You could be right: the discs di come with a different ibook, a G4 1.42 ghz

However, even if that is why it wont install 10.4, wouldn't the hardware disc work?

 

[ftaok]

You could be right: the discs di come with a different ibook, a G4 1.42 ghz

However, even if that is why it wont install 10.4, wouldn't the hardware disc work?

Do you have an external Firewire drive available. If so, I would try two things.

1. Try installing 10.4 onto the external HDD using the G4/1.33 ... if it works, then you're golden.

2. I'm not recommending this, but at this point, I don't think you could do any more damage. Install (or clone) 10.4 onto the external HDD using the G4/1.42 ibook. After making sure the external is bootable, connect it to the g4/1.33 iBook. If it works (which I have moderate confidence), then the problem is likely to be the internal HDD of the 1.33 ibook.