So I have a G4 on my hands that I can't fix.

[mach]

Hello all, my neighbor gave me a PowerMac G4 that has constant kernel panics, so she just let me have it. I'm trying to fix it, but to no avail--I was hoping you guys could help.

I'm relatively new to macs, so I'm not sure how reformatting / installing OS X works.

The computer can boot into OS X, but when I put the OS X disc in and try to instal OSX, a kernel panic occurs. I've tried restarting and holding the C key to boot to the disc, but same deal--kernel panic.

Is there any way to get into a BIOS or another way to boot to the OS disc? The computer locks up any time I try and do anything. I would know how to wipe and fix this if it were a windows machine, how can I do it on a mac?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Fearless Leader]

give it to me?

if its doing it on the cd, it's a hardware issue.

there is no bios type thing.

this might help. while starting up pressing the apple key + the one next to it on the left + "p" +"r"

 

[Passante]

Try pulling extra RAM and any PCI boards. Can you tell us which G4 you have.

To boot from the start up disk restart with the cd in the drive and hold the "c" button.

 

[Angrist]

Software re-installs are not the way to fix kernel panics.
Software re-installs are not the way to fix kernel panics.
Software re-installs are not the way to fix kernel panics.

Ok.

I'd suggest ...
Pull all add on cards, USB, firewire, whatever.
Pull the RAM, blow out the sockets with air
Install one stick and try to boot.
If it crashes try another stick, lather, rinse, repeat. Use the same slot.
If they all crash, repeat the procedure in a different slot.
Try known-good RAM, does it crash?

Swap the HD for a known good drive, try to boot.


What exactly are you doing when it panics?
If you can get the crash log and post that, sometimes it helps.

 

[mach]

Thanks for the great advice thus far. I won't be able to post an update on this until later tonight when I get home from work at the earliest.

Thanks again, though.

 

[ITASOR]

Boot it up with COMMAND (Apple) + OPTION + O + F held down. This will take you into open firmware. At the prompt, type "reset-all", without the quotes of course. Then press enter. The computer should then reboot normally.

See if that fixes anything. Usually does for me.