[pgreenwell]

This is killing me, seriously. My Powerbook w/ 1.5gb of RAM and 1.5ghz will not start up. The past few days its been off and on, just really really buggy. Taking like 7 minutes just to start up normally, which was never the case (usually like 30 seconds). So I come home today, move my mouse around, and it goes immediately to the beachball thing with nothing opened. Strange, I wait, and still, just the same. So I restart my computer. It goes past the white screen with the apple and spinning circle, then to the startup screen. Loading OSX goes about 1/4 way, and then the machine just turns off. Restarted a few times, and now it only goes to the white screen with the Apple Logo and spinning circle for about 15 seconds or so, then you can hear the computer stop, and then the screen goes black. I looked online, and Apple said to hold shift to boot in Safe, but still shuts off at exact same time. Please guys, I am seriously decompensating right now, I am so worried. It's not like this is an ancient thing and this should be expected. I have 1.5gb ram, 80gb hd, 15", and 1.5ghz Powerbook. I mean, I can't think of anything to help, becuase really I am outta luck, and it's really starting to get to me! Anybody? Anything. Please, please, please. I really need some advice and assurance. I can't even go a minute without thinking about this problem. Thanks for the help in advance. PLEASE!

[vinster]

I bet it's the hard disk.

My story: I had a 1.5Ghz 15" (April 2004) and the drive started to intermittently sound like a light saber and got worse within weeks. I was lucky enough to image it just before death and boot to a white screen. Brought it to the Apple store in Denver it was sent in and diagnosed but no 80GB HDD's were available for almost a month. After going through the escalation process to find me a replacement drive, Apple decided to replace with the Jan '05 1.67Ghz revision.

I've seen other posters on this board with the same problems from the same revision of PowerBook but of course Apple's not admitting to anything wide spread. I think this is about a $350 repair, out of warranty.

My advice: Send it back to Apple for repair.

Good luck,

[pgreenwell]

Oh my gosh, are you serious? I realized that my problem was bad, so I checked the memory I recently added, and it was nothing with that. I can't really do anything else, b/c the stupid thing won't start. I specifically ordered a "maxed out" Powerbook with a 80gb 5400rpm. I am kicking and screaming at myself right now for not purchasing the AppleCare, but still, for a HD to die after just over a year (purchased in July, 04)?!?!? Come on. I mean, yeah, to get a "new and updated PB" I guess would be OK, but I have all my stuff on there. Another lesson to be learned the hardway: backup. Ughhghg. So many what-ifs. SO much info, from programs to documents to video edits. I mean, I am a senior in high school.. ALL OF MY ****ING COLLEGE APPLICATION STUFF IS ON THERE! I mean, I just don't know what to think right now. Could there be anything else wrong with it? Please. Thanks vinster w/ the reply.

[vinster]

Have you tried booting off an OS X install disk and running the Apple disk utility application? Better yet, a bootable CD w/ Disk Warrior. Also, if you have the CD/DVDs that came with the computer you can boot into the Apple Hardware Test application which will run comprehensive tests on your computer and should isolate your issue.

Again, sounds like your HDD's dead. If for some reason you can get it to boot again, back up your data immediately!

[vinster]

Originally Posted by pgreenwell

... I am kicking and screaming at myself right now for not purchasing the AppleCare ...

If this makes you feel any better, the repair cost for a HDD replacement isn't much, if any, more than the cost of an Applecare warranty.