[holmz]

hi all, new to the forum. anyways, i have an ibook g4 that freezes during the startup screen with the blue bar. it happened after trying to change the password for the admin in single user mode, now i'm trying to reinstall OS X and it still goes to that screen. can someone please tell me how i can do a fresh install of OS X on it?

[seanc]

Are you saying you can't even boot the install CD? That sounds bad. You could try zapping the pram, wait for the chime, hold command+option+p+r and wait for another chime.

For future reference to save screwing things up, the admin password can be reset using the install disk.

[holmz]

is that the only thing to do? i don't knwo what pram is

[Chips G]

Are you trying to boot from the install CD, or still from the hard drive. To boot from the install CD, hold down 'c' while the CD is in the computer. If that boots up, you can launch disk utility from the menu bar and reformat your hard drive and reinstall OS X.

Note: Reformatting your hard drive will erase all of the hard drive's contents, so if you have important files that you do not want to lose you should somehow back up the files first (using target disk mode possibly).

Good luck!

[seanc]

The PRAM holds the date and time and startup settings etc.

[holmz]

ive tried holding C and it just goes to the "starting mac os x" screen where it freezes

[seanc]

Have you left it for a while after it gets to that screen?

[IntroVertigo]

Hold down the option key on startup. It will take you startup manager, where you will see your hard drive and the mac os x install disc. Select the install disc and click on the "right arrow". Give that a try and get back to us.