[bside]

I need help trying to restart/repair a Power Book G4. The problem began with a slow running machine while running safari. I thought it was a cache and cookie overload. Cleared out all of that stuff and it seemed to work smoothly for about a week. Then the slowing down started again. Before clearing out the cache and cookies again, the computer was restarted. Now it will not restart.

First it would get hung up on the load up blue screen after the Gray apple screen. I then started trying to repair it today by searching for fixes on the net. Now when trying to restart it the computer stops even trying to boot up w/ a large power button graphic screen and a multi-language prompt "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button for several seconds or press the Restart button."

I have tried the following:

cmd-opt-p-r - Zap PRAM

cmd-opt-n-v - Clear NV RAM

cmd-opt-o-f - Boot into open firmware
reset-nvram
set-defaults
reset-all

cmd-s - get the screen with the attached image (a panic: we are hanging here) http://www.flickr.com/photos/22446895@N05/3295945589/

I've also tried booting from the DVD drive with OS 9 & OS X discs and that produces zero results, it actually causes the computer to beep at me upon start up and the white light in front flashes.

Also, the last modification to this computer was the installation of the required components for a wireless printer from HP (Officejet J6480)

I hope this is enough info for a possible resolution. This is not my machine, it is my g/f's notebook. I do not know the specs on the thing except it was bought in 2004 and it does not run on an intel processor. There have been no after market upgrades. Any helpful suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[AKcrab]

A beep on startup and flashing light generally indicates bad RAM.

[seanc]

I'd suggest you open up the RAM cover and remove the RAM in the lower slot or move it to the upper slot. These RAM slots failed frequently on 15" PBs of that era.
You may still be able to get Apple to replace the logic board if you ask nicely, but the extension program ran out long ago.

[AKcrab]

Originally Posted by seanc 

I'd suggest you open up the RAM cover and remove the RAM in the lower slot or move it to the upper slot. These RAM slots failed frequently on 15" PBs of that era.
You may still be able to get Apple to replace the logic board if you ask nicely, but the extension program ran out long ago.

That, and it's also specific to a range of serial numbers. My 15" had that exact same problem, but apple said "nope, your serial number doesn't qualify." No amount of reasoning with them could sway them. I still don't understand how they can say "yeah, our bad" on one serial number and say "sorry charlie" on the same exact issue on a different serial number of the same damn product.