[edcomm]

Oh dear. I installed new software updates last night and now my iBook wont get past the start up screen. I just get the grey screen, the apple symbol and the circling timer. Won't get to desktop. This often happens when I install new software - it just hangs - but I force it to shutdown, restart and all is well again. Not this time...any thoughts?

[imitchellg5]

Sounds like your HD has gone the way of Billy Mays.

[lurkalot]

Originally Posted by edcomm 

Oh dear. I installed new software updates last night and now my iBook wont get past the start up screen. I just get the grey screen, the apple symbol and the circling timer. Won't get to desktop. This often happens when I install new software - it just hangs - but I force it to shutdown, restart and all is well again. Not this time...any thoughts?

When you start from an OS installation disk* do you see the Hard Drive in Disk Utility**? Can you verify and repair the drive if it shows up?

* - The one that came with your iBook or a full update OS CD/DVD for Tiger or Leopard.
** - Don't click on the installer to start the installation process but look for Disk Utility in the Menu Bar once the iBook has started up from the DVD.

[ChrisB]

This could also be a symptom of bad RAM. One of your DIMM's might be bad. I've had this happen before. I would run Apple Hardware Utility, or take your laptop to the Apple store for a test.

Are you hearing any "clicking" from the hard drive - when you crash, is the clicking happening in a constant, repeatable interval? If so, then it probably is the drive.

Just don't rule out RAM yet.