[Saleo]

My friends G4 tower isn't booting.
It loads into OSX but then just stops before loading the desktop.
My powerbook was my first machine so I'm not too sujre how to troubleshoot this and any help is appreciated....I'm not even quite sure what to search for to find an anwser.

Thanks.

BTW. I've tried starting up with the system disk (Holding C during boot) and safe mode (shift) but it always just loads into OSX then stops at the blue screen before loading the desktop.

[Maelman]

Try unplugging all device other than the keyboard and mouse and see if it starts. That's all I can think to do. Good luck.

[bstone]

This sounds like an OS issue. Boot holding down Apple S. This will get you into Single User Mode. Follow the instructions for running fsck. If I recall properly, you'll trype in

/sbin/fsck -y

it might come back with an error and an option to retype it using an additional flag. Use that flag. After it's done, type restart and try again.

If this fails, boot from your OS X CD and run Verify & Repair Permissions.

[badidea]

Originally posted by Saleo:
My friends G4 tower isn't booting.
It loads into OSX but then just stops before loading the desktop.
My powerbook was my first machine so I'm not too sujre how to troubleshoot this and any help is appreciated....I'm not even quite sure what to search for to find an anwser.

Thanks.

BTW. I've tried starting up with the system disk (Holding C during boot) and safe mode (shift) but it always just loads into OSX then stops at the blue screen before loading the desktop.

Any hardware added in the last time? Not just external but also internal?
(I had a similar problem when I once installed an USB 2.0 PCI card that didn't work properly)

[Saleo]

I've only been booting with the mouse and keyboard connected.
No new hardware or software has been installed recently.

I've tried booting from a CD, holding apple-s...etc..it always just loads into OSX then just goes blank before the desktop could load.

Thanks for the replies.

[gorickey]

Have you zapped PRAM and reset NVRAM?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642