[workerbee]

Maybe this should go into the PowerBook Forum, but it also seems related to OS X to me, so here goes:
I've just updated my old TiBook 800 to 10.3.5, and also updated to the latest AirPort, as I've installed a WPA-capable Netgear WiFi Router instead of Apple's original AirPort base. I was busying myself on my AIBook when I noticed that the fan of the TiBook had started (while it was doing nothing at all). When the fan went into turbo mode, I had a quick look and touch: the PB was blazing hot, and the UI frozen. Restarting the PB with the power button was obviously not a good idea, as it does not start up now, going into a Kernel crash while booting instead.

The only thing I changed after successfully rebooting (following the OS and driver update) is the AirPort network setting: WPA (with a rather long key) insead of WEP.
Is it possible that this combo somehow crashes OS X?
And: does anyone have a suggestion as to how to repair this unfortunate situation? The TiBook is now my GFs Mac, and she's never ever backed up anything, so not doing a clean install might be preferable.
TIA!

[wataru]

I don't know what caused the problem, nor exactly how to solve it.

You don't need to reinstall, though. Just do an archive install.

[workerbee]

Originally posted by wataru:
I don't know what caused the problem, nor exactly how to solve it.

You don't need to reinstall, though. Just do an archive install.

Thanks for the tip -- I'll keep it in mind.

It was not WPA or anything, BTW: simply unplugging the Wacom tablet helped the PB re-animate. Why it booted perfectly OK with the Wacom plugged in before 10.3.5, and right after the update to 10.3.5, I'll never know.

[gorickey]

What version of WPA are you using?

[JKT]

Just as a FYI for future reference, if you hadn't been able to boot again you could have tried two things:

1. First would be to safe boot by holding down the shift key as you started up. This disables any third party kexts and may have allowed you to recover.

2. Second would have been to use FW target disk mode to mount your TiBook's drive on your AlBook which would then have allowed you to back up the files on the TiBook for a re-install etc. You might want to consider doing this now to back up your GF's more important files anyway.

[workerbee]

Originally posted by gorickey:
What version of WPA are you using?

WPA personal, with a 48 character password.
I'm beginning to wonder if this is not a bit on the long side, as my PB has problems reconnecting to the network -- it often only works after the second or third attempt.

[workerbee]

Originally posted by JKT:
You might want to consider doing this now to back up your GF's more important files anyway.

Thanks for the tips (shift-start) and reminders (target mode) -- I'll be good and make a backup later today.