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voodoo · Feb 4, 2007, 12:43 PM

Hi there!

Here's the thing: This morning, seemingly for no reason whatsoever, my 17 month old iBook G4 started having kernel panics repeadedly. I can turn it on an within one to three minutes it gets a kernel panic.

The iBook sometimes can't boot up before getting a kernel panic, but sometimes it manages all the way through to the desktop and then gets a kernel panic.

I've never upgraded this machine, it was bought new from Apple. I don't understand why this is happening all of a sudden.

Bottom line being, if I start the iBook and boot OS X, the machine kernel panics 10 to 300 seconds later, seemingly at random.

Any ideas?

V

Cold Warrior · Feb 4, 2007, 12:56 PM

Maybe bad RAM.

Boot from the hardware diagnostics disc that came with it - it may be able to identify the precise hardware failure.

voodoo · Feb 4, 2007, 11:14 PM

I haven't been able to locate the damn hardware test CD yet. I'm sure it around here somewhere.

I removed the 512 MB RAM chip from the iBook, leaving the soldered 512 MBs left.

Still crashes like crazy. If it is the RAM, then it is the built-in RAM, I guess. Would that mean I need a new motherboard?

V

voodoo · Feb 5, 2007, 08:23 PM

Oh and does anyone have an idea how much a new motherboard would cost? Is it cheaper to get a new Mac?

V

David2213 · Mar 26, 2007, 08:10 PM

My iBook just started having the same issue a few days ago. I was able to back up everything through taget disk mode(its the only time it didnt have a panic). I have however upgraded the hard drive. It was professionally done, but maybe thats the issue. I just took it into the campus apple store this morning to see if they can figure out the problem. Ill let you know what they tell me.

Dr. DDS · Mar 27, 2007, 02:37 PM

If you can, backup everything.
Find your Apple Hardware Test disk and run it. maybe it's not your RAM...

David2213 · Mar 27, 2007, 06:52 PM

I just got mine back and it turned out to be the logic board. They said it needs to be replaced, and they also said that it was been a problem on the ibooks. Mine was the 1.33 ghz with 1 gb of ram. they said it would be $500 to fix so i think im now in the market for a new computer. Hope your problem has a better solution.

- David

mfbernstein · Mar 27, 2007, 08:01 PM

Well, for $300 more than repair costs, you can get a refurb MacBook 1.83 (1st gen) from Apple. At least until they sell out again...

seanc · Mar 29, 2007, 01:27 PM

A lot of iBook G4s seem to be dying recently, they're all over eBay, I'm glad I got rid of mine last year. If this problem continues though, there may be a recall.

Mac User #001 · Mar 30, 2007, 10:11 PM

Uh-oh. I have an iBook G4. Should I be worried?

David2213 · Mar 30, 2007, 11:15 PM

Im looking at putting mine up on ebay. Should i hold onto it in hopes of a recall? What are the chances that they could get recalled and if they do what would happen?

- David

seanc · Mar 31, 2007, 05:54 AM

Don't hold onto hopes of a recall, I'm purely speculating. If you were going to put it up on eBay then just do that.

applgeek · Apr 1, 2007, 02:47 AM

I had my own priblem with my refurb ibook, i personally think it was the hard drive, considering 3 logic board replacements didnt fix it, but after the third logic board and first replacement of the hard drive, it was fine.