When your iBook does this, what should you do???

Question

I have had my iBook G4 for about a year now. Recently it has begun to require a restart everytime I logged it on. Now it just keeps requiring a restart without allowing me to actually use the computer. I figured I would post the question on here to see if anyone had any suggestions before I took it to the Apple store.

Answer 1

What do you mean "requiring a restart?" Are you talking about a kernel panic?

OS X kernel panic screenshot: http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/9/9d/300px-MacOSX_kernel_panic.png

If so, try these steps:
The most frequent cause of kernel panics is faulty RAM. If you have added RAM to your system, shut down, remove a stick (assuming there are two installed), then startup again and see if the problem has been resolved. If the problem persists, remove the one stick and install the other. This should help you rule out a RAM problem.

If the problem still persists, it could be the AirPort card. If yours is a model with removable AirPort card (and has one installed) try removing it and re-seating it.

If the problem still persists, it could be the Hard Drive or any number of other things like the Logic Board. At this point, you have pretty much done all you can do as far as user-accessible parts goes and you're looking at taking to the Apple Store or another Service Provider.

If that screenshot was not what you were referring to, I will need you to be a bit more specific in what is happening.

I'll be on Yahoo! Messenger, and I have the same screen name on AIM.

Answer 2

A couple of quick things you can try. Put system software cd or dvd into the drive and hold the C key when you restart to boot from the cd or dvd. If you can,run the hardware test and see what gives. Anyway,while you have it booted this way repair the hard drive and then do a "permissions" repair also. This should get you going for now.