Mac Master Needed Big Probs!!!!

[public-enemyukl]

Hi peeps

The worst thing has happened to me.......my Powerbok G4 turns on but after around ten minutes i get a message that the system needs to be restarted. Having done this I get the macbios screen and if i type "mac-boot" all i get is a flashing question mark.

Have re-installed the Os and it boots but then after about ten minutes it needs to be restarted again.

have run the PB utility and I get the message while checking the disk

"Checking HFS Plus system...
checking extents overflow file...
checking catalog file
overlapped extent allocation file (file 5609160d)"

There are six other files like this and i run the repair but it doesnt get rid of it...does anyone know what this means and how it can be repaired???

Do i need to remount the disk???

[PS2Daddy]

Hi peeps

The worst thing has happened to me.......my Powerbok G4 turns on but after around ten minutes i get a message that the system needs to be restarted. Having done this I get the macbios screen and if i type "mac-boot" all i get is a flashing question mark.

Have re-installed the Os and it boots but then after about ten minutes it needs to be restarted again.

have run the PB utility and I get the message while checking the disk

"Checking HFS Plus system...
checking extents overflow file...
checking catalog file
overlapped extent allocation file (file 5609160d)"

There are six other files like this and i run the repair but it doesnt get rid of it...does anyone know what this means and how it can be repaired???

Do i need to remount the disk???
Cant say for certain but being the fact that it hangs when you reinstall the OS the harddrive might be dead. Ususally reinstalling the OS solve most any problem but since it hangs it might be getting to a certain point on a disk and locking.

Maybe you can try booting as a target disk and see if another computer can read your HD contents (if possible)

Or

Try seeing if you can find someone with a firewire drive that has a mac os on it and see if they can get their os to show up.

If so then dump your whole OS in the trash and then run a disk utility and reboot from the systems disks and see what happens

[public-enemyukl]

I think I have narrowed it down....when i run the config check one of the lines refers to a problem with the "kernel debug log" for the Airport card and says "this needs to be loaded". Does this have any relevance??? And does anyone think that this is a memory related problem??

Thanks Ps2Daddy I was hoping that it wasnt a problem with the HD!! But I am starting to think this may be the cause - anything i can do to fix this??

[public-enemyukl]

This is driving me crazy.....It now boots randomly but crashes at other times....I have now got into the desktop and if I leave my airport card switched off it seems not to crash??

The airport extreme card was pre-installed on the lappy. Is there a possibilty I could have unseated or damaged the card when I opened it up??

[string]

You may have found the cause. You can try running the machine for a while without the card. If the crashes stop then it's a good chance the card or the Airport software is at fault. If you could borrow a card from someone else and try it in the machine it would be helpful.
I would have considered the memory as a prime suspect at first and removed any memory expansion but I suppose an airport card can fail. Is any of this stuff under warranty?

Steven

[public-enemyukl]

String: Thanks I am thinking the same - nothing under warranty unfortunately!!

What does the airport card look like??? Are there any authorised repair centres in the London area??

Thanks

[string]

yes try here;
http://www.apple.com/uk/buy/

The airport card is about the size of a credit card with gold contacts at one end and a wire attached for the antenna.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88058

[public-enemyukl]

:) Thanks peeps your input has been invaluable and I think I have found the cause of my problems:)

The Os now boots up everytime but fails to find the airport card. Apart from that I have no more crashes or black screens so I am assuming the airport card is at fault. :yell1:

At least the lappy is working again albeit without internet connection...

Thanks for all the help peeps top links....

Can anyone tell me how likely it is that I damaged the airport card or wire connecting to the airport card while opening the lappy??? One screw on the rear of the lappy doesnt seem to go back in right some resistance could I have cut a wire???

crazy question but you never know!!!!:saywhat:

Thanks again

[string]

It's unlikely but could happen. I would think it's more likely the card is not seated correctly or just faulty. The wire just connects to the antenna so it should not affect the functioning of that card apart from it not getting a signal from the base station. I would think if the antenna was not connected the laptop would assume that it was just out of range.

[public-enemyukl]

I think youre right string - i think may have unseated it when I opened it. problem is I cant seem to see it when i remove the cover - will try to find location. Ps2daddy gave me a few links for other powerbooks but they are slightly different to mine so will keep lookin.....Thanks string

[string]

If I remember correctly there is a definite click when the card is installed.
Some manuals can be found here:
http://home.wanadoo.nl/manual.man/manuals.html

[public-enemyukl]

Hi peeps

Found the problem - cracked airport connector on the logic board - will cost about £500 to fix inc labour!!!

Thanks for the support guys!!!