Mac OSX booting issue reboot help!

December 24, 2010 12:47 PM

I need a booting Mac Christmas Miracle for my powerbook, Please.

For some reson my Mac isn't booting the OS.

This is within the past hour.

Here is what happened:

1. I tried to hook it up to my mother's wireless (whose computer may or may not be compromised by any number of programs*) but it didn't work because she couldn't remember her password.

2. I then went ahead to the ethernet cord from her router and answered some email and checked on a couple of things.

3. When I was done, I shut down my computer and plugged it in so it could charge up for our little Christmas eve day-trip.

4. Just now, when I went to turn it back on so I could work while she drove, it won't boot.

Here is the message I get:
"no active package
Apple Powerbook5, 6 4.9. 1f3 Boot ROM built on 07/13/05 at 12:26:00
*Copyright info*

Welcome to Open Firmware, the system time and date is: 12/24/2010 20:16:03

To continue booting, type "mac-boot" and press return.
To shut down, type "shut-down" and press return

ok
0 >
"
I tried the "mac-boot" option and got a flash of my regular grey booting screen and then it went to a gey screen with a little flashing question mark in the folder icon in the center of the screen.

I tried shutting it down and removing the cord and battery, letting it sit, and then restarting, same thing.

I googled for it and got the apple help page. I do not understand it very well. Here: This is the apple thread

I don't have the OS disk with me here.
I am running OSX.3.9
Is there anything i can do or try?

I have nothing here except the computer itself and the power cord and won't have anything until Tuesday when I get back to my office.

Is there anything I can try or am I screw for the time being? I really need to be able to use m computer for the next three days and it is going to be a huge problem if I cannot.

Heeeeeeelllllllpppppp!

Thanks so much guys, you just don't know what your help means. I appreciate it.

*It does not seem right that random words across multiple pages online show up with highlighted links that are ads - especially since some of the pages are MINE and I coded them and am 100% sure that there are no ads there. e.g. three or four words on the page I am typing into right now are links in the text and I don't think Mathowie is going that route with the ads...

posted by Tchad to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Response by poster: BTW: I just treid again and got:
"Invalid memory access at SRRO 0561094c SRR1: 00003030"
There is a symbol before the SRRO and SRR1 series that I cannot make out.
posted by Tchad at 12:49 PM on December 24, 2010

Try resetting the PMU. If that doesn't work, try taking out the RAM and putting it back in. This varies greatly depending on which model computer you have.
posted by advicepig at 1:16 PM on December 24, 2010

This sounds like a memory issue. Ground yourself and the machine (one hand on a metal part of the case, one on the metal screw in an outlet or light switch), then remove and reseat the RAM and see if that helps. If it doesn't, and you have two RAM thingamabobs, pull one and boot, and if that doesn't work, replace the first and pull the second and try booting again.
posted by zippy at 1:34 PM on December 24, 2010

Hopefully you got this fixed, but if not maybe this will help.
The RAM suggestions are good ones. It is an easy thing to rule out and could be the source of the issues. One thing to add though, if you have a 15" PowerBook, try removing the RAM from the lower RAM slot (the one closest to the logic board) and leaving RAM only in the upper slot. The lower slots have a tendency to go bad on the 15" models for some reason.
posted by isnotarobot at 8:21 PM on December 24, 2010

Response by poster: Wow. I am not sure exactly what happened, but thanks.

After the third try with the PMU it just started right up as if everything were fine. I don't have any extra RAM installed, so am not sure what it was. It could just be the first wake-up call to get a new computer. Hopefully she can hold on just a bit longer.

I was scared to death that I wouldn't be able to work for the next three days!

Thanks guys. Like I said, I really appreciate it.
posted by Tchad at 11:11 PM on December 24, 2010

It does not seem right that random words across multiple pages online show up with highlighted links that are ads

Now that your computer is working, you might want to download Malware Bytes onto your mother's computer and scan for any problems. That definitely sounds like something's going on there.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 12:24 PM on December 25, 2010