Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    John68's Avatar
    John68 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Feb 5, 2009, 07:50 AM
    Quicktime&iTunes update caused grey screen
    My daughter clicked the "nag-screen" to update Quicktime, iTunes and a third Apple application on her iMac (G4 1GHz PowerPC w/17-inch built in monitor, 2GB RAM, MAC OS X 10.4.x). She is a graphic artist and is scared that all of her files and software will be lost.

    After making the download, the computer said to "restart", which she did. On restart the iMac bootup got as far as a grey screen with the little "working" icon just spinning and the boot process was stuck there.

    What is the fix? What tools are needed, software or other? Will the iMac boot from the CD-drive? Why does Apple send out updates that crash Apple computers?

    All suggestions and solutions will be appreciated
    antipode12's Avatar
    antipode12 Posts: 248, Reputation: 8
    Full Member
     
    #2

    Feb 15, 2009, 08:31 PM

    You can reboot from the disk. From there, you can run the "First Aid" utility (in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder) and it will tell you if there is a hard drive problem.

    Insert the OS disk, and press the power key. Hold down the "Apple" key and the "C" key simultaneously while restarting. You should get a simplified start-up screen -- you have now booted from the disk.
    John68's Avatar
    John68 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Feb 16, 2009, 06:24 AM
    Here is what happened: My son-in-law tried to use the 10.4 iinstall disk and it would not work as the HD was bad. The 10.4 disk was an upgrade disk and it needed 10.3 to update, but the computer had reverted to the 10.2 that came on the computer. The computer would not boot even to 10.2 due to HD problems.

    The fix was to install a new HD and to use various recovery/repair programs to recover the data on the bad HD. The Apple consultant was able to recover the files and get them on the new HD. I also added a back-up HD to my daughter's system to protect her data if a future crash occurs.

    As for the task of replacing a HD, that does not seem to be to difficult, and did not require any special tools. (I have T-10 and T-15 Torx bits just as the repairman had). Since I have built a desktop computer I could have done the HD swap. I just did not have the resore/repair programs that he used.

    Now my daughter has 320GB HD instead of the 80GB that came in the iMac and she also has a 500GB firewire back-up external HD. She has to install all of her applications again, but at least she did not loose her personal files.

    The bottom line is that the iTunes update did not cause the problem, the HD just decided to crash at that time.
    cmeeks's Avatar
    cmeeks Posts: 754, Reputation: 64
    Senior Member
     
    #4

    Mar 17, 2009, 07:50 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by John68 View Post
    Here is what happened: My son-in-law tried to use the 10.4 iinstall disk and it would not work as the HD was bad. The 10.4 disk was an upgrade disk and it needed 10.3 to update, but the computer had reverted to the 10.2 that came on the computer. The computer would not boot even to 10.2 due to HD problems.

    The fix was to install a new HD and to use various recovery/repair programs to recover the data on the bad HD. The Apple consultant was able to recover the files and get them on the new HD. I also added a back-up HD to my daughter's system to protect her data if a future crash occurs.

    As for the task of replacing a HD, that does not seem to be to difficult, and did not require any special tools. (I have T-10 and T-15 Torx bits just as the repairman had). Since I have built a desktop computer I could have done the HD swap. I just did not have the resore/repair programs that he used.

    Now my daughter has 320GB HD instead of the 80GB that came in the iMac and she also has a 500GB firewire back-up external HD. She has to install all of her applications again, but at least she did not loose her personal files.

    The bottom line is that the iTunes update did not cause the problem, the HD just decided to crash at that time.
    Getting into the G4s are easier than the Intel Imac and working on them is not that bad things are tight and cable routing is important. I think that at one time the Hard drive was considered a user replaceable part, but it is easy to damage some cables and possibly the main board if you are not careful..
    More than likely the tech copied the home folders then did a fresh install of OS and software, recreated the users and replaced the home folders from the backup..
    OS 10.5 has Time Machine an incremental backup program that can be used to reinstall files, applications and settings as a install option when a system is reinstalled. You can even chose the date you want to install to.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

How to update AVG antivirus Update to computer,which is not connect with internet [ 2 Answers ]

Hello, Computer (No.A) is connected with internet. So I can get the update automatically. But, Computer (No.B, and No.C ) is not connect with internet. But we use the flash Drive and 3 1/2 Floppy disk. Without antivirus software, No.B & C can get the virus. Already having the antivirus software...

Quicktime [ 3 Answers ]

I'm not really sure what kind of program quicktime is classified as, but was wondering is there any other programs that can do the same thing that quick time does?

Update RAM, now getting blue error screen [ 4 Answers ]

I have a Vaio FRV37 laptop which is expandable to 1G. Ram. ( originally 512MB/ 2-256 PC 2100 cards.) I added 2- 512 cards and comp. gives blue error screen just after boot up. I then took out (1) 512 strip and put back a 256 strip, now leaving one strip 512mb, and the other strip 256mb, and...

Update: Safe Mode freezes at logon screen post [ 1 Answers ]

Hello once more, I have an update on my Safe Mode freezing problem (the original post is below). I was able finale able to boot into Safe Mode. Even though successful how it did it it still raises a question. I will explain below. If you read my original post at the top of this thread you...


View more questions Search