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    iBook G4 won't boot

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by tarkus123, Apr 6, 2009.

  1. tarkus123

    tarkus123 Newbie

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    Does anyone know how I can get my data off the iBook G4? It won't boot up.
    Is there some combination of keys I can use at start-up to get access to the hard-drive?
     
    tarkus123, Apr 6, 2009
    #1
  2. Colton

    Colton Also Proudly American

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    The only way I could think to get your data off the HDD would be to insert it into another Mac. You could press the power button > and hold option "D", and that will run the Apple Hardware test, to determine what is wrong with your iBook. If you have Windows installed and it will boot into Windows, then you could go in there, download MacDrive (will let you read and write into your Mac OS X Partition), and then get everything off the HDD that you need from your OS X side. ;)

    Hope that helps! :)
     
    Colton, Apr 6, 2009
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  3. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

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    it depends what "wont boot up" means. If it wont turn on at all.. or it wont start the OS...? any error messages or signs or symbols? what exactly is it doing...?

    if its working but you can't get in the OS, you can boot it up in Target Disk mode and plug it via Firewire to another machine and use it like a big portable hard drive and copy stuff off.

    How to use Firewire target disk mode....
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
     
    doh123, Apr 7, 2009
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  4. Underpantman

    Underpantman Notebook Virtuoso

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    Even simpler. If you have access to another mac... then remove the laptop harddrive, and use a cheap p-ata to usb adaptor to connect it up to the 2nd mac. This way you should be able to access all your files and back them up or what ever.
    a
    :)
     
    Underpantman, Apr 7, 2009
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  5. joshuaLX

    joshuaLX Notebook Evangelist

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    FYI PPC based Macs can not run Windows.

    I have a iBook G4 12" that has the same symptoms you have. I believe the logic board is bad on it. It refuses to boot from a CD or the internal HDD. It will sometimes boot into target disk mode. I have booted my MacBook from this iBook a few times. I tried another hard drive and it still has the same issues.

    Describe the startup process. Where does it freeze up? Blue screen or gray screen? Do you hear the HDD?
     
    joshuaLX, Apr 7, 2009
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  6. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

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    how is that more simple than just plugging a firewire cable between 2 computers?
     
    doh123, Apr 7, 2009
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  7. joshuaLX

    joshuaLX Notebook Evangelist

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    Especially since removing the HDD from an iBook is a pain.
     
    joshuaLX, Apr 7, 2009
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  8. Colton

    Colton Also Proudly American

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    I knew that. :p I got it mixed up, thinking it was the Core Duo...
     
    Colton, Apr 7, 2009
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