04-06-2010, 10:37 AM

Sorry I don't have time to do a search. Please help me.

I installed Leopard on my old ibook G4. The install went fine and everything was working as it should. Then I allowed the computer to install the combo update and when I restarted it, all I got was a black screen. What should I do?

04-06-2010, 10:57 AM

How did you go about installing the Combo update? Did you let Software Update do it, or didn't you actually download the package from Apple's website?

04-06-2010, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by cwa107

How did you go about installing the Combo update? Did you let Software Update do it, or didn't you actually download the package from Apple's website?

I let software update do it.

04-06-2010, 11:16 AM

It sounds like the update didn't install right and likely damaged your OS installation in doing so.

What I would recommend is doing an Erase and Install. Then, once OS X is on, download the combo updater here:

Apple - Downloads - Mac OS X Updates - Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (PPC)

And install it manually. That should bring you up to a working system.

04-06-2010, 11:23 AM

I'll lose all my data if I do that, won't I?

04-06-2010, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Fiwi

I'll lose all my data if I do that, won't I?

Yes, but you don't have a bootable machine, correct?

04-06-2010, 12:11 PM

I certainly appears that way.

04-06-2010, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Fiwi

I certainly appears that way.

OK, so if you have no backup, you're going to have to pull the drive out and connect it to a working machine if you want to retrieve the data. Alternatively, if you have another Mac, you can use "Target Disk Mode" to connect the non-functional machine to the other and retrieve the data that way.

04-06-2010, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by cwa107

OK, so if you have no backup, you're going to have to pull the drive out and connect it to a working machine if you want to retrieve the data. Alternatively, if you have another Mac, you can use "Target Disk Mode" to connect the non-functional machine to the other and retrieve the data that way.

I have a new MacBook, but it doesn't have a firewire port. Don't I need one to
use Target Disk Mode. If not, can you please explain to me what to do.
Thank you!

04-06-2010, 01:18 PM

Seems like we're going deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole on this one.

You're going to need to pull the drive from the iBook. Then, you'll need an adapter to connect it externally to your MacBook. Here is an example (but any good computer store should carry the same thing for around $20):

Newegg.com - VANTEC CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter - Adapters & Gender Changers

Once you do that, copy off any data you need to save to your MacBook.

Then go ahead and reinstall the drive in the iBook and erase and install the OS.

04-06-2010, 01:29 PM

I have a new MacBook, but it doesn't have a firewire port. Don't I need one to use Target Disk Mode. If not, can you please explain to me what to do. Thank you!

Yes, you need a FW port on your new MacBook in order to use Target Disk Mode. The best way to get your data off the HD is to remove the drive from the iBook and place it in an external USB carrier or attach it via an adapter.

Once it's attached to your new MacBook, you can then copy whatever data you wish and later on transfer it back to the iBook after getting it to boot correctly.

External USB carriers are common items which can be purchased at Best Buy, or most stores which sell computers and accessories. A hard drive external adapter is a bit harder to find as they are somewhat of a speciality item. I purchased one at Fry's Electronics here in Fort Worth.

Regards.

04-06-2010, 01:31 PM

And while you're at the computer store, be sure to pick up a good sized external hard drive to use for backups - particularly on the new machine, where you can take advantage of Time Machine for automated backups.

04-06-2010, 01:32 PM

Thanks for the help. I think I'm going to have take a trip into the Apple store for this one.