02-12-2010, 01:57 PM

Hi all, this is my first post and I am in desperate need of some help please.

I have a Powermac G4 Cube - 450Mhz - 1.25GB RAM - 80GB HDD. I recently bought this item used with OS X already installed. I then did an erase and install with os x 10.4 to get a clean system and then proceeded to update to 10.4.11 with the combi update. Unfortunately half way through the update I had a power cut and upon reboot I got the prompt to shut down which I did.

I then tried to restart the it would just get to the grey apple screen and nothing happens. I then did another erase and install of 10.4.0 and upon reboot the same happened again, I get to the grey screen with the whirling wheel, the wheel stops whirling and nothing happens.

So I reboot holding down C, go to disk utility, repair permissions (nothing needed to repair) and repair disk, again nothing needed repairing.

I then reboot into safe mode and do the same go to disk utility, repair permissions (nothing needed to repair) and repair disk, again nothing needed repairing.

I then realise the firmware is not up to date so install os 9.2.2, install firmware successfully, then erase and reinstall os x 10.4.0. Upon reboot the same happened again, I get to the grey screen with the whirling wheel, the wheel stops whirling and nothing happens.

I recently installed Airport and also new RAM so I took the new RAM out to see if that made any difference I still only get to the grey screen with the whirling wheel, the wheel stops whirling and nothing happens.

I also reset the PRAM.

I am completely at my wits end and really do not know what to do now. It seems that the machine will only install os9, so how did the previous owner install os x? In fact, how did I manage to install os x before my power cut but can no longer install it?

Can anyone offer me any help before this mac flies out of the window....

Many thanks

Garry

02-12-2010, 02:04 PM

OSX tiger 10.4 will install fine on that machine. You should have 512Megs or more RAM though which I see you have installed 1.25GB.

But on to the issue. What OSX 10.4 DVD are you using? Gray DVD that comes with another Mac or full retail black DVD? Since you erased the drive and updated the firmware, 10.4 should install. Are you sure you updated to the correct Firmware for the Cube? Only other thing I can think of is maybe the Hard Drive has issues.

02-12-2010, 02:23 PM

Hi I have the retail version of os x 10.4.0 (Black Disc) which I have used successfully on an eMac and an iMac PPC. I have also used the correct firmware off the Apple site and it installed fine. I thought maybe hard drive issues, but if that is the case why can I install OS9 and why can I boot into OS X in safe mode.... This is driving me crazy :-(

02-12-2010, 02:25 PM

I have never personally worked with a Cube. There are other members here that have and I am hoping they will speak up. I will search Low End Mac and a few other sites and see if I can find a solution for you. Hang in there.

02-12-2010, 02:48 PM

From the site guidelines.

Post appropriately.

...... and don't crosspost.

02-12-2010, 02:53 PM

Have you tried formatting the drive? I'm guessing that the OS X update is somehow still registering as installed, even if it's not working. So back up whatever you need from OS 9, assuming you were using it as well, and try from scratch. Format the drive from Disk Utility, then reinstall. That's what I would do, but maybe someone else knows of a better alternative.

02-12-2010, 03:47 PM

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