HELP! I think im experiencing 'kernel panic' and need to know what to do!!!

I have a macbook (the black one) that i bought in may 2007. i dont know what my operating system is or anything like that and now i cant find out!

So it began by my computer working fine, then i turned it off and when i came to turn it on again it was on the grey load screen (with the apple) for about 10 minutes then just went to a dark blue screen with a black pointer/arrow thing.

SO.... i did the whole archive and install thing using the two disks that came with the computer and it worked fine (well very slowly) for about ten minutes. Then just went dead on me and came up with the stupid 'You need to restart your computer....' message.

I also have this in the background.....

panic(cpu 0 caller 0x003A92A1): Unable to find driver for this platform: "ACPI"

Debugger called: <panic>
Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x14863df8 : 0x128d08 (0x3c9ac4 0x14863e1c 0x131de5 0x0)
0x14863e38 : 0x3a92a1 (0x3edfdc 0x2ff9790 0x14863e68 0x30045co)
0x14863e58 : 0x38b050 (0x30c2400 0x2fddc80 0x1 0x3be4d7)
0x14863eb8 : 0x38c8cf (0x2fddc80 0x30c2400 0x30b4140 0x30bc620)
0x14863f38 : 0x38c137 (0x2fddc80 0x30045c0 0x8 0xffffffff)
0x14863f88 : 0x38d87c (0x2fddc80 0x0 0x134c09 0x38d7a2)
0x14863fc8 : 0x19a7ac (0x3005e80 0x0 0x19d0b5 0x2ff7b70) Backtrace terminated - invalid frame pointer 0x0

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.8.5: Mon Dec 11 19:39:17 PST 2006; root:xnu-792.16.5.obj~1/RELEASE_1386


Please please can someone tell me step by step what i need to do.

Ive tried the whole boot up and shift key thing and ive tried the boot up and command+option+p+r things but they didnt work. Ive also done the comman+option.... thing till ive heard the start up chimes 3 times but it still goes to this same screen.

Thanks

Welcome to Mac-Forums!

Your two install disks will tell you what OS version you're using, unless you've made changes since you bought the Mac. Your model of iBook was issued with OS 10.4.x.

Try removing and then re-seating the RAM sticks.

Then, boot from Install Disk 1 (if it'll work) and run Disk Utility > First Aid > Verify Disk > Repair Disk (if necessary).

Post back with any progress made.

...I'm having the same problem...

...I've tried reseating and removing the RAM sticks...nothing. I've tried Apple - S restart, Apple p - r restart, install disk restart (tells me that it can't install from the disk). I've run disk repair and it tells me there is a problem but it can't repair it. Now, when I try to restart, I can hear the disk humming, but the screen stays black. Any suggestions?

mrkaln said:

...I've tried reseating and removing the RAM sticks...nothing. I've tried Apple - S restart, Apple p - r restart

Click to expand...

Try Safe mode, ie. hold Shift key down on reboot. That may allow you access to non-OS data on the HD. This may help with other options: Mac OS X Startup Shortcuts.

install disk restart (tells me that it can't install from the disk).

Click to expand...

That suggests the install disk is not the correct one for your Mac. More detail?

I've run disk repair and it tells me there is a problem but it can't repair it. Now, when I try to restart, I can hear the disk humming, but the screen stays black. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Hard drive failure I suspect. The humming is simply the motor spinning the disk platters. You should also hear a slight scratching noise (quite normal) as the heads pick up data from the HD.

You could try disk repair with Disk Warrior, but it's expensive @ ~US$100.