10.4.4 from DVD - How can I try to resolve hardware issues on Sony VAIO

[Matt Tighe]

Hi All,

 

After an aborted attempt where I actually downloaded the PowerPC MacOS from a mis-named torrent ;-) I finally got an ISO of 10.4.4 with the generic patch.

 

After burning the DVD, it booted and the installer, Disk Utility worked fine. However after the 1st reboot, the screen showing the large power button and "Please Reboot" in 5 languages was displayed.

 

So I decided to repartition my drive to remove my Extended windows Partition using Partition Magic... again the install worked but on rebooting I now got "HFS+ Partition Error".

 

However, I can "boot" from the hard disk using the "rd=disk0s3" kernel param... But then I get the giant power button of doom once more "please restart....".

 

Using "-v -s -x" It will go ok and end up at the root prompt so it is booting.... it looks like there is some kind of driver prob during the UI startup?

 

Is there a guide to disabling hardware or troubleshooting the startup? Or does anyone have any other ideas?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Matt

[Matt Tighe]

After some playing around last night OS X boots!!!!

 

When booting with "-v" I could see that it was getting to the login applciation... then the debug output would just end with VGA0:<memory addresses>. So I though maybe it was using the external monitor of my laptop... so I plugged one in...... nothing happened.

 

I was just about to give up, when I tried booting using "rd=disk0s3 -v -x" to boot single user mode (still with the monitor plugged in). I wasn't looking, but when I turned around it had booted into Os X (on the LCD panel).

 

Now it boots fine everytime (using "rs=disk0s3 -x" single user). It does not need the monitor plugged in?!

 

Not really sure how it suddenly started working but perhaps it might help others if you have a similar prob :-)

 

I will try a standard boot tonight (without -x) to see if that is working now.