I posted my previous reply without thinking. I had cleaned off the HD when I first started working on it. So there is ample HD space.

When I tried to boot in Safe Mode I got Kernel Panic.

Twice I tried to install a new OS while connected to another G4 via Target Disk Mode. In both instances the iBook froze with the TDM icon on the screen before I ever got to actually trying to install the OS.

I also attached an external, bootable HD with OS 10.4 on it. Shortly after the Apple appeared in the boot process, the laptop froze.

I'll unplug the optical drive cable and see if that makes a difference. Gee, what a nice fix that would be.

Thanks all.