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Released in October 2003, the iBook G4 replaced the iBook G3 as Apple's portable consumer computer. The iBook G4 was sold in 12" and 14" models and updated for the last time in 2005.

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kernel panics on a dozen different machines / models

I maintain 120 Macs & have had very few kernel panics over the years. Over the past few months, I now have a dozen iBooks that won't work or will work only in single-user mode. Five of these are 1.33 Ghz. I've read much on iFixit about iBook KPs, including the Airport-on-logic board problem. Thus far I've tried only software fixes (applejack / disk repair / memtest), with little/no success.

My questions:

1. The 1.33 Ghz machines KP right after login unless in safe boot. In safe boot Airport is disabled but only until next boot. Can I 'permanently' turn Airport off somehow in safe boot (or otherwise)?

2. the other machines (1.0 & 1.2 Ghz) - despite my reading, I'm clueless how to proceed. Suggestions?

Thanks in advance - this is a great site/service!

Answer this question I have this problem too

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What system(s) are you running. Did this start after updating your system? Do you use the Airport feature?

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These machines are not altogether consistent but all are OS 10.4. Seven of the 13 machines are 10.4.11, others are 10.4.10, .9, .8 & .5! All used Airport prior to these KPs. I don't believe this had anything to do with any system updates. Some seem heat-related (they'll boot normally for a short while), others KP immediately after login upon cold startup.

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For a test, install a system from the original installation disk. These are eight year old machines and may be coming to the end of their lives. If the reinstall fails, replace the airport card on one. Also after this amount of time it may be necessary to start fully tearing them down, clean the vent ports and heat sink and reapply thermal paste.

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It's a bit early to say, but I think I've been bitten by the "Dual-band Airport causes kernel panic" issue described in this Apple Discussion post many months ago. It's actually a Tiger bug. I guess it says something about my search skills that I spent MANY hours looking for a fix, and only after reluctantly coming to the conclusion that I was going to have to jettison nearly two dozen iBooks did I stumble upon the above link by accident.

It's only been hours, not days or weeks, since I applied this fix, but a couple of machines - that KP'd almost on startup - are still running. If my enthusiasm for this fix is dampened by reality, I'll post here again.

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Yep, it was the "Dual-band Airport causes kernel panic" Tiger bug described above.

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The above post is (was) the answer. Machines running Tiger are incompatible with the Dual-band Airport Extreme UNLESS it's set up to broadcast on both bands.

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David A will be eternally grateful.
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