About Jeffrey J. Wrobel Expertise I can answer OS compatibility questions, from OS 7 to OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Living in Rhode Island with family near Cape Cod, Mass has proven to be a bit lacking in Mac popularity (Yankees are slow to change), but momentum is building for Apple.
Experience I studied electrical engineering, video technology, and computers in the early 80s, coming into contact with the very first Apple machines. Unlike many Mac technicians, I also have an excellent working knowledge of the Windoze platform. This has allowed me to work in many different computer environments and has made my company, Lazarus Communications, much more desirable for many small businesses and mixed Mac/PC homes. I do point-of-sale installations, design systems and networks for unique business and creative settings. I have 25 years experience in software installation, use, and troubleshooting as well as all aspects of high level hardware repair. Any questions about peripherals and their Mac-compatibility are also welcome. I am very current in all aspects of the Max OS, while having an excellent breadth of knowledge of older machines. My work keeps me in constant contact with Mac suppliers, products, and problems, enabling me to not only draw on my past experience, but also to add to that experience every day.
Publications I have authored specialized repair manuals for technicians that I distributed through my server to anyone who asked for them. Numerous Mac forums, essays and editorials featured in the Media Awareness Project, and I've contributed too many newspapers and blogs to count. LazCom,com and JeffWrobel.com, which are my websites for my company and professional photography, respectively.
Education/Credentials Studied in the early 80s with students from Worcester Polytech Institute and learned Basic, Pascal, and other programming languages. Found myself to be more creative than a number cruncher, so I went to UMASS to study Philosophy, English, and Psychology (Major, minor, minor). Loved learning the theory of knowledge, language, and ethics. Found the philosophy education to be superior in the amount I learned (and how much was required of me) and went into psychology after college, working with the criminally insane, mentally ill, and head-injured. Eventually, found that I could make a better living and enjoy the work more, if I was working with people to help them find and use computers that fit THEM individually, instead of the prevailing wisdom of one-size-fits-all strategy of the Microsoft crew. Also, was very disturbed at the predatory nature of Microsoft, as they swallowed up small creative and innovative companies and sucked up their original ideas. Was amazed that what Microsoft brought to computing and computers was greed and no substance. They gave up security for monopoly, innovation for homogenization, and they profited on the backs of so many businesses and individuals that they destroyed. The ethics were clearly lacking and because of their size and tax outlay, the US government overlooked information theft that was engineered into their programs.
Past/Present Clients My life experience has taken me from the US Army to working with the criminally insane. Pursued a philosophy degree while working in psychology, then ended up doing graphic design, marketing modular construction products, and ultimately starting the computer business that I now own. At 41 years old, I plan to make my triumphant return to college and get a master's degree in philosophy.
Clients include a multi-million dollar international manufacturing firm, a nationwide jewelry/gemstone distributor, numerous town libraries, 2 school districts, a few celebrities, a famous author, a prominent film maker, Brown University & RISD faculty and students, and numerous small businesses and individuals in Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and Boston. I also have a nationwide Powerbook/iBook/Macbook repair program and I sell refurbished Mac parts. The growth of my company, which was a record-breaker in 2008, has been a direct result of my customer service and the experience gained through helping the folks that use All Experts.
Question I have an iBook G3 300 mhz running OS X 10.4 Tiger that was working
perfectly, albeit a little slow, until I installed the latest software update from
Apple last night. Now when I attempt to startup the computer, it chimes just
fine, goes through it's routine until it gets to the gray Apple screen and then the
status indicator just spins and nothing more happens.
I have tried zapping the PRAM, rebooting in safe mode, rebooting in targeted
mode with a firewire cable attached in order to use Tech Tool from my desktop
machine, even trying to reboot from from the installation CD and it seems no
matter what I try, the iBook still attempts to boot from the internal hard drive
and it's still "spin city." Fortunately all the info is backed up so at least that's not
a problem.
What are my options and is this even worth pursuing? Thanks for your help.
Answer Dear Greg,
Your problem is commonplace and can be very frustrating. What almost always works is pressing the POWER button, then immediately holding down the OPTION key until you see TWO BOXED ARROWS (one straight and the other curved). Then, any bootable drive hooked up to the iBook via Firewire or DVD/CD can be chosen as your startup.
What I would do is insert the OS X Install DVD/CD and hold the option key down at restart, release when you see the arrows, pick the DVD/CD as the startup disk and double-click the disk or select it, then click on the STRAIGHT arrow. If the DVD does NOT show up, click on the curved arrow to scan the drive bus for it again.
Once you've started up, go through the installer and at the window where you select the drive to install on, choose the internal hard drive, then click on OPTIONS button. In there, select ARCHIVE AND INSTALL (Preserving user and network settings), then click on INSTALL or continue and at the NEXT page, click on CUSTOMIZE button and DE-SELECT the FONTS, Language Translations,and open the printer section and deselect any printer brands that you know you will not use (leave the GUTENPRINT or GIMP drivers checked). When you are done, you can then click INSTALL. Do NOT click EASY INSTALL, just the Install button and let it run, skipping the "DVD Verification" stage.
This will streamline the system and the new system will most likely be problem-free. If it doesn't work write back here or go to my company's website (LazCom.com) and click on email link, okay?
Good luck, Greg,and I hope you solve your problem.
