G4 15" powerbook desktop disappears and reappears every 30 sec

try starting in safe mode (pressing F8 after you turn it on) and run a your anti virus scan.

Start your PC and press F8 several times until the boot menu comes up. Then select "Safe Mode with Networking". Now get some or ALL of the FREE programs below..

Download, Install and Run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware:
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=5756
When Installing choose the non-pro version.

Download, Unzip, Install and Run TDSSKiller:
http://majorgeeks.com/Kaspersky_TDSSKiller_d6895.html

Download, Install and Run Super Anti-Spyware:
http://majorgeeks.com/SUPERAntiSpyware_d5116.html

If you have an outdated Anti-virus program then Download, Install and Run Avira Anti-Virus:
http://majorgeeks.com/Avira_AntiVir_Personal_-_FREE_Antivirus_d955.html
Make sure to select ALL of the "threat categories" when you install or configure Avira...

You should be in pretty good shape if you run and install all of these programs.

That particular virus infection is a SERIOUS pain in the ****. Save yourself a major headache and bring it to a computer shop that specializes in virus/malware removal for a set price of $50 - $100. I've personally removed that virus from several computers and it's very tricky, and great at morphing and hiding code in several places. Not to mention the fact that it will eventually delete all your icons on the desktop and start menu.

You should be able to resolve this by restting your SMC and THEN resetting your PRAM. First:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

...and then:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

Do you mean that you have tried from different computers? If so you should stop trying, as you are killing more innocent computers. LOL.

Hi,

It sounds very much like the operating system file have become corrupt.

Click on the the start menu and click on run. When the run box pops up type cmd and hit enter.
A command line window will pop up, in the window type sfc /scannow (leave a space between the c and / ) and hit enter. The system will now check for corrupt operating system files.

When its done (and this could take some time) check to see if the problem has been resolved. If it's fixed then job done but if not please post back and I'll give you another command to check the the disk itself.


Good luck.

If a Mac is shut down while the volume is set to zero, the standard Apple startup chime will not sound, so it is impossible to say whether or not this symptom indicates a problem.
For a startup issue such as this, I would recommend zapping the PRAM and resetting Open Firmware.
To zap the PRAM, start with a powered-down machine, press the power button, then immediately hold down the four keys: command, option, P, R. After ten seconds or so, you should hear the optical drive reset, and then the startup chime (because the volume is reset to full by this procedure). Ten more seconds, another reset, another chime. After the second time you hear the chime, release the keys.
Shut the machine down again (if it doesn't start up successfully, hold the power button until the power goes off). Press the power button, then immediately hold down the four keys command, option, O, F. You will see some tech-speak on the screen, then it will wait for input. Enter the following three lines, pressing the "return" key at the end of each:
reset-nvram set-defaults reset-all
After the last line, your Mac will reboot itself. It should now boot much more reliably. If it doesn't, chances increase that you have a hardware problem. You may want to run the Apple Hardware Test from the DVDs that came with the PowerBook to check your memory and logic board. Failing this, you are in for a trip to the shop.

scan the your computer and smartdisk for viruses
the problem you are mentioning about the desktop icons could be due to viruses
also run chkdsk utility on the smart drive after virus scan

Usually this is caused by a USB printer unnecessarily clamoring for attention.
Disconnect ALL your USB devices and the problem ought to go away. Then connect them one by one to find out which the culprit is.
To zap PRAM, shut down the Mac, then push the start button and immediately hold down Command-Option-P-R until you hear the chimes pass by three times. But I don't think this will affect your problem.

if you could try to exchange acer 1 (take back to store or send back), because the 30 sec hole u have is not enough time to get nor do anything. shopnbc,hsn, bestbuy, newegg and j&r all will exchange within their store policy limit if u had passed this limit try to connect it to a desktop so u can run a virus scan (this is what tech is going to do also if u take it for repairs) ur best bet try exchange . sorry