Fortunately, I have AppleCare--it's great and saves a lot of 
grief.  My PB G4 started, out of the blue, putting out garbage as 
I typed.  The first thing I did was try to restart, but it typed 
garbage when I tried to enter my username and password.

I called AppleCare. The technician had me do several things.   
Everything passed diagnostics on the software install and restore 
disk.  Unfortunately, I didn't take the time to write what I did 
down, but perhaps someone else knows the steps and they could 
help someone in the future.  I wasn't down very long (heh 
heh)--was so sure I was going to have my PC friends jumping for 
joy that I had a dead Mac.

I'll list the steps from memory as far as what got me going:

Reset the pram.  No joy.

This is the step I can't remember.  He had me hold other keys 
down while the computer was off (complete shut down).  Then 
start.  No joy.

Hold down either shift/option/control or shift/option/apple 
(can't remember which) while restarting.  It worked.  He said it 
reset something--again, I was too busy crossing my fingers that 
it would work.  After getting started, again, I had to reset my 
date and time.  Ready to go in a few minutes.  Had it not been 
for the technician, it would surely have meant down time and a 
trip or mail in to Apple.

-- 
Memory was given to mortals so that they might
have roses in December.
....unknown

kati_e@snow.com wrote:

> Hold down either shift/option/control or shift/option/apple
> (can't remember which) while restarting.  It worked.  He said it
> reset something

ctl-cmd-shift-power? Reset power manager.
http://davespicks.com/writing/programming/mackeys.html#boot

In article <417DA24F.D090CB5D@mac.com>,
 George Williams <nyar1ath0tep@mac.com> wrote:

> kati_e@snow.com wrote:
> 
> > Hold down either shift/option/control or shift/option/apple
> > (can't remember which) while restarting.  It worked.  He said it
> > reset something
> 
> ctl-cmd-shift-power? Reset power manager.
> http://davespicks.com/writing/programming/mackeys.html#boot

That's it, George!  This is a great site.  You're wonderful.  I 
have printed out this list and I'm putting it where I'll never 
lose it.

-- 
Memory was given to mortals so that they might
have roses in December.
....unknown