[mluiscypher]

I was given the laptop listed above and was told that it was working when I got it, of course it didn't, I get an error message as follows:
SORRY ,A SYSTEM ERROR OCCURRED
BUS ERROR
TO TEMPORARILLY TURN OFF EXTENTIONS
RESTART AND HOLD DOWN THE SHIFT KEY.

After doing that it restarts, states that extentions are turned off but after a few minutes the same error message comes up.

I know nothing about Mac's so any help even web sites that have info on such an old thing would be great.

Thanks.

[zoombini]

A bus error generally refers to a memory error....I assume it's running OS 8 or 9?? Could even be OS 7.

Try flashing the PRAM (hold down option/alt/p/r) at startup and wait for the mac to chime 3 times b4 releasing. Do u have the restore disks that came with the computer?? Try a full re-install of the OS.

It could an extension conflict, but if it's happening with extensions off I guess this is unlikely.

It's an old machine in Mac terms, and utimately it may be a hardware problem.

[macguru]

it is definitely NOT a hardware error. Likely you need to reinstall the operating system OR find out which extension is causing the conflict and get a newer version. This is beyond the scope of a "free" tech support forum. If you are in Virginia give me an email at tech@macguru.biz and I'll drop by and have a look and fix it. Bus errors are caused by incompatible extensions to the system located in system folder/ extensiuons folder. Without a thourough understanding of the Mac OS you will never fix it. So just reinstall the operating system from scratch I guess or else get a pro like me to do an onsite call.

[zoombini]

Id agree the best course of action is to reinstall the OS. Bus errors tend to point a software bug, an extension conflict, or insufficient memory assigned to an application. Your system software may also be corrupt.

It would still be an idea to use the Hardware Test disk, (if there is one) to check for hardware errors on a Mac of that age.