NuestraCasa

Q: G5 dual 2ghz won't start

Hi there. My g5 is dead. It was stored for about a year, in it's original box, but yesterday when I tried to use it the box won't start. As soon as I plug the AC cord into the box I get a click. Then when I press the power button, I get the white light come on whilst I am pressing the button, and the fans click over for about a second, then that's it. Nothing. I have replaced the pram battery, removed and re installed the ram and memory card. No joy. I do remember that when I was using the box regularly sometimes it would not start but removing the power cable and plugging it back in after the box clicked did the trick. Now the box clicks immediately when the power cord is plugged in..........psu dead???

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Dual 2ghz

Posted on May 13, 2012 3:47 PM

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Q: G5 dual 2ghz won't start

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  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man May 13, 2012 6:19 PM in response to NuestraCasa
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    May 13, 2012 6:19 PM in response to NuestraCasa

    Resetting the Logic Board

     

    Resetting the logic board can resolve many system problems. Whenever you have a

    unit that fails to power up, you should follow this procedure

    before replacing any modules.

    1 Unplug the computer.

    2 Press the Power On button on the front of the unit.

    3 Open the side access panel.

    4 Remove the battery from the logic board.

    5 Wait at least 10 minutes before replacing the battery.

    6 Make sure the battery is installed in the correct +/-

    direction.

    7 Reassemble the computer and test the unit.

     

     Cheers, Tom

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 13, 2012 6:25 PM in response to NuestraCasa
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    May 13, 2012 6:25 PM in response to NuestraCasa

    Tom likely has you covered.

     

    Might be time to replace the PRAM Battery, 4 years is close to their lifespan, far less if ever without AC power, & can cause strange startup problems...

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/BAA36VPRAM/ 

  • by NuestraCasa,

    NuestraCasa NuestraCasa May 14, 2012 2:59 PM in response to NuestraCasa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2012 2:59 PM in response to NuestraCasa

    Thanks for the feedback guys. I have already replaced the PRAM battery yesterday with a new one, but to no avail, and have tried the reset procedure

     

    If the PSU unit has died, would the white LED light come one when I press the power button and the fans "tick" for a second? I can pick up a PSU on ebay for about $40. Maybe a more cost effective solution rather than take it into a shop for a diagnostic as replacement does not look too hard.

  • by Texas Mac Man,

    Texas Mac Man Texas Mac Man May 14, 2012 3:46 PM in response to NuestraCasa
    Level 8 (46,611 points)
    May 14, 2012 3:46 PM in response to NuestraCasa

    Try an SMU reset http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1436

     

     Cheers, Tom

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 14, 2012 4:12 PM in response to NuestraCasa
    Level 10 (123,765 points)
    May 14, 2012 4:12 PM in response to NuestraCasa

    I'm not 100% positive, but I think the LED just means it's getting the 5 VDC startup voltage, not necessarily the other voltages.

  • by NuestraCasa,

    NuestraCasa NuestraCasa May 14, 2012 5:59 PM in response to NuestraCasa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2012 5:59 PM in response to NuestraCasa

    I have tried the various shut down/smu resets but no luck. Noticed something very strange though. When I plug the power cord in and I hear the relay click, the white led comes on momentarily. Is that normal.?

  • by Cathy Dillon,

    Cathy Dillon Cathy Dillon May 14, 2012 7:24 PM in response to NuestraCasa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 14, 2012 7:24 PM in response to NuestraCasa

    Hi - I just wanted to share my experience - so far -- with MY dead or Dying  imac G5 which was new in 2006....  I feel confident that a  local affiliated apple store will be able to rescue my data..and just transfer it to a new $ 1199.. desktop mac .  The aging computer would not turn on & behaved like a car with a completely dead battery.. not even any clicks.   I have had trouble turning it on before, if i actually 'shut down' instead of 'sleeping' but some combination of the 'normal' easy tricks worked up until today... my screen has been developing those vertical lines for quite a while now-perhaps as long as 2 years.....I stopped counting at about 14 vertical stripes. My "aged" G5 is having trouble keeping up with the times, and, for example can not download the recent/ current free adobe reader. I guess I am running "tiger",OS 10.4 . something; as leopard was my daughter's OS and she skipped over "snow leopard" . last summer when getting a new mac book pro. The guy at the shop does the diagnosis for free, but i got him to just TELL me ( without looking under the hood) that the vertical lines problem, combined with the start up trouble and the history of recall/ repair /replacement with the logic board/ model of the computer could mean that the logic board has 'gone bad'.. and a replacement @ about $200- would buy you maybe 6 months..and that is  while apple/ things/ everyone is rapidly moving on to 64 bit whatever; and I am still stuck with the aging platform.  Many many items i am willing to repair, but I think I will just  go for it-  a new one -this time. I  hate even more to spend money and then some more money on multiple smaller possible  solutions that  don't work. IF he discovers that all it needs is a new internal battery or something, it can go to my motherinlaw, and then money will have been well spent. good luck to all. fingers crossed for the survival and 'migration of my data!!