Stayhard

Q: Imac g5 first generation emc:2008 won't boot up

Hi my imac g5 wont boot up. I get the folder with the question mark coming up.I have reset the smu & pram. Still not booting. I have tried to restart with option key, but only the two arrow keys displays. No hardrive icon displaying. I have tried to re-install with original disk os 10.3.5 but device keeps on spitting out the dvd's( I also have tried Tiger OS 10.4 and Leppard 10.5same issue) . I notice also that the fan runs loud after a few minutes. I checked the Hard drive via another device and found it unallocated. I reformatted and re-installed. No go after rebootinng. Any ideas...?

iMac

Posted on Apr 17, 2012 1:49 AM

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Q: Imac g5 first generation emc:2008 won't boot up

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Helpful

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 17, 2012 6:09 AM in response to Stayhard
    Level 8 (39,783 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 17, 2012 6:09 AM in response to Stayhard

    Use the Option key held down at startup again, to go to Startup Manager.  Insert the original disc for Mac OS X 10.3 installation.  It should appear in Startup Manager (you may need to click on the "refresh" icon).  If it does, select it and proceed with the startup to boot from the optical drive.  If you get to the Installer screen, at least you know your iMac is generally working.

     

    From the Installer screen, go up to the Menu Bar and select the command to run Disk Utility  In the sidebar, does the internal drive appear?  If it does appear, does it have a volume (usually called Macintosh HD) indented under the drive?

     

    If the drive does not appear in the sidebar, the hard drive may have failed, which would explain the "folder with the question mark coming up."

  • by Stayhard,Helpful

    Stayhard Stayhard Apr 17, 2012 2:53 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 17, 2012 2:53 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Hi Kenichi,

     

    Thank you for your reply. Again I have tried the holding down the option key which takes me to the refresh arrow and the straight arrow. I insert the installation disk and i can here the disk running then the disk ejects...

     

    Could this be because the harddrive is faulty?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 17, 2012 10:45 PM in response to Stayhard
    Level 8 (39,783 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 17, 2012 10:45 PM in response to Stayhard

    When you reset the SMU previously, make sure you used THIS procedure (and not the one for Intel iMacs)

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1767

     

    Try connecting the power cord directly to a wall outlet by itself (if you were using a "power strip") and initially leave all peripherals disconnected.  Just connect the power cord.

    Could this be because the harddrive is faulty?

    Or maybe a faulty optical drive is interfering with the hard drive. 

     

    Has the PRAM battery ever been changed on this iMac?

  • by Stayhard,

    Stayhard Stayhard Apr 18, 2012 7:09 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2012 7:09 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Hi Kenichi,

     

    I have tried everything you have said previously. Reset SMU by connecting straight to power outlet and I have just replaced the PRAM battery and it is still it is not booting. Disk are still being ejected. I am not sure if i should order a new optical drive or HDD.....

     

    Andrew

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 18, 2012 8:17 PM in response to Stayhard
    Level 8 (39,783 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 18, 2012 8:17 PM in response to Stayhard

    If it's a first gen iMac G5, then it's the type that is fairly easy to open up and work on, internally.  If that's your iMac type, you could try disconnecting the optical drive without removing or replacing it (in case some fault on the optical drive is causing this problem).  Then, perhaps the hard drive will become accessible again.  And you can also try it the other way, with the hard drive disconnected and the optical drive connected, to try a start up from your Mac OS X installation disc again (use the original one for this testing).

     

    I would not buy a new optical drive, until you know with greater certainty that THAT is the actual problem.  The problem could be on the motherboard somewhere, or the power supply...

  • by Stayhard,

    Stayhard Stayhard Apr 19, 2012 12:48 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 19, 2012 12:48 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    I have disconnected the optical drive and booted up with hard drive connection only.(I tested the Hard drive again with SATA connector to another device and it not showing in Disk management) .... Still not booting.

    I have connected optical drive and tried boot install disc and still ejecting the disc.

    You could be right in saying that it i8s either a motherboard issue or power supply.

    Is there anything else I can try?????

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 19, 2012 1:25 AM in response to Stayhard
    Level 8 (39,783 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 19, 2012 1:25 AM in response to Stayhard

    Well, I was actually saying that you should not buy a new optical drive, because it could be something else, such as a problem with the motherboard or power supply (or some other component).  I don't have "evidence" pointing to any particular cause, which is the problem here...  and without knowing the cause of a problem, it's hard to fix the problem.

     

    At this point, you may need to have a technician do a hands-on evaluation of your iMac.  Or it could be time for a new(er) iMac.

     

    One more thing you can try (as a long shot).  Power off and take out your iMac's RAM module(s), visually inspect the connection area, and reseat them back in their slots.  If that does not help, and you have two RAM modules, try starting up with just one module installed at at time, in alternating slots. 

     

    I'm trying to think of anything that might cause a problem during startup, that you have control over; the RAM thing is the only thing I can think of that you have not considered and tried.

  • by Stayhard,

    Stayhard Stayhard Apr 21, 2012 2:04 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2012 2:04 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thank you Kenichi for all your help.

     

    I have tried your last option with the RAM and still not booting.

     

    It's time for the experts to see if this baby needs putting to rest or not.

     

    All the best. Thanks again.

     

    Andrew Marsters

    New Zealand

  • by sfolino,

    sfolino sfolino May 27, 2012 9:04 PM in response to Stayhard
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 27, 2012 9:04 PM in response to Stayhard

    I am experiencing the exact same issues with my imac g5 17 isight.  Identical in all aspects.   Did you ever find a resolution?  Thanks