Buizel
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Power mac G5 no OS, no display

I just recently bought a powermac G5 1.6ghz with no hard drive. I put a new one in with no hard drive. A couple times when I turned it on I got the grey screen with the folder and question mark. I just got snow leopard for it, I'm not sure if I could use it for this but when I tried to turn it on nothing appeared on the screen, the monitor light turned green for 5 seconds then went yellow. There was no flashing light on the powermac just a solid light and a chime. I am a new mac user so I don't have a mac keyboard or mouse. But now every time I turn on the mac it chimes and the screen is black with the cd drive opening by itself. I replaced the PRAM battery too. What do I have to do to fix it, and do I need a mac keyboard and mouse to fix it?

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Jul 14, 2013 5:14 PM

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Buizel

Q: Power mac G5 no OS, no display

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  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Jul 14, 2013 6:23 PM in response to Buizel
    Level 5 (5,845 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 14, 2013 6:23 PM in response to Buizel

    You can't install Snow Leopard onto PowerMac G5.

    You need to get Leopard(OSX 10.5) which is the latest for PowerMac G5..

  • by Buizel,

    Buizel Buizel Jul 14, 2013 7:44 PM in response to kaz-k
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 14, 2013 7:44 PM in response to kaz-k

    I figured that out later but there still is no display on the monitor...

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 14, 2013 7:57 PM in response to Buizel
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Jul 14, 2013 7:57 PM in response to Buizel

    No PowerMac can run OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. 10.6-10.8 are for Intel Macs only.

    You need to find and purchase full retail OS X 10.4 Tiger or OS X 10.5 Leopard discs.

    Before looking for these online, you could try and call Apple directly at 1-800-MYAPPLE and ask for software sales.

    Ask them if they have Replacement OS restore discs. The rep they will put you in touch with will want the serial number of your G5 PowerMac. They mak ask of you want OS X 10.4 Tiger or OS X 10.5 Leopard discs, take the OS X 10.5 Leopard discs. There will be nominal charge for processing and shipping these discs. Usually it wil be under $20 dollars.

    If no luck from Apple, look to Amazon or eBay for the OEM full retail versions of these OS X discs.

    Good Luck!

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 14, 2013 7:59 PM in response to Buizel
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Jul 14, 2013 7:59 PM in response to Buizel

    There won't be any display on the monitor without the proper booting OS version.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 14, 2013 8:18 PM in response to Buizel
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Jul 14, 2013 8:18 PM in response to Buizel

    And yes, get a Mac wired keyboard or Mac compatible keyboard.. You can use any Mac compatible mouse,,also.

     

    Mac suppliers of Mac compatible keyboards and mice

     

    Kensington

    Logitech

    Macally

    Matias

    Microsoft

     

    Good Luck!

  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Jul 15, 2013 12:36 AM in response to Buizel
    Level 5 (5,845 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 15, 2013 12:36 AM in response to Buizel

    There's a possibility that video card is dead since if video card is fine, flashing question mark will be displayed.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440