TRATRA

Q: Is my iMac G5 PPC screen dying??

So, suddenly today my screen looks like this:

IMG_8328_1024.jpg

IMG_8329.jpg

I have Shut Down and Restarted many times, also with PRAM reset,

I have restarted in Safe Mode, same output,

I have tried Apple's Hardware Test, obviously I do not know the outcome...

I can startup as Target Disk Mode, everything is there,

I can connect as Guest and Registered User, I can see all my files, folders, apps;

I can also Share Screen, but I can't see what I'm doing!

The same ugly image appears on the Mac I'm using to acces the G5.

I have been reading a lot of dicussions, but haven't found the answer.

Somebody out there knows what this is??

Thanks.

Posted on Aug 5, 2013 9:17 AM

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Q: Is my iMac G5 PPC screen dying??

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  • Helpful answers

  • by rccharles,Helpful

    rccharles rccharles Aug 5, 2013 9:41 AM in response to TRATRA
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 5, 2013 9:41 AM in response to TRATRA

    Lets rule out OS X software. Try this.

     

    The startup manager will list all of your bootable partitions then give you a choice of which to boot.

     

    Try holding down the option key then power on. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your hd. Click on right arrow key.

  • by TRATRA,

    TRATRA TRATRA Aug 5, 2013 11:01 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (46 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 5, 2013 11:01 AM in response to rccharles

    Thanks,

    See the screenshots below.

    Software is running fine, except I can't see what it's (or I'm) doing

    Startup manager looks like this:

    IMG_8377.jpg

    Login screen looks like this:

    IMG_8379.jpg

     

    My mouse is a big pixellated block, no arrow...

    Put the machine back to sleep.

     

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Aug 5, 2013 3:59 PM in response to TRATRA
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 5, 2013 3:59 PM in response to TRATRA

    Well you tried

    -- safe mode

    -- booting to startup manager.

     

    i'd guess it was the lcd display.

     

    the g5 does have a mini-vga port. you could try connecting to a vga display with an adapter.

  • by Jeremy Travis,

    Jeremy Travis Jeremy Travis Aug 10, 2013 2:55 PM in response to TRATRA
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Aug 10, 2013 2:55 PM in response to TRATRA

    Some imacs sufferd from failing electrolitic capacitors.

     

    Basically the larger electrolitic capacitors bulge, leak and eventually fail.

     

    There is little that you can do about this other than take it to a computer store who are capable of changeing all the ofending electrolitic capacitors.

     

    Some people sell kits of capacitors on ebay and some companies offer a repair service specifically for this fault.

     

    It is a well known, and publicised fault, which can affect the graphics, cpu (causing freezes), and the power supply. 

     

    I have had two G5 imacs with this fault.

  • by TRATRA,

    TRATRA TRATRA Aug 14, 2013 8:26 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (46 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2013 8:26 AM in response to rccharles

    Thanks rccharles, but the G5 (PPC) does not have a mini-VGA port, it's vintage ... it has a VGA port, so now I'm looking fot a VGA-port to VGA adaptor.

     

    Message was edited by: TRATRA - typo

  • by TRATRA,

    TRATRA TRATRA Aug 14, 2013 8:26 AM in response to TRATRA
    Level 1 (46 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2013 8:26 AM in response to TRATRA

    Thank you Jeremy Travis,

    According to you it's a very well known fault, could you point me in the right direction as to were and by whom these faults have been published?

    Also, in my case, it's just the screen, no CPU problems, no freezing, no power downs... just the screen.

    So, it could be anything ... I will not act on somebody's hunch.

    Need some documented user experiences, please, anybody?

  • by rccharles,Helpful

    rccharles rccharles Aug 14, 2013 9:35 AM in response to TRATRA
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 14, 2013 9:35 AM in response to TRATRA

    G5 has these hardware issues:

    -- bad capacitors on logic board

    -- bad capacitors in power supply

    -- badly soldered video chip

    -- "There were several Mac models with flat panel displays that had bad displays.

         Most had serial numbers beginning with "W8"---the code for one specific factory.

         This affected PowerBooks as well. If that's the case, the rest of the computer

         is probably fine." by Allan Jones in

        https://discussions.apple.com/message/21630224#21630224

     

     

    Google: g5 capacitor replacement kit

     

    More info on capacitor replacement kits

    http://jimwarholic.com/2008/07/how-to-repair-apple-imac-g5.php

    http://thecapking.com/applg5.html

  • by Jeremy Travis,

    Jeremy Travis Jeremy Travis Aug 14, 2013 11:54 AM in response to TRATRA
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 11:54 AM in response to TRATRA

    It's not a hunch, it's a fact that was well publicised and Apple did support a lot of people with the problem when it happened.

     

    The faulty capacitors could cause a variety of faults from screen problems to CPU freezes.

    Even the capacitors in the power supply could be affected but they would not power up.

     

    The capacitor issues are in Wikipidea

    Capacitor plague - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

     

    And the repair solutions are here.  

     

    Apple iMac G5 Motherboards DIY Repairs Bad Caps Fix How to Guide | According to Jim

     

    I spent a lot of my life working in the electronics industry and studied electronics.

    I brought a kit of capacitors on ebay for this repair.

    The nature of modern electronics production and the very high temperature flow solder technics make this repair very  difficult.

     

    I'm sorry if you think this is a hunch but it's not.

     

    Many thanks Jeremy

  • by TRATRA,

    TRATRA TRATRA Aug 15, 2013 7:42 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (46 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 15, 2013 7:42 AM in response to rccharles

    Thank you rccharles and Jeremy Travis for taking the time to share those links and the additional info.

     

    (OT : I did not mean to discredit your contributions, it's just that I'm a "facts" person, sorry if I offended you in any way.)

     

    It was an interesting read, however, my G5 PPC is 20"2.0 Ghz, and the serial number starts with CK529, that makes it second generation (M9845xx/A) in Jim's article about the faulty capacitors, as well as Apple's, the model mentioned is first generation.

     

    I was misinformed earlier, my G5 does have an Apple Video Out Port (chequed with Apple's User Manual, not VGA not Mini DisplayPort), so I suppose I could get an external display, or even hook it up to my TV... Not sure if the image on an external display will come up the same... When I tried the "Share Screen" option earlier I got exactly that, the same ugly screen mirrored from the G5 on my MBP... any thoughts on that?

     

    I will open up the G5 to check the capacitors or anything else out of order by sight, however I do not feel confident enough to carry out any replacing or soldering electronic parts by myself.

     

    Would like to keep the G5, have not given up yet. I might try to copy the HD to an external HD and rescue my data... but I would like to see what I'm doing on the screen.

     

    Any further help will be greatly appreciated.

     

    Thanks,

    Petra

  • by Jeremy Travis,

    Jeremy Travis Jeremy Travis Aug 15, 2013 12:20 PM in response to TRATRA
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Aug 15, 2013 12:20 PM in response to TRATRA

    HI Petra,

    Don't worry I'm a slightly pedantic and perfectionist person myself so no offence taken.

    I was just a little bit surprised that you had not done a search which would show you the extent of the problem.

     

    The chances of using an external display are limited as the dispaly output would most likely have the same problem. 

    The hard drive could be removed and fitted to another computer to rescue the files and information.

     

    In terms of fixing the computer, I was a very experienced electronics engineer, now with MS so a bit cack handed, but still keen to fix things if I can.

    I invested in a very expensive bit of professional Japanese made desoldering equipment  which could achieve temperatures of 350º but I still could not remove the components easily so I gave up.

    In the end I even tried "Drilling" the capacitors out with a special tungsten carbide drill but found it extremely difficult to not ruin the motherboard.

     

    If you Google the subject "imac G5 capacitors" you will get a variety of information, and videos on youtube showing people with varying degrees of skill and ability, and success trying to fix these problems.

     

    There is a company on ebay which offers a recapping service for imacs and they have a special CNC drill to drill out the capacitors.

    They will only touch computers which have not been tampered with.

     

    good luck

     

    Jeremy