TheMacMini09

Q: PowerMac G5 not showing boot manager or open firmware

I recently got a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.5 GHz (7,3) from a friend of mine, and I would like to dual-boot it between Tiger (or Leopard) and Debian PPC. However, every time I try to bring up the boot menu (hold ALT/option at boot before chime) there is simply a black screen. Same happens when I try to boot to Open Firmware (hold CMD-ALT-O-F); just a blank screen. When I try to boot from the Debian CD, it's almost as though it is ignored, as I am put straight to OS X, but I can boot from the Panther/Tiger DVDs. I have tried resetting the PRAM, the SMU via the button on the board, and I left it unplugged overnight, to no avail. Can anyone help?

PowerMac G5 7,3 Dual 2.5GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 22, 2013 1:20 PM

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Q: PowerMac G5 not showing boot manager or open firmware

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  • by TheMacMini09,

    TheMacMini09 TheMacMini09 Dec 26, 2013 5:13 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 5:13 AM in response to BDAqua

    It's definetly NOT a firmware password. I have already tried all of the methods of resetting it (removing and adding RAM, resetting it in OS X, etc.) and there is definetly not one there. I have also done an SMU reset (press the button on the motherboard). And no, I'm not getting that image. It seems very strange, because another one that I have laying around works perfectly fine...

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Dec 26, 2013 9:40 AM in response to TheMacMini09
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 9:40 AM in response to TheMacMini09

    Hmmm, seems to be pointing to a corrupt NVRAM, but I know of no way of fixing or overcoming that.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Dec 26, 2013 9:51 AM in response to TheMacMini09
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Dec 26, 2013 9:51 AM in response to TheMacMini09

    This is a mystery indeed.

     

    I recently got a PowerMac G5 Dual 2.5 GHz (7,3) from a friend of mine, and I would like to dual-boot it between Tiger (or Leopard) and Debian PPC. However, every time I try to bring up the boot menu (hold ALT/option at boot before chime) there is simply a black screen. Same happens when I try to boot to Open Firmware (hold CMD-ALT-O-F); just a blank screen.

     

    I press these keys then I poweron the machine.

     

    When I try to boot from the Debian CD, it's almost as though it is ignored, as I am put straight to OS X, but I can boot from the Panther/Tiger DVDs

     

    cd was not compatible with the PPC.  If the firmware does not find a compatible os on the cd,  the cd is ignored.  Try cd on another ppc.

     

     

    Here are some idea:

    1) Check for a later version of open firmware.  Install.

     

    2) Decide how much you want to mess with the machine.  could turn it into a door stop.

     

    4) Use unix nvram command to examine firmware variables.  Maybe one is set incorrectly.

     

    5) There are unix commands for partitioning hd.  They are in 10.4.11 and later.

     

    6) Install a boot manager.  When I installed Linux on my iMag g3 600,  the linux install put a boot manager on my linux partition.  I created three partitions on the machine.  I didn't need the linux boot manager.  I didn't figure out all the ins and outs of the linux boot manager, yaboot.

     

    Robert

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Dec 26, 2013 9:57 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 9:57 AM in response to rccharles

    Can you reset the NVRAM in Terminal?

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Dec 26, 2013 10:13 AM in response to TheMacMini09
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Dec 26, 2013 10:13 AM in response to TheMacMini09

    Possible this is sometype of video problem with the firmware video driver ... hence the blank screen. 

     

    Robert

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Dec 26, 2013 10:33 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 10:33 AM in response to rccharles

    AHA, I wonder if this is a flashed PC card?

  • by TheMacMini09,

    TheMacMini09 TheMacMini09 Dec 26, 2013 11:21 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 11:21 AM in response to BDAqua

    BDAqua wrote:

     

    AHA, I wonder if this is a flashed PC card?

    Nope. Default Apple card.

  • by TheMacMini09,

    TheMacMini09 TheMacMini09 Dec 26, 2013 11:22 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 11:22 AM in response to rccharles

    rccharles wrote:

     

    Possible this is sometype of video problem with the firmware video driver ... hence the blank screen. 

     

    Robert

    I think it may be this, but still, why would there be a problem with a factory video card?

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Dec 26, 2013 11:33 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Dec 26, 2013 11:33 AM in response to BDAqua

    You can view and change nvram variables from the terminal.   See man nvram

     

     

    Try a different video card and display that are known to work with startup manager.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Dec 26, 2013 12:22 PM in response to TheMacMini09
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 12:22 PM in response to TheMacMini09

    I forget in this long thread, but if it boots to a blank screen holding alt key, if you have an Install Disc inserted, or a bootable external drive, or another bootable partition...

     

    Wait 30 seconds or so on the blank screen, press Right arrow then press enter.

  • by TheMacMini09,

    TheMacMini09 TheMacMini09 Dec 26, 2013 12:28 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 12:28 PM in response to BDAqua

    OK, at this point, I am almost certain it is the video card. I will swap the one from another PowerMac G5 (one year earlier) soon, but in the mean time, I will try your idea:

     

     

    BDAqua wrote:

     

    Wait 30 seconds or so on the blank screen, press Right arrow then press enter.

    I will reply ASAP, but, you know, Christmas...

  • by TheMacMini09,

    TheMacMini09 TheMacMini09 Dec 26, 2013 4:56 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 4:56 PM in response to BDAqua

    Nope, didn't work. Just a blank screen. I'll go about replacing the video card tomorrow, but I'm off to bed now.

  • by TheMacMini09,

    TheMacMini09 TheMacMini09 Jan 3, 2014 4:49 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 4:49 PM in response to BDAqua

    Well, I replaced the graphics card and it works! Must have been something wrong with the card. Thanks so much for your help!

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jan 3, 2014 6:38 PM in response to TheMacMini09
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Jan 3, 2014 6:38 PM in response to TheMacMini09

    Good work, great to hear, thanks for the report!

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Jan 4, 2014 11:34 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Jan 4, 2014 11:34 AM in response to BDAqua

    Great to hear!

     

    Robert

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