Natalie Raichl

Q: My Mac freezes after I moved it.

I moved my office to a new location, and one of my computers is a Mac G5, running OS 10.4.11. It's an editing computer, with FCP 6 and a 2.5tb Xserve raid.

 

This Mac powered right up, and looked normal, but it's frozen. The mouse pointer is stuck in the upper left corner, and nothing happens after it boots up. It sees the Xraid, but it's frozen whether the Xraid is on or not. I can't get it to open the cd drawer to boot off the install disc, or anything else.  Help!

Dual 2gig G5, 4 gig RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.11), FCP 6 QT 7.1.4

Posted on Aug 30, 2016 5:30 PM

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Q: My Mac freezes after I moved it.

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  • by Carolyn Samit,Helpful

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 31, 2016 2:14 PM in response to Natalie Raichl
    Level 10 (119,379 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 31, 2016 2:14 PM in response to Natalie Raichl

    See if you can select a startup disk.

     

    Shut down the Mac.

     

    Wait ten seconds then restart while holding down the Option key. That should launch the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk then click Restart.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 30, 2016 10:44 PM in response to Natalie Raichl
    Level 8 (38,071 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 10:44 PM in response to Natalie Raichl

    Since you just moved the iMac (and assuming nothing else changed on the iMac), one thing different is the way (and where) it is connected to power.  Check how it is now connected to power.  If it's plugged into a power strip (surge suppressor), and there are many other peripherals (like that Xserve, a collection of power adapters, a printer, etc.) connected to the same power strip, the iMac may not be drawing enough power to operate reliably.  Try connecting the iMac to a separate wall outlet, or to another power strip with fewer items (and not the Xserve), to see if that makes a difference.

     

    Another possibility, since this is an older iMac, is the PRAM battery (if it's never been changed).  It may have been weak but still (barely) working at the old location.  But when you unplugged it (for moving), the PRAM battery, which provides power to hold some of the Mac's key settings when disconnected from power, drained completely.  A dead (or weak) PRAM battery can cause startup issues, like what you describe.  You can try doing the Reset PRAM ("NVRAM") procedure to see if it makes a difference, and at least gets the iMac to complete startup.

     

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by Natalie Raichl,

    Natalie Raichl Natalie Raichl Aug 30, 2016 10:48 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (93 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 10:48 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    This is a Mac G5, not an iMac. Is your advice to reset the PRAM still applicable?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 30, 2016 11:01 PM in response to Natalie Raichl
    Level 8 (38,071 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 11:01 PM in response to Natalie Raichl

    Oh, sorry.  That would be a "Power Mac G5," so I thought I saw "iMac" (and not just "Mac").  I have a Power Mac G5 myself, serving a useful purpose. 

     

    And yes, my previous reply is applicable, since it probably draws even more power and its PRAM battery would also be getting quite old (if it has never been changed).  And the Reset NVRAM procedure is a basic troubleshooting "thing to try" that is applicable to all Mac models.

     

    FYI - If you need to replace the PRAM battery, most Power Mac G5 models use one like this

     

    https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/BAA36VPRAM/

     

    The last ("Late 2005") Power Mac G5 uses one like this

     

    https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/CR2032/

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 30, 2016 11:16 PM in response to Natalie Raichl
    Level 8 (38,071 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 11:16 PM in response to Natalie Raichl

    Actually, since there's some confusion with your Mac's name, and there is no model that is called "Mac G5"...  It's not a "Mac Pro," correct?  A G5 is the older PowerPC processor, used in Power Mac.  A Mac Pro uses the Intel Xeon processor.

  • by Natalie Raichl,

    Natalie Raichl Natalie Raichl Aug 31, 2016 2:17 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (93 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2016 2:17 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Wow!  You were right. When I isolated the Mac from everything else, it powered right up!  All working now.  Thank you.

     

    Quick question: where is the PRAM battery located? Might as well change it out.

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Aug 31, 2016 2:28 PM in response to Natalie Raichl
    Level 5 (7,448 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 31, 2016 2:28 PM in response to Natalie Raichl

    Natalie Raichl wrote:

     

    Wow!  You were right. When I isolated the Mac from everything else, it powered right up!  All working now.  Thank you.

     

    Quick question: where is the PRAM battery located? Might as well change it out.

    Power Mac G5 PRAM Battery Replacement - iFixit

    https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Power+Mac+G5+PRAM+Battery+Replacement/1951

     

    NewerTech 3.6V Lithium PRAM Battery For Select Apple Desktop Systems

    https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/BAA36VPRAM/

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 31, 2016 8:00 PM in response to Natalie Raichl
    Level 8 (38,071 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2016 8:00 PM in response to Natalie Raichl

    It wasn't 100% clear which Mac model you have.  Select About This Mac from the Apple menu.  Then click More Info, which opens System Profiler with your Mac's profile.  With Hardware selected in the sidebar, what does it say to the right for Machine Name and Machine Model?

     

    NOTE:  The last Power Mac G5 model uses a different PRAM battery compared to earlier Power Mac G5 models.

  • by Natalie Raichl,

    Natalie Raichl Natalie Raichl Sep 1, 2016 8:38 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (93 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 1, 2016 8:38 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    It's a power Mac G5 Model PowerMac 7,2.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 1, 2016 9:00 AM in response to Natalie Raichl
    Level 8 (38,071 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 1, 2016 9:00 AM in response to Natalie Raichl

    That's one of the earlier Power Mac G5 models, so it uses the cylindrical battery type, not the one that looks like a coin.  Seems to be easily accessible, on the motherboard next to the slots (assuming you don't have PCI cards in the slots).  Be sure to note the battery's orientation before removing it.

     

    But if the actual problem was how the Power Mac was connected to power at the new location, and that's been resolved, the battery is probably fine if the Mac is (and has been) almost always plugged in.  I don't recall ever replacing the PRAM battery in my Power Mac G5.

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Sep 1, 2016 10:02 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 5 (7,448 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 1, 2016 10:02 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thanks for pinning it down...

    The iFixit link has pretty pictures showing where and how

    I was assuming that the OP would refine search to their Mac model after landing on the pages - there I go assuming again