2000 Power Mac G4 Graphite Video Issues

Question

Level 1

19 points

2000 Power Mac G4 Graphite Video Issues

Hello everyone!

I seem to be having troubles with my 2000 Power Mac G4 Graphite.

So here’s what happens. When I turn it on, everything seems to be working. You can hear the startup chime, and all the sounds like the cooling fan are present. However, no video displays on the Monitor. I’m using an Apple Studio Display and the light by the on symbol lights up in orange and all seems to be working. I’ve tried rebooting, using a VGA Monitor, and even using a different video card but to no avail. Sometimes everything does work including the video but this is a rare occasion and the Monitor does work.

If if someone does help me fix it, I was also wondering how to wipe the Hard Drive so I could make a fresh install of MacOS 9.2 on this thing to play old games.

The model number of the computer is: M5183

hope someone can help me and thank you all!

Posted on Jan 30, 2019 10:26 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jeff

Level 6

12,334 points

Jan 31, 2019 3:38 PM in response to Mastergeko4

"I’ve tried rebooting, using a VGA Monitor, and even using a different video card but to no avail."

I assume that both graphics cards are Apple/OEM, programmed with Mac ROM. Sometimes, after the motherboard's battery has fully discharged, the user settings that it preserves can become corrupted. In this situation, you should try resetting the PRAM/NVRAM, as described here. I usually hold down the four keys until the startup tone sounds a third time.

Reply

Answer 2

Mastergeko4 Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 31, 2019 1:49 PM in response to Jeff

Hello!

Thank you for your reply! I tried replacing the battery you showed me but the thing still won’t show any video. What now?

Reply

Answer 3

Jeff

Level 6

12,334 points

Jan 30, 2019 3:06 PM in response to Mastergeko4

Has this G4 been unplugged from AC power for some time? If so, the first thing to check is the motherboard's PRAM battery. When the 3.6-volt, ½AA battery is very weak or dead, the "no video" on startup that you're experiencing can result. This quirk has affected many older Macs and replacing the battery has corrected it. If the battery is new, then other troubleshooting would be necessary.

Reply

Answer 4

Mastergeko4 Author

Level 1

19 points

Feb 1, 2019 1:24 PM in response to Jeff

Hello again!

So I did all the steps shown in the document you attached but the startup chime won’t come up again. I’m starting to think that there’s a hardware failure unless there are more options that I haven’t tried yet.

Reply

2000 Power Mac G4 Graphite Video Issues

Similar questions