G5 won't recognize 2nd hard drive

japamac wrote:

If it's a setting, the only thing would be a jumper.

Other than that, it's either the software that you are using or the drive.

Just to check, how much RAM is installed, and is it properly installed.

Must be installed in sized pairs:

Power Mac G5: Memory Specifications and Requirements

From memory (no pun intended), I don't believe I have it installed quite like you see in that diagram. I will double-check when I get home, but that would be crazy if that's what is causing the issue. Like I said, I was able to perform a complete install and full round of updates using this configuration, with a different drive, so to me that wouldn't make much sense. You never know, though. I want to say I've currently got 2GB of RAM in there (512MB x 4), but it may be just 1GB.

Could you clarify what you mean by "the software [I] am using"? The software is Mac OS X — I've tried formatting with different versions of OS X (10.5, 10.6) and with different systems (Mac Mini, Mac Pro) and connectivity protocols (USB-to-SATA, SATA to motherboard). For whatever reason, this drive cannot be recognized on the Power Mac G5; it can, however be recognized on other systems.

I have confirmed that all RAM is installed correctly. Total RAM is 2GB: 512MB x 4. There are two matching pairs (one is Micron and the other is Kingston; also both from other Mac pulls), and they are installed according to the diagram where the centermost DIMM slots comprise one pair and the outermost DIMM slots comprise the other.

😕

All installs are being done via adapter or externally?

I guess that I am unclear why the drive isn't installed in the G5 with installation being performed by the G5.

Is the use of other machines and such due to lack of recognition of the hard drive only?

If so, and if the OS install disc is an actual, bonafide, black with a big X retail disc, and if the G5 can install the OS to a different drive, put the drive in question into a machine that likes it.

There is no acccounting for firmware variations in various drive versions, nor is there any accounting for Apples use of such a miserably inadequate SATA controller in the G5.

If a drive works, it just works.

If it doesn't and there is no monkey business going on (bootleg disc, OEM disc, improper memory configuration or bad memory, improper use of jumpers on the drive, use of any Seagate or vintage Hitachi SATA drives), give up on the drive and get on with your life!😉

Thanks for entertaining this for me. There must be a solution; none of this makes sense. To answer your questions and help get to the bottom of this:

All installs are being done via internal DVD drive.

"I guess that I am unclear why the drive isn't installed in the G5 with installation being performed by the G5" — I don't know what you're saying there, but the G5 is capable of performing an installation with ease, but with a different drive, not the one in question. The one in question is recognized on other systems (Mac Mini, Mac Pro), but has never been recognizable by this Power Mac G5. I cannot install an OS on this drive while it is in the Power Mac G5, because the Power Mac G5 can't recognize it.

The use of other machines and such is to simply test the condition of this and other drives. This drives checks out on other machines and is fully usable — on other machines. The only situation where this drive can't be read is when it is installed in or connected to the Power Mac G5. The even stranger thing is that this drive can't even be read via SATA-to-USB adapter. I mean, when it is fully booted (remember, I have installed an OS on a different drive in the meantime just to make sure that the computer wasn't screwed up), and when my adapter is plugged in, the drive isn't seen. For some reason, the Power Mac never ever ever ever under any condition sees this drive.

The install disc is an actual retail disc directly from Apple, not some a copy from an .iso or anything like that. Real disc. Total authentic and legit. Big black X, proper colors, the whole nine yards.

I guess what's most puzzling to me is that the drive is a brand new drive (well, manufactured in July 2011), and as soon as we received the computer in which it was installed (which we purchased new) we upgraded its hard drive, so the total hours on this drive is next to nothing.

What is concerning me at this point is that the computer might not take other nice big drives, and that I am wasting my time. I don't want to invest in new hard drives only to find that they won't work. Ya know?