iMac G5 isight not recognizing keyboard and mouse on startup

Question

Level 1

0 points

iMac G5 isight not recognizing keyboard and mouse on startup

My home experienced a power outage after a lightning storm and my iMac G5 isight won't start up properly any more. The iMac powers up just fine (initially loading system software and showing the user login window), but won't recognize my Apple standard keyboard and mighty mouse (looking instead for a Bluetooth enabled mouse and keyboard, which I don't have). It is as if the iMac can no longer read anything inserted into the USB ports. I tried resetting the SMU (depressing the power key while inserting the power cord), but without success. The same keyboard and mouse work just fine on another Mac. Help! I have a few hundred precious family photos (plus plenty of iTunes-purchased music) stranded on my iMac! Thanks in advance for any advice!

iMac G5 iSight Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Jul 6, 2006 3:08 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Ed Beale

Level 4

1,065 points

Jul 6, 2006 4:30 PM in response to chrisku

First thing I though of was to boot your mac in target disk mode - but you need to press the "t" key during the boot process to do that.

Then I thought to boot from the install CD, but you have to press the "c" key to do that...

The bluetooth keyboard you mention is probably a good way to go, provided you had bluetooth turned on before the USB stopped working. If you have file sharing turned on you could connect to the iMac over the network and get your files that way.

I'll have to think on that one more. In the meantime, keep trying, swap and jiggle ports, maybe try a PC keyboard?

Reply

Answer 2

chrisku Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 6, 2006 9:42 PM in response to chrisku

Thanks, Ed! My Bluetooth was turned on, so I'll try to borrow (or purchase) a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse.

Chris

iMac G5 iSight Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Reply

Answer 3

chrisku Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 17, 2006 9:56 PM in response to chrisku

Well, I bought an Apple Bluetooh wireless keyboard and mouse (just arrived by mail from the U.S.), but my iMac wouldn't recognize them (upon start-up, the iMac identified the mouse after initiating the set-up assistant and appeared to "pair" with it, but the mouse cursor on screen refused to budge). My problem may indeed be far more serious than just the USB ports being dysfunctional after the lightning strike. There is reportedly a certified Apple service firm and techs in Munich (100 miles away). I'll take my iMac to them in August (when I have more money) and hope they will be able to repair my iMac or at least salvage something from my hard drive.

Chris

iMac G5 iSight Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Reply