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 BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 22, 2013 2:51 PM in response to TheMacMini09
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Dec 22, 2013 2:51 PM in response to TheMacMini09

Hmmmm, have you replaced the PRAM Battery, that can cause strange startup problem!?

If you hold t key only at bootup, do you get a big floating Firewire symbol?
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by TheMacMini09,

TheMacMini09 Dec 23, 2013 5:21 AM in response to BDAqua
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Dec 23, 2013 5:21 AM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua wrote:

If you hold t key only at bootup, do you get a big floating Firewire symbol?
Strangely, it doesn't show on the screen. However, when I plug it into another mac, the disks mount, as though it is in target disk mode...
BDAqua wrote:

Hmmmm, have you replaced the PRAM Battery, that can cause strange startup problem!?
No, I have not, but I will check the Voltage (no lower than 3V right?)

EDIT: I checked the battery, and the voltage was 1.9V, so I'll try to get another one from somewhere.

Message was edited by: TheMacMini09
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 23, 2013 7:35 AM in response to TheMacMini09
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Dec 23, 2013 7:35 AM in response to TheMacMini09

So, t mode is working, just no video, we'll see what a new batteey does. :)
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by TheMacMini09,

TheMacMini09 Dec 23, 2013 3:06 PM in response to BDAqua
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Dec 23, 2013 3:06 PM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua wrote:

So, t mode is working, just no video, we'll see what a new batteey does. :)
Brand new battery, reading 3.7V, still nothing. Any other ideas?
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 23, 2013 3:43 PM in response to TheMacMini09
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Dec 23, 2013 3:43 PM in response to TheMacMini09

Once booted into OSX, does System Preferences>Startup Disk show & allow booting from another OS, Drive/Partition, or CD/DVD?
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 23, 2013 3:44 PM in response to TheMacMini09
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Dec 23, 2013 3:44 PM in response to TheMacMini09

Oh, did you install some kind of boot manager yourself?
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by TheMacMini09,

TheMacMini09 Dec 23, 2013 6:26 PM in response to BDAqua
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Dec 23, 2013 6:26 PM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua wrote:

Oh, did you install some kind of boot manager yourself?
Nope, just the default OS X boot manager/boot loader. Also yes, System Preferences>Startup Disk does show the OS X Install Disc, but not the Debian PPC disc...
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 23, 2013 6:34 PM in response to TheMacMini09
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Dec 23, 2013 6:34 PM in response to TheMacMini09

OK, when you open the Debian PPC disc in the Finder, what exact files show up?
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by TheMacMini09,

TheMacMini09 Dec 24, 2013 6:13 AM in response to BDAqua
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Dec 24, 2013 6:13 AM in response to BDAqua
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 24, 2013 9:47 AM in response to TheMacMini09
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Dec 24, 2013 9:47 AM in response to TheMacMini09

Hmmm, looks right, but I'm stumped as to why Open Firmware doesn't work, & it seems part & parcel of the problem!???

Mulling it, but hope we get more help in here.
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by TheMacMini09,

TheMacMini09 Dec 25, 2013 9:03 AM in response to BDAqua
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Dec 25, 2013 9:03 AM in response to BDAqua

Well thanks for helping, and the entire strength of my mind is focused on bringing people to the thread!
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 25, 2013 10:47 AM in response to TheMacMini09
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Dec 25, 2013 10:47 AM in response to TheMacMini09

Also, feel free to join my site and ask the question there, a few oldies there still from xlr8yourmac.com/bbs days...

My Site...

http://x704.net/bbs/
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by rccharles,

rccharles Dec 25, 2013 11:27 AM in response to TheMacMini09
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Classic Mac OS

Dec 25, 2013 11:27 AM in response to TheMacMini09

It's acting like there is a firmware password in some respects. It should be asking for your firmware password when a firmware password was configured but it doesn't seem to be. I've never used a firmware password, so I have no direct experince with it.

1) Might try the hardware reset. I'd try this first. You will have to search around to find where the hardware reset button is on your machine. BDAQUA help?

2) Might try the procedure to delete firmware password. I'd try it. Don't think it can hurt!
Maybe your are getting the firmware password? Do you see this image?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57521667-263/use-the-calculator-to-reveal-a -macs-firmware-password/
Remove one memory stick. Then do as BD suggests.
BDAqua reminds me:
Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + p + r).
http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------

You machine does boot to one partition always. Could install a linux boot manager in that partition. Yaboot on a ppc

The mac startup manager is installed in firmware cannot touch it. Linux boot manager is install on hd.
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Dec 25, 2013 11:31 AM in response to rccharles
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Dec 25, 2013 11:31 AM in response to rccharles

Thanks rccharles, I was sort of thinking it sounded a bit like a firmware password, & just not showing it, but lost that thought on too many tangents!
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