PowerMac G5 not showing boot manager or open firmware

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Level 1

8 points

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-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 22, 2013 1:20 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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239,213 points

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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Answer 2

TheMacMini09 Author

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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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Answer 3

BDAqua

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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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Answer 4

TheMacMini09 Author

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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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Answer 5

BDAqua

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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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Answer 6

BDAqua

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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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Answer 7

TheMacMini09 Author

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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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Answer 8

BDAqua

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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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Answer 9

TheMacMini09 Author

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

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Answer 10

BDAqua

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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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Answer 11

TheMacMini09 Author

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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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Answer 12

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

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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Answer 13

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

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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Answer 14

BDAqua

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239,213 points

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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Answer 15

TheMacMini09 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 26, 2013 5:13 AM in response to BDAqua

It's definetly NOT a firmware password. I have already tried all of the methods of resetting it (removing and adding RAM, resetting it in OS X, etc.) and there is definetly not one there. I have also done an SMU reset (press the button on the motherboard). And no, I'm not getting that image. It seems very strange, because another one that I have laying around works perfectly fine...

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