imac g5 will not boot past apple logo

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Level 1

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imac g5 will not boot past apple logo

Two weeks ago it started up perfect with no problems , last night i turn it on , it's pixelated and will not go past the apple logo , i reset the pram, i made sure it was running on the OS , i tried to boot of of disk warrior ,nothing worked. I started it in verbose mode the pixels went away and it got hung up on airport link down in enl . I have a picture of where it got hung up , i will try and post it...okay guess i can't do that. I bought this from a friend who had pre loaded the programs i wanted so i do not have start up discs i have a copy of osx and a copy of tiger (i believe) (original programs) i am not sure what os is running on here, but if it helps its not a newer version and i run garage band 8 on it.

iMac

Posted on Jan 1, 2014 8:20 AM

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Answer 1

edwin254 Author

Level 1

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Jan 1, 2014 9:09 AM in response to edwin254

Not sure how to find the OS and i have snow leopard install disc not tiger , i have the serial and this other number...imac g5 20/1.8/256/160/sd/56k/100/120v

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Answer 2

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,112 points

Jan 1, 2014 2:00 PM in response to edwin254

The last OS X version the hardware you mention could use (from retail install disc DVD) would be Leopard 10.5.x. You could use an 'identify by serial number' look up service* to see what exact version system the computer had when new, how far it could've been upgraded, and so on.

*One such site I use because it does desktop and portables, is:

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

And if you had the correct original install-restore disc set (grey label) for that build series model year there would be a Hardware Test on the DVD that could be used to help troubleshoot the issues you now face.

Snow Leopard 10.6.x will not work on powerPC G4/G5 architectures, was intended for Intel-based mac of correct specification and at least minimum support by design.

There may be a hardware defect such as a capacitor or circuit failure in your G5 iMac. Did the issue appear when it was started up in SafeBoot? Sounds like the original owner should've included the original disc set.

Hopefully it can be repaired.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

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Answer 3

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Jan 2, 2014 11:40 AM in response to edwin254

Try a safe boot.

Shutdown your machine. Hold down the shift key. Poweron. Wait awhile; wait awhile while you harddrive

is being checked.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455

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Answer 4

edwin254 Author

Level 1

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Jan 2, 2014 8:05 PM in response to rccharles

I finally got it to boot to safe mode after two days of working on it, i ran diskwarrior, everything is in order on that end, ran the aht and took pictures of the messages , not sure how to post them. The lines and pixels went away until i was in safe mode then they came back and eventually a freeze , now it will not start normally. Everything i have read to this point has steered me in the direction of a logic board replacement , the capacitors all look well , no swelling, or leaks, now I'm back to pixels, lines, flashing and problems not loading the OS

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Answer 5

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Jan 3, 2014 10:59 AM in response to edwin254

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

How to show us a screen image. Avoid personal identification.

command + shift + 3 Will take entire screen. You hear a click.

command + shift + 4 Lets you decide what to take. Mouse pointer changes. Move mouse to upper left corner of desire image. Hold down left mouse key where to start image. Drag mouse to lower left of where you want to stop image. Release mouse.

You will get a picture n.png file on the desktop.

On the forum input panel you will see the camera icon.

click on camera icon.

another window will appear.

Make sure you have selected the from your computer tab.

click on Browse button

An open file panel appears. Select the file.

After selection a file, I have this screen showing.

You will have to click on Insert Image. You may have to scroll down to see Insert Image button.

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Answer 6

edwin254 Author

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Jan 4, 2014 6:39 AM in response to rccharles

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Answer 7

edwin254 Author

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Jan 4, 2014 6:40 AM in response to rccharles

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Answer 8

edwin254 Author

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Jan 4, 2014 6:41 AM in response to rccharles

[URL=http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/ementing1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/CAM00020_zps8 e2f7843.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a590/ementing1/Mobile%20Uploads/CAM00020_zps 8e2f7843.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

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Answer 9

edwin254 Author

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Jan 4, 2014 6:43 AM in response to edwin254

My mac isn't currently connected to the internet so i took pics with my phone. Hope this actually helps me fix things.

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Answer 10

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Jan 4, 2014 11:28 AM in response to edwin254

Well, kextd means things went bad in a kernel extension.

When you boot in safe mode, kernel extenstion are not loaded. You were having trouble in safe mode.

Could try running hardware diagnostics if you have the disc.

Robert

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Answer 11

edwin254 Author

Level 1

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Jan 5, 2014 10:08 AM in response to rccharles

But what about the graphics display? Do you see anything that points to a bad logic board , if so i need to definitely order a new one , i happen to like my G5 quite a bit and as a musician with the programs and things i have saved , i MUST save this beautiful machine.

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Answer 12

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Jan 6, 2014 10:54 AM in response to edwin254

On all/most g5 iMacs, the video chip is soldered to the logic board. Running in safe mode avoids using the video chip.

Robert

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Answer 13

edwin254 Author

Level 1

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Jan 9, 2014 6:16 AM in response to rccharles

Then i really have no clue on what else to do , i ask about the logic board because of the lines and strange pixels , i can't seem to get it started in safe mode at all, it has once which is how i got those pictures and the lines and pixels even stayed in safe mode as well , maybe the lcd display is bad???, maybe its gpu???, i don't get it , and wish i did , this computer is very important to me.

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Answer 14

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Jan 9, 2014 10:17 AM in response to edwin254

There is a video out put. I think mini-vga. You will have to look.

You can try attaching a monitor to the computer. This will sort out if it is a display problem or not.

Perhaps you should look around for another used machine. Try freecycle.org or craigslist.com.

Robert

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