Q: My Mac G4 came unplugged while running and now when I start it up all I get is a continuous reboot loop.

While sliding my Mac G4 tower out from under the desk it came unplugged. It was running at the time. After plugging it back in all I get is a continuous reboot loop. I have tried the Shift and the Command Option P R boots to no avail. What am I missing here? I have had no problems in the past with this system. I am running Panther.

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.5.3), Not sure what version of OSX5.

Posted on Nov 18, 2014 7:39 AM

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Q: My Mac G4 came unplugged while running and now when I start it up all I get is a continuous reboot loop.

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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Nov 19, 2014 5:26 PM in response to cfmaly
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Nov 19, 2014 5:26 PM in response to cfmaly

Yes, quite a difference in some areas.

Does it get any further if you let it cool for a few hours?

Then try booting in Verbose mode to see if we get any more messages to the screen, hold CMD + v keys on boot.
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by cfmaly,

cfmaly Nov 19, 2014 6:14 PM in response to BDAqua
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Nov 19, 2014 6:14 PM in response to BDAqua

Letting it cool down did nothing to fix the problem. I booted in Verbose mode and got the following... just like the picture i posted earlier. I did not catch the last line in the photo this time. The scrolling list and reboot happen so fast.
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by cfmaly,

cfmaly Nov 19, 2014 6:20 PM in response to cfmaly
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Nov 19, 2014 6:20 PM in response to cfmaly

Just able to catch this:
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Nov 19, 2014 7:06 PM in response to cfmaly
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Nov 19, 2014 7:06 PM in response to cfmaly

This is tough!

Hold alt key at bootup, does it sit on that screen for several minutes?

If not try disconnecting the data cables from the hard drive(s) & optical, try alt boot again.
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by cfmaly,

cfmaly Nov 19, 2014 7:32 PM in response to BDAqua
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Nov 19, 2014 7:32 PM in response to BDAqua

Yes, it stays on that screen. Three icons: Circular arrow, Mac hd, and right arrow on blue background. Selecting hd does nothing and selecting right arrow starts the loop.
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Nov 20, 2014 11:55 AM in response to cfmaly
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Nov 20, 2014 11:55 AM in response to cfmaly

Do you have an Install Disc to boot from & disconnect the HDD cables? (Might have been mentioned but can't remember).
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by cfmaly,

cfmaly Nov 20, 2014 2:37 PM in response to BDAqua
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Nov 20, 2014 2:37 PM in response to BDAqua

Don't have an install disk. Is there a way to get one that will work?
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Nov 20, 2014 4:51 PM in response to cfmaly
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Nov 20, 2014 4:51 PM in response to cfmaly

eBay, but they may not be cheap.

Trouble is Apple no longer sells it, check eBay & such for the Retail version, not the Gray Discs...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mac+os+x+leopard+retail+10.5
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by cfmaly,

cfmaly Nov 22, 2014 11:46 AM in response to BDAqua
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Nov 22, 2014 11:46 AM in response to BDAqua

One final question before I take this machine to an Apple Store for help.
I had backed up everything on this G5 so I am not afraid to lose anything. Is it possible to just reset up the hard drive and install a newer version of OSX?
Plus, I disconnected the keyboard and mouse and instead of a continuous reboot it went to the grey apple screen and stayed there as the fan and drive started running like crazy.
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by BDAqua,

BDAqua Nov 22, 2014 12:23 PM in response to cfmaly
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Nov 22, 2014 12:23 PM in response to cfmaly

10.5.8 is the highest any G5 can run, & Apple no longer works on G5s, you might find an independent AASP that can or will.
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