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Mac G5 wont startup, freezes at startup and stays at a loading grey apple screen. Help Please!

Posted on Dec 7, 2014 5:37 AM

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BDAqua

Level 10

239,273 points

Posted on Dec 7, 2014 12:17 PM

Gulp, but some things to try...

What shows if you hold alt key at setup, & how long will it sit on that screen?

Does it boot to Single User Mode, CMD+s keys at bootup, if so try...

/sbin/fsck -fy

Repeat until it shows no errors fixed.

(Space between fsck AND -fy important).

http://www.westwind.com/reference/os-x/commandline/single-user.html

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34 replies

BDAqua

Level 10

239,273 points

Dec 10, 2014 2:59 PM in response to TechysTechTalk

Hmmm, I wonder if that one has a Firmware Password invoked, does hold alt key at startup show a Lock?

Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option boot will show a lock, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.

Force Removing Password Protection

1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.

2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).

http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

Dec 10, 2014 4:10 PM in response to BDAqua

Took a stick of RAM out, turned mac on held the command option and p r and then it turned on, made a clicking off noise turned on off on off then I let it go and it did nothing.

Dec 10, 2014 4:27 PM in response to TechysTechTalk

And read and did what the links said, didn't work still has the folder with a ? And then it has the Mac OS logo 😟

BDAqua

Level 10

239,273 points

Dec 10, 2014 4:54 PM in response to TechysTechTalk

Try pulling a Matched pair of RAM out, it won't work unless we get 3 bongs in a row.

Dec 10, 2014 5:05 PM in response to BDAqua

Ok after I do that would the computer be fixed? Remember it has a folder with a question mark about the Mac OS

BDAqua

Level 10

239,273 points

Dec 10, 2014 5:09 PM in response to TechysTechTalk

We're still figuring out if it can be fixed or how to do it if it can.

Also might try swapping the HDD from the other one over for a test.

Dec 15, 2014 5:36 AM in response to BDAqua

So after I switch my Hard Drive, What do i do after that?

BDAqua

Level 10

239,273 points

Dec 15, 2014 10:33 AM in response to TechysTechTalk

Is there any change in behavior?

Dec 19, 2014 3:05 PM in response to BDAqua

YES it now will turn on but now will do the same as the last computer which is the apple logo and loading and then just never loads

Dec 19, 2014 7:34 PM in response to TechysTechTalk

My guess is that it needs some software stuff in the hard drive, how would I do that?

Dec 20, 2014 5:20 AM in response to TechysTechTalk

Dec 20, 2014 5:21 AM in response to TechysTechTalk

Then in the same folder it shows the mac os or finder symbol I dont know what its called but somethings in the hard drive that needs like an updste or something dont know :/