Ron Wilson3

Q: PPC G5 CRASHING SOON AFTER STARTUP.

POWER PC G5 DP 2.7.  (2004)   OSX 10.4.11

Crash script.jpg

G5 has been pretty stable for some time. Recent hints of trouble were random failure of USB stylus for Cintiq display. Sometimes OK, sometimes not. This happened over months.

 

A few days ago video quit. Replaced video card. This restored video but keyboard, mouse and Cintiq stylus did not work. Startups would mostly end with gray screen. When startup managed to get to desktop, screen would freeze after a few minutes.

Shutdown and startups would have to be by power button.

 

Connected G5 to my other computer by fierier and set G5 as Target disk. Used Disk Utility on other computer to fix permissions and Tech Tools to check volume which was OK. Checked PRAM battery which is still 3.6v. Zapped PRAM, Reset PMU button, reseated RAM cards and video card, checked all internal connections.

 

After some of these steps, I managed to get to a full startup which produced a dialog box that my Date and Time were wrong and needed to be changed. When I changed them in Prefs and Saved the change the screen would freeze up. Other restarts only produced a gray screen.

 

I am running out of ideas and options.

 

The last failed restart produced text on the screen. (for the first time) which I am including here. Maybe it will help in figuring out this mystery.

 

Thanks for any help

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11), G5 DP 2.7GHz

Posted on Jul 31, 2015 11:20 PM

Close

Q: PPC G5 CRASHING SOON AFTER STARTUP.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 4 last Next
  • by Ron Wilson3,

    Ron Wilson3 Ron Wilson3 Aug 9, 2015 10:57 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 9, 2015 10:57 AM in response to BDAqua

    Thank you ChitlinsCC for your input. Very good troubleshooting article and ideas.

     

    To BDAqua: Yes this 2.7 has LCS. I have heard comments on other threads about the thermal paste. I will have to give that serious thought.

     

    My G5 must be inhabited by gremlins delighting in changing things just to stay one step ahead of me. After a good restart last night, I let the computer run all night. It was OK this morning with no frozen screen and no "afterburner" fan. Tempting fate, I shut it down for a little bit and restarted to a normal screen just to see if my luck holds. So far it's been a couple of trouble free hours. What I do notice is that the fan is running somewhat faster than normal for a 75Ëš room and light CPU load. It is not in full "afterburner" mode but faster than normal.  I checked in Prefs> Energy Saver> Processor Performance is set to Automatic.

     

    Pondering possibilities: If the heating of the motherboard did actually "heal" it, is it possible that the sensors now see it as a "new" motherboard and and have subsequently thrown the fan speed off? If so, I will have to track down the elusive ASD 2.5.8. to readjust sensors.

     

    I will persist through the weekend to see if things have improved and report back.

     

    Thanks for the help.

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 9, 2015 11:17 AM in response to Ron Wilson3
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 9, 2015 11:17 AM in response to Ron Wilson3

    My Site...

     

    http://x704.net/bbs/

     

    It may be that the last heatup fixed a RAM problem & subsequent cache clearing righted some things.

     

    Get Temperature Monitor to see if it's heat related...

     

    http://www.bresink.com/osx/TemperatureMonitor.html

  • by Ron Wilson3,

    Ron Wilson3 Ron Wilson3 Aug 9, 2015 12:17 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 9, 2015 12:17 PM in response to BDAqua

    Good suggestion. Here are the readings. I don't know what "normal" is other than that specified for CPU's.

    What am I to learn from these readings?

    I take it that this app is good for reading but not making any system adjustments?

    Picture 56.png

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 9, 2015 12:53 PM in response to Ron Wilson3
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 9, 2015 12:53 PM in response to Ron Wilson3

    Correct, just reading the temps.

     

    Those temps are quite OK, just see if they rise if you push it with some chore & how far.

     

    My G5 temps...

    G5Temps2.gif

    Memory controller is a bit warm,but it runs hot... 170°F.is the worry point.

  • by Ron Wilson3,

    Ron Wilson3 Ron Wilson3 Aug 10, 2015 9:37 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 9:37 AM in response to BDAqua

    I can't believe this.

    Every step forward turns into a new problem.

    After running fine over the weekend, I shut the G5 down and restarted.

    Nothing. Push power button and it clicks and flashes on, then immediately clicks and flashes off.

    Thinking it might be a fluke, I unplugged power and all connections, then reconnected.

    Tried power button again a few times, same thing, click on and immediately off.

     

    Observations?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 10, 2015 9:49 AM in response to Ron Wilson3
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 9:49 AM in response to Ron Wilson3

    How long did you let it cool, & how long unplugged?

  • by Ron Wilson3,

    Ron Wilson3 Ron Wilson3 Aug 10, 2015 12:21 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 12:21 PM in response to BDAqua

    I think about 45 min. unplugged and cooling.

    Just tried it again after a couple of hours. Same results.

    Does this sound like power supply?

     

    Do we talk about digital poltergeists on this forum?

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Aug 10, 2015 12:41 PM in response to Ron Wilson3
    Level 6 (8,172 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 10, 2015 12:41 PM in response to Ron Wilson3

    Ron Wilson3 wrote:

     

    SNIP

     

    Do we talk about digital poltergeists on this forum?

    My recollection is that the common term was this >  http://bfy.tw/1Eha < apparently still in favor

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 10, 2015 1:30 PM in response to Ron Wilson3
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 1:30 PM in response to Ron Wilson3

    It does sound a bit like a bad Capacitor somewhere, most likely in the PSU, but not totally convinced yet.

     

    Here's some more info on G5 PSU voltage values:

     

    http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t105113.html

  • by Ron Wilson3,

    Ron Wilson3 Ron Wilson3 Aug 10, 2015 5:12 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 5:12 PM in response to BDAqua

    Link on PSU voltage wasn't good. I looked up some other threads on PSU testing and replacement.

    Sounds like PSU voltage testing is pretty tricky since it appears that conclusive tests need to be done under load. How?

    I'm not sure what to do now.

     

    Based on threads I have read this start problem is most likely caused by a failed PSU, BUT could be Video card, CPU's, Motherboard, Switch, etc., etc..

    I didn't know I would need to become a certified Apple tech to limp this G5 along. It's like going down a rabbit hole. No idea of where it is going to lead and if I will get to the "end".

     

    What do you advise?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 10, 2015 6:14 PM in response to Ron Wilson3
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 6:14 PM in response to Ron Wilson3

    Well, it could be any of those, not sure where to go from here, it's up to you.

  • by Ron Wilson3,

    Ron Wilson3 Ron Wilson3 Aug 10, 2015 8:37 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 10, 2015 8:37 PM in response to BDAqua

    Powermac G5 DP 2.7 has been a good workhorse for a long time. When it's working well, I love it.

    I like the stability of 10.4.11 and access to my very useful legacy software and OSX software.

    My heart is into keeping it going. My head is calculating how much more life I can squeeze out of it and at what price.

     

    I am off to do homework on replacement parts or a suitable replacement.

    If I don't find a good 2.7, which other DP powermacs will accept the RAM and drives from this 2.7?

     

    I may be back with scuba gear to dive deeper into the mysterious depths of the G5.

     

    Thanks to all for your time and effort with my post. Very smart, very helpful!

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 11, 2015 11:30 AM in response to Ron Wilson3
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 11, 2015 11:30 AM in response to Ron Wilson3

    The RAM will work in all G5s except the 1st 1.6 GHz one or the last 3 PCIe models, the Hard Dives(s) will work in any G5, for G4s youd need an external case or PCI SATA card.

     

    http://www.macofalltrades.com/Power-Mac-1x-2-3GHz-DC-G5-Late-2005-p/pm-g523-dc-l 05a.htm

  • by Ron Wilson3,

    Ron Wilson3 Ron Wilson3 Aug 11, 2015 2:52 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 11, 2015 2:52 PM in response to BDAqua

    Thank you for the RAM and HD info.

     

    Have you known a failing Power Supply to cause some of the other problems I have experienced with this G5 before it totally failed?

    Since it puts out different voltages for different components I could see how it would throw some thing off. I am trying to think of the most likely and logical thing to replace first.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 11, 2015 5:27 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Aug 11, 2015 5:27 PM in response to BDAqua

    .

Previous Page 2 of 4 last Next