Hard Drive Replacement G5 "Error Loading Operating System"

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ICanHazG3 Author

Level 1

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Hard Drive Replacement G5 "Error Loading Operating System"

Hello,

I recently acquired an iMac G5

I get a DOS-like screen saying "Error Loading Operating System"

I just replaced the hard disk, It wouldn't boot from a CD/DVD before or after the replacement

Before I replaced the hard drive I got a blank grey screen, nothing else (even after pressing Opt, C, etc.)

Now I have the same problem but after ≈5min the screen goes to a DOS-like screen saying "Error Loading Operating System" in a Raster font on a black background

I already checked the logic board including capacitors and other peripherals

I Have no way of getting the Model#

Screen Size 17"

RAM 2GB

SuperDrive

Original Disk 160GB

iSight

Thanks Ahead, Tyler

iMac, G5

Posted on Oct 2, 2015 5:39 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

a brody

Level 10

82,941 points

Oct 18, 2015 2:12 PM in response to ICanHazG3

The model# is not important. The EMC# off the foot will tell us what you have:

Is my iMac an iMac PPC or Intel?

Assuming you are correct and it is a PPC G5, you'll need to format the hard drive Apple Partition Map. The GUID, and FAT32, and NTFS formats most commonly found on new hard drives will not work with PPC Macs. This article explains more in depth about formatting:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3003

Furthermore, do not post the serial number here, but use it to identify your Mac further:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6413

Note the dates at the end to determine which retail releases you can use, 10.3, 10.3.2, 10.3.5, 10.4, 10.4.3, 10.4.6, 10.5.

If you got the original discs, that will help, as that's the only way to load Classic on your Mac.

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