Late-2005 Power Mac Quad startup issues

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Level 1

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Late-2005 Power Mac Quad startup issues

My Power Mac Quad Core on Snow Leopard has a startup issue. I was getting the "black screen of death" a lot and had to manually restart. Now I start it up and wait. It spins and then this whirring sound starts. The only thing to do is manually shut it down. I caught (after many attempts) the CD drive before it closed and placed the startup disc in it. Of course, when it starts up, I have to go to Disk Utility just to get to the harddrive to select it and restart. It's not recognizing the harddrive without this process. Does anyone have a clue what may be causing this? I would take it to the Geek Squad, but don't want to spend another $200. It's been a great computer and I hate like anything the thought of selling it for $200. I have a new 27" iMac, but I want my Power Mac as a backup unit. Help!

Posted on Oct 13, 2015 8:43 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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Oct 13, 2015 10:23 AM in response to gaylyns

What happens if you hold alt key at bootup?

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Answer 2

gaylyns Author

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Oct 14, 2015 4:49 AM in response to BDAqua

It's a Mac! No ALT key. To answer, I've tried everything.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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Oct 14, 2015 10:47 AM in response to gaylyns

Sometimes the alt key is labeled option, sometimes it has a strange charachter on it... the 2nd key from the bottom left usually... control<->alt/option<->CMD/Apple<->Spacebar.

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Answer 4

gaylyns Author

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Oct 22, 2015 3:32 AM in response to BDAqua

I'm sorry, but it's kind of sad that a Mac helper on this website doesn't realize that Mac has never had an Alt key. No "sometimes" about it. You still didn't answer my question reliably or respond to my saying I've tried everything. No need to respond again. Thanks just the same.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

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238,979 points

Oct 22, 2015 10:21 AM in response to gaylyns

Sorry, can you show me a Mac KB without alt/option/⌥ key?

http://tinyurl.com/n9tpbjl

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Option_key

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Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

Oct 22, 2015 10:35 AM in response to gaylyns

The keyboards on all my four Macs look like this - and on any Mac I ever owned.

It is a German keyboard layout and it will depend on the version of the keyboard you bought, if it will say "alt" or "opt" on the ⌥ key.

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Answer 7

Demo

Level 10

166,494 points

Oct 22, 2015 11:02 AM in response to gaylyns

gaylyns wrote:

I'm sorry, but it's kind of sad that a Mac helper on this website doesn't realize that Mac has never had an Alt key.

What's sad is that you don't know that a Mac has an alt key. What is even sadder - and I know you don't know this - but you are dissing one of the most helpful, knowledge members of this support community.

Take a look at your keyboard again. Take a closer look.

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Answer 8

Oct 22, 2015 11:32 AM in response to gaylyns

gaylyns wrote:

I'm sorry, but it's kind of sad that a Mac helper on this website doesn't realize that Mac has never had an Alt key. No "sometimes" about it. You still didn't answer my question reliably or respond to my saying I've tried everything. No need to respond again. Thanks just the same.

If you've tried "everything" then there is no hope, it will never work again, and there was no point in posting. As no one here is psychic we don't know what is included in your "everything."

Regarding the ALT key:

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Answer 9

Oct 22, 2015 12:01 PM in response to gaylyns

Please push key X on u keyboard for force start MAC OS X for defaul start system

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Answer 10

gaylyns Author

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Oct 23, 2015 7:54 AM in response to gaylyns

OK. You guys have really let me have it and I deserve it. I've been a real CAPITAL 'B'---- lately and I apologize to you all. Truly, I didn't have my information together before posting in the first place, and I truly had never seen that little alt on my keyboard until you mentioned it. Please, accept my apologies - everyone. I'm tucking in my tail and crawling back into my hole. I can't say never to be heard of again - that's a maybe. I may change my account name before returning again, however.

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Answer 11

léonie

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194,647 points

Oct 23, 2015 8:56 AM in response to gaylyns

Could you make progress with the start-up problem of your PowerMac?

What happens, when you hold down the alt/options key while restarting the Mac? Does it let you select a different startup drive?

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Answer 12

gaylyns Author

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Oct 23, 2015 10:18 AM in response to léonie

Only with the start up disc in the drive. It's strange.

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Answer 13

Oct 23, 2015 3:28 PM in response to omaldonado89

omaldonado89 wrote:

Please push key X on u keyboard for force start MAC OS X for defaul start system

That's not quite what the X key does. I quote: 'Start up from an OS X startup volume when the Mac would otherwise start up from a non-OS X startup volume.' (i.e. if the 'non-OSX startup volume' is the default).

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Answer 14

seventy one

Level 7

27,424 points

Oct 24, 2015 12:57 AM in response to gaylyns

Just wanted to say, for all that has been said, that was a handsome apology.

You are very lucky to have Leonie looking after you.

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Answer 15

BDAqua

Level 10

238,979 points

Oct 24, 2015 10:18 AM in response to gaylyns

It's OK, so holding alt key at bootup only shows the Install Disc, not the Hard Drive?

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