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iMac G4 firmware restoration/update

Hi.


I have a G4 iMac that has a lot of strange issues. OS 10.3.-installation goes without problems, but when trying to install 10.5., it fails;

- tried with my own retail-leopard about 20 times

- bought another retail-leopard and tried about 5 times

- usually ends up so that according to the iMac, the media is faulty

- once installation succeeded enough for the iMac to boot in leopard. Unfortunately the dock was visible but did not work and the command-row did not appear at all.


Hardware-test tells me that there is a problem with memory, error code was: 2MEM/3/4 DIMM1/J20. I removed the additional memory, but the test result was the same. Slot 1 should be J22, and slot 2 should be J20 - the faulty one. Which one is the additional memory slot? Both memory-cards are 1gb, and they seem to work without any problems when running 10.3.


The key-combinations during start-up do not seem to work at all. Fe. zapping PRAM does not work nor does start with "option" pressed down.


Keyboard and mouse are original and seem to work ok. HD has been tested and it has cleared them many times.


I figured that there might be a problem with Firmware, and I tried to find a restore or update file, and it seems that such files have existed, but those Apple-support pages do not seem to work anymore:


http://www.apple.com/support/imac-intl/g4/


Any ideas? How to get the firmware restoration/update?

iMac (Flat Panel 2003), Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Feb 5, 2016 10:04 AM

Reply
4 replies

Feb 6, 2016 11:24 AM in response to Arkisto

OK, I had to make sure, because I remembered the first two iMac G4 releases did not support Leopard at all. And I knew only of the RAM upgrade method for the first one. This link also from Everymac explains your Mac has much the same issue as the original iMac:


http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/imac-g4-flat-panel-faq/imac-g4-how-to -upgrade-memory-ram.html


One factory installed RAM that to access you must unscrew the logicboard after taking off the bottom panel, and carefully make sure the wires don't get tangled in the neck, or the neck gets loosened to the point you need an authorized service technicians tool to adjust, or the cooling gel doesn't get reapplied too much when you put it back together.


And there is one slot that is easily accessed just by removing the bottom panel. This slot, though is also known to have very fragile RAM clips, that if not taken care of, could make that RAM module loose.


As with all Macs, you must know your exact Spec when you get RAM for it, and request it from either an authorized service technician, or http://www.macsales.com/ (OtherWorld Computing, also known as OWC), http://www.crucial.com/http://www.lifetimememory.com/ or http://www.datamem.com/


Do not buy 333 MHz PC2700 DDR RAM that has the pinout of your machine. It must be iMac 1 Ghz USB 2 compatible RAM according to the vendor you buy from.

So the RAM error could be with the factory installed RAM, the first one I mention, which is harder to access if you have removed the RAM from the easy to access slot. In which case you'll want to get that replaced by someone who has the tools to do it.


Feb 7, 2016 9:23 AM in response to a brody

I do know how to access the memory slots, for I installed them a few years back. They are from Crucial and specifically bought to this iMac.The iMac has worked without problems with these memory cards for years now, and it still does. I managed yesterday to install Leopard in Target mode using an iBook G4, and it seems to be a successful installation.


1. How to get the firmware updated or restored?

2. Which memory slot is #1 and #2?

iMac G4 firmware restoration/update

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