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gerrno
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Q: Powermac G5 wont boot/no boot sound/no video just flashing led

Ok, I think I have a serious problem, the problem came up when I removed RAM, and befor that computer worked just fine (i have dual powermac G5 2GHz).

And after that to resolve that issue I tried everything:
- reset PRAM;
- reset SMU;
- unpluging everything and holding down power button while connection power cord;
- removing video card and powering up;
- moving RAM around and powering;

And nothing helped. Every time I power up the computer there is no chimne, no video, just falshing led!
So if anyone knows of any else options PLEAS HELP, I came to dead end.

Thanks

PowerMac G5 Dual 2GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.8), 2,5GB RAM, 160GB disk, 19" NEC display, iPod video 5th gen.

Posted on Mar 27, 2007 10:29 AM

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Q: Powermac G5 wont boot/no boot sound/no video just flashing led

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  • by Thomas Bryant,

    Thomas Bryant Thomas Bryant Mar 27, 2007 10:48 AM in response to gerrno
    Level 6 (13,865 points)
    Mar 27, 2007 10:48 AM in response to gerrno
    Hello! It's not passing the POST (power on self test). Read THIS article to see if it helps. Ram in the G5 has to be in pairs so if you removed one stick that could be the problem. Tom

  • by cherryblossom,

    cherryblossom cherryblossom Mar 27, 2007 10:50 AM in response to gerrno
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2007 10:50 AM in response to gerrno
    have you seen this article:

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302527

    it tells you about what the flashing led means.

  • by gerrno,

    gerrno gerrno Mar 27, 2007 10:56 AM in response to Thomas Bryant
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2007 10:56 AM in response to Thomas Bryant
    No i don't think it is passing a POST test, could this mean that i have exchange the battery, i messured the battery and i get 3.078V. And no I removed all of them and install them in pairs.

    And yes I read about flashing led's and is one of those simptons that isn't written in docs.

    It is flashing every 5 seconds, like it was written in the other post to this topic, and I tried what other people tried to do, but didn't solve my issue.

    As i have written, I'm suspecting the battery, but open to sugestions.

  • by Thomas Bryant,

    Thomas Bryant Thomas Bryant Mar 27, 2007 12:44 PM in response to gerrno
    Level 6 (13,865 points)
    Mar 27, 2007 12:44 PM in response to gerrno
    Hello Again! When you reset the pmu/smu did you have all ext cables (usb/firewire, a/c, monitor etc.) unhooked? Sometimes the pmu won't reset unless the cables are all unhooked. Also the battery should be 3.6 volts and it is possible it's causing the problem but personally I've never had a weak battery keep it from starting but many folks have. The last thing that could have happened is that the power supply has bitten the dust. Tom

  • by gerrno,

    gerrno gerrno Mar 27, 2007 1:58 PM in response to Thomas Bryant
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2007 1:58 PM in response to Thomas Bryant
    Ok, i will try it tomorow again with all the cabels unhooked (i can't recall if i unhooked all the cabels so just to be shure i'll do it again), with new battery, and we'll see what will happen.

    I'll definitely make a post what's happend.

    Thanks

  • by gerrno,

    gerrno gerrno Mar 28, 2007 8:16 AM in response to gerrno
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2007 8:16 AM in response to gerrno
    I've tried it with cabels unhooked and with new battery, and nothing, same problem no boot sound just flashing light.

    After that I also measured the power connector (because earlier I bought a book from PeachPit - Desktop and Portable System, which all I can say is not worth the money, but there is little chapter talking about a power supply verification) and the voltage is correct (+5V), so the power supply is OK.

    All I can say is that this was my first powermac and i bought it from second hand so there is no warranty, and in Slovenia there aren't any service technician, the nearest is in Austria. I'm very, very, ...... disappointed about the quality of powermac's (although I bought it from second hand it cost me a lot of money, which I don't have).

    I will not buy a new logic board to check if it's solution for the problem, and I'm very enthusiastic about computers, i'll probably leave and eventually sell it for pennies (and lose 1000EUR's, bull **).

    The end point is that anyone who is buying a powermac g5 with no warranty, earlier model don't do it!! I don't know about MacPro's.

  • by maclover,

    maclover maclover Mar 28, 2007 10:48 AM in response to gerrno
    Level 4 (3,850 points)
    Mar 28, 2007 10:48 AM in response to gerrno
    Hi. Some discussion of a similar 'one-flash' problem, and a link to another, here

    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3503587#3503587

    Maybe a methodical trial-and-error session with the RAM will help - esp. as your problems all started with RAM...

    Good Luck.

  • by gerrno,

    gerrno gerrno Mar 28, 2007 11:03 AM in response to maclover
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2007 11:03 AM in response to maclover
    I already read the thread, the only thing that I didn't do was to buy brand new ram and try whit it, so probably that the last low cost option.

  • by Chris Hylton,

    Chris Hylton Chris Hylton Mar 29, 2007 11:00 AM in response to gerrno
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Mar 29, 2007 11:00 AM in response to gerrno
    Do you know which LED is flashing? I have just had to take one of my dual 2.3 out of production due to issues. LED 7 was flashing once when I turned on the machine, then 6 more times in a period of about 30 seconds, and then the high speed fans. Strangely enough, I did not even get the 3 blink status light to tell me that there was no RAM installed. Called AppleCare; waiting on both a logic board and processors right now.

    Hope this helps somewhat. . .