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User profile for user: Donald Lomonaco
Donald Lomonaco Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Dead Mac

I am having a problem getting my G5 to boot. Half the time when I turn it on I get no chime. The other half, I get the chime but the boot process does not continue. If I leave the computer on the fans begin to progressively get faster and louder after about 5 minutes. Anyone have an idea what could be happening? I've tried starting with various USB and Firewire components unplugged and have even gone to just a keyboard and mouse. No change. Can I get the computer to boot from an OSX CD? How do I open the tray? etc.. Thanks for any help.

Powermac G5 Dual 2.5GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Jun 8, 2007 6:57 AM

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9 replies
User profile for user: japamac
japamac
User level: Level 7
24,400 points

Jun 8, 2007 7:15 AM in response to Donald Lomonaco

Hi-

To open your optical drive tray, hold down the mouse (click) while you start up.
The tray will open so you can insert your install disk, close the tray and immediately hold the "c" key to boot from the disk. Then, you can use Disk Utility from the Utilities menu to repair your hard drive. If errors are returned, run DU again, to insure repair.
If issues persist, we'll have to go from there.

G4AGP(450)Sawtooth, 2ghz PowerLogix, 2gbRAM, 300gbSATA+160gbATA, ATI Radeon 9800 Mac OS X (10.4.8) Pioneer DVR-109, ExtHD 160gb x2, 23"Cinema Display, Ratoc USB2.0, Nikon Coolscan
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User profile for user: AjanovicH
AjanovicH
User level: Level 1
90 points

Jun 8, 2007 8:05 PM in response to Donald Lomonaco

Hi Donald,

I went through the similar situation with my G5 recently. Do you have any video? Do not plug in the mouse in the keyboard - use separate USB ports for each.

If you have a bootable external FW drive, unhook the internal drives (their directory could be corrupted, and that could be a possible cause of your problems), and try booting from FW drive by holding OPTION on startup.

Is the keyboard responsive at all, if not...

Try exchanging the video card first...

If that does not work, you probably have a dead logic board. Hopefully, you have the APP - I didn't - 'cause it's rather expensive to repair.

Good luck,

H.
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User profile for user: Donald Lomonaco
Donald Lomonaco Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 8, 2007 10:00 PM in response to Donald Lomonaco

Ok so I'm up and running again. I unplugged everything (power included) to blow the dust out of the case in the event I needed to take it in for service. Upon reconnecting the power (which reset the SMU), keyboard, and mouse I started up holding Option hoping to get to boot from my OSX cd. It was successful. The disk did not need repair according to Disk Utility and I repaired permissions. I'll restart from my G5 utility disc and put the system into repeated hardware diagnostics to make sure there aren't any intermittent hardware problems cropping up. Other than that I'll keep up with software diagnostics. Thanks for the help. I do have the Applecare plan on it until later this summer and I'm sure I'll renew it as well. Great peace of mind when you need it.
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User profile for user: Donald Lomonaco
Donald Lomonaco Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 10, 2007 7:10 PM in response to Donald Lomonaco

Also, I just noticed that a very small plug is hanging down just below the internal speaker. It's a tiny 90 degree shaped round plug with an outer rim. There is an adhesive plastic tab attached to the wire of the plug as well. There is also another small plug that looks like it mates with the other end attached to a rail with the same adhesive plastic square. I had to remove the fan/speaker unit to see it clearly. Did this come disconnected? What is it this plug for?
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Dead Mac

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