The Dreaded Grey Screen of Death!

[AdamScottMiller]

Hi all, thanks in advance for reading this and any advice you may have.

After having been turned off for two weeks, my powermac G5 will not got into OSX past the grey screen.
Sounds: When booting up I hear normal processing sounds, but then five seconds into the grey screen the computer goes silent and then slowly the fans begin to whir, from soft to jet engine in a few minutes.

I've tried booting into the "code screen" (control, option, p, r), but it didn't do it.

FYI: The cd-drive hasn't functioned for two years, so I can't run any hardware tests.

Thank you! An ASAP response would be much appreciated.

[SGilbert]

Try a new PRAM battery. Radio Shack carries them. Then reset PMU.

[fryke]

control option p r doesn't boot you into "code screen" (open firmware) but resets the PRAM. instead, hit command (the apple or "strange symbol" key) option o f. those take you to the open firmware, if that's what you intended.

[AdamScottMiller]

Why replace the battery? Is that reelatively easy to do myself?

What should I do at the firmware screen?

Thanks!

[pds]

on startup - hold command and the s key to enter single user mode.

Follow the instructions to run fsck (there are some switches - the options are presented to you).

[AdamScottMiller]

Command+S doesn't do anything?

[pds]

I don't get the "?" - are you asking hypothetically or declaring that you tried and wondering why nothing happened?

it starts the computer in single user mode - without the graphic interface. From the command prompt you can run fsck to fix the OS if possible.

[AdamScottMiller]

sorry, i mean that there was no response to Command+S