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Question Profile
| DATE | Jul 21, 2008 |
| TICKET | #338246 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | MAC G5 Not starting up |
| CAT | Computers, Operating Systems, Applications or Connected Devices |
| TYPE | Operating System Features, Bugs and Problems |
| DESC | Apple |
| DESC | 10.0.X |
| PLATFORM | Apple Macintosh (PowerPC G3,G4,G5) |
| MODEL | G5 |
| PROC | |
| RAM | |
| DRIVE | |
| NAME | Nia |
| USERNAME | missniaalys |
| TECHNICAL | Little Experience |
| ISSUE | Stumped |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> MAC G5 Not starting up
missniaalys - Jul 21, 2008 - 9:55 pm
When I turned my Mac G5 on it goes to the gray screen with the apple and no wheel turns or shows up, it then moves on to a black screen where it reads:
/etc/master.pasword:no such file or directory
/etc/master.pasword:no such file or directory
-sh-2.05b#
It wont do anything else and after it's on for a a couple of minutes the fans start sounding like they're a plane that's about to take off.
/etc/master.pasword:no such file or directory
/etc/master.pasword:no such file or directory
-sh-2.05b#
It wont do anything else and after it's on for a a couple of minutes the fans start sounding like they're a plane that's about to take off.
DeltaMac - Jul 21, 2008 - 11:09 pm
missniaalys - Jul 22, 2008 - 2:22 pm
I tried the article but I got to step 4 and the computer said command not found.
DeltaMac - Jul 22, 2008 - 7:00 pm
It's very easy to mis-type terminal commands.
Did you copy and paste that command into your terminal, so it is exact, including any spaces?
Did you continue on with the next step anyway?
If you can't proceed with that fix (which should help, but might not), then you should boot to your installer disk, and reinstall your OS X system, using the Option to Archive and Install. You will see the Options button at the first screen where you choose the drive to install
Let me know how that goes...
- Dale
Did you copy and paste that command into your terminal, so it is exact, including any spaces?
Did you continue on with the next step anyway?
If you can't proceed with that fix (which should help, but might not), then you should boot to your installer disk, and reinstall your OS X system, using the Option to Archive and Install. You will see the Options button at the first screen where you choose the drive to install
Let me know how that goes...
- Dale
missniaalys - Jul 22, 2008 - 7:49 pm
Ok, so I went back and checked. I can't copy and paste in because I'm using my laptop but I copied and pasted it into a word to make sure i was reading the letters right and got to the last step and could get it to work. The mac is actually my boyfriend's computer and he's not sure if he still has the installer disk any more. Is there a way where we could get one or is there any other option for getting past this problem? He really needs his computer because he works as a graphic designer and refuses my pc. He's also a dummy who never backed up his work. Does the Archive and Install save the info he has?
DeltaMac - Jul 22, 2008 - 11:12 pm
Yes, the archive and install option saves your files and other settings. It's usually a safe way to get your system installed.
Maybe you have friends who are Mac users, and who have an installer disk.
You can also get an install disk from wherever your boyfriend bought his Mac. Or, purchase the OS install from an Apple Store.
- Dale
Maybe you have friends who are Mac users, and who have an installer disk.
You can also get an install disk from wherever your boyfriend bought his Mac. Or, purchase the OS install from an Apple Store.
- Dale
missniaalys - Jul 24, 2008 - 9:09 pm
Ok, so we got a CD and we couldn't get the comp to start up from it. At this point should we just be taking it in somewhere?
DeltaMac - Jul 24, 2008 - 9:21 pm
Ok, you have a disk...
The install disk label will tell you the version number of the OS. Tell me what the label says, and what color the disk is, too?
Is this the original disk that came with the PowerMac, or one that you found somewhere.
If you put that disk in the drive, and restart while holding the Option key - does the installer disk show on the screen with the boot disk, and whatever other boot disks that might be connected? If you see the installer disk icon, click on that icon, then click on the right-facing arrow...
Should boot to the disk, and you can continue with the Archive and Install option.
Let me know what you find out...
- Dale
The install disk label will tell you the version number of the OS. Tell me what the label says, and what color the disk is, too?
Is this the original disk that came with the PowerMac, or one that you found somewhere.
If you put that disk in the drive, and restart while holding the Option key - does the installer disk show on the screen with the boot disk, and whatever other boot disks that might be connected? If you see the installer disk icon, click on that icon, then click on the right-facing arrow...
Should boot to the disk, and you can continue with the Archive and Install option.
Let me know what you find out...
- Dale
missniaalys - Jul 25, 2008 - 9:54 pm
Ok, We did have the wrong disk and got the correct one. Everything came up as it should and then right at the end of installation it said errors occurred reinstall. So we did twice and the same thing happened.
DeltaMac - Jul 25, 2008 - 10:26 pm
Be sure that you don't have any other devices attached to the computer - no hubs, printers, network cables, external drives, nothing else but your keyboard/mouse, and power.
I have sometimes had to try 5 or six times to get an install to complete. If you try more than twice with an archive and install, then you will need to be extra careful that you don't run out of space on your hard drive, as you are installing multiple systems, and also, your files are getting hidden with your user folder in one of the previous system installs. Not lost (yet), but getting more challenging to find, when you finally get your system working properly.
You should stop where you are, and back up ALL your files. Of course, you will need an external hard drive for this.
I would:
install your system to the EXTERNAL drive, so you have a good booting system to get all your files copied off. Good luck.
Let me know how it goes....
Most important at this point - make sure your installer disk looks OK, no scratches, smudges, etc. If you see anything that appears to be a defect, get the disk replaced.
Blow some of that canned air into your CD drive.
Carefully clean the surface of your installer disk. AND
try the install again.
last hint - I sometimes get success with a stubborn install by burning a copy of that installer DVD. You can easily make a good disk copy with Toast software, and the copy often will correct minor read problems that cause the install the stop with an error on the original disk.
Gets complicated, eh?
I have sometimes had to try 5 or six times to get an install to complete. If you try more than twice with an archive and install, then you will need to be extra careful that you don't run out of space on your hard drive, as you are installing multiple systems, and also, your files are getting hidden with your user folder in one of the previous system installs. Not lost (yet), but getting more challenging to find, when you finally get your system working properly.
You should stop where you are, and back up ALL your files. Of course, you will need an external hard drive for this.
I would:
install your system to the EXTERNAL drive, so you have a good booting system to get all your files copied off. Good luck.
Let me know how it goes....
Most important at this point - make sure your installer disk looks OK, no scratches, smudges, etc. If you see anything that appears to be a defect, get the disk replaced.
Blow some of that canned air into your CD drive.
Carefully clean the surface of your installer disk. AND
try the install again.
last hint - I sometimes get success with a stubborn install by burning a copy of that installer DVD. You can easily make a good disk copy with Toast software, and the copy often will correct minor read problems that cause the install the stop with an error on the original disk.
Gets complicated, eh?
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