Cannot get passed grey screen

Rhisiart

Rhisiart

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I own a 2001 G4 PowerPC Quicksilver (800Mhz/1.25 GB RAM).

Last week I upgraded from 10.4.10 to 10.4.11. I then found that the PC would not go to Sleep. I ran Disc Utility, but this made no difference. I then reset the PRAM.

Now when I boot up all I see is a grey screen, complete with Apple logo, but no spinning gear.

I have tried booting up in both Safe Mode and Single Mode, neither of which work.

I have also disconnected all USB devices, including mouse and keyboard. Again no difference.

I have researched the Apple Support database, but everything its suggests makes no difference.

Thank you.
 
have you got a spare harddrive? although i find it unlikely, i've seen macs hanging in that state and be fine with a new harddrive...

less drastic: what about the buffer battery? could that need replacement?
 
I have replaced the battery with a new one. No difference.

I reset the PMU on the circuit board (just once). Again no difference.

I wish I could get the CD drawer to open. That way I could run Diskwarrior or Techtool Pro, but every attempt to open the CD drawer fails.

I have an external Hard drive, but I am not sure how I can use this to solve the problem.
 
I got that grey screen once, the logic board on my G3 iMac was fried. Fortunately I was able to replace it real cheap on eBay; bet you could find one for your old Power Mac if need be. Here in the States they are going for about $40.
 
fryke said:
have you got a spare harddrive? although i find it unlikely, i've seen macs hanging in that state and be fine with a new harddrive...
Click to expand...
Yes, I do. I'll give it a go. Otherwise I may have to take it into an Apple repair shop.

andychrist said:
I got that grey screen once, the logic board on my G3 iMac was fried. Fortunately I was able to replace it real cheap on eBay; bet you could find one for your old Power Mac if need be. Here in the States they are going for about $40.
Click to expand...
Yes, there a few on the UK eBay site. I'm not sure whether I am competent enough to change one though. Apple recommends this should be done by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
 
Apple tells you to take it to an authorized service provider most likely so as not to void your warranty, which I assume is long past.

Anyway, I had no problem changing the board on my iMac, and I'm an idiot. Looks like your QuickSilver is actually even easier to service, from the link you provided. If you positively diagnose the logic board as the culprit and can find a replacement, then all you need is a philips screwdriver to make the swap.

Doesn't seem you have much to lose, as you're more than adequately stocked with Macs, as per your signature. :)
 
fryke said:
have you got a spare harddrive? although i find it unlikely, i've seen macs hanging in that state and be fine with a new harddrive...
Click to expand...
You're a star Fryke. Found a spare hard drive. The Powermac G4 is back working again. Thanks!

And thanks to AndyChrist for Plan B, which I would have tried out.
 
Ooooh. :) Glad that tip helped, although I still find it "unlikely". (Guess I just have to accept that there's at least one possible problem with a harddrive that has this effect.)
 
Well it got my machine back up and running!

Incidentally the G4 will still not go to sleep automatically (it will manually). I suspect the PMU is worn or a little damaged and I wonder whether when I reset the PRAM it knocked out the hard drive?

I won't reset the PRAM again just in case, even if I am wrong in my thinking.
 
Hey Rhisiart, glad you got your Quicksilver back up and running. Wonder if maybe your PRAM battery is dead, think they don't last much beyond five years or so.
 
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