G5 10.4.6 won't boot with mod keys or OF

M

midiwife

Registered
I run 7 G5 2.7GHz Powerpcs (1GHz ram) and 10.4.6 in a music tech lab.

The main teaching machine now refuses to boot into single user mode or any other mode requiring modifying keys at startup.

I think the problem is an open firmware one, I did manage to boot into open firmware once and did the following:

reset-nvram

then

reset-all

and this solved the problem. I then booted into single user mode and ran Applejack which I use to maintain all the macs.

Only managed this once and now the same problem again, only this time, I can't even boot into open firmware (trying the same method - holding in the power button till it boots into OF).

Plus, when it boots 'normally' there is no apple icon, just a silvery grey screen and startup takes longer than than on the other machines. It does though get to a full load of the OS.

I want to run Applejack as I'd been having some unexplained crashes running Cubase SX (unexpected quits).

The mac's just over a year old and I really don't want to have to send it back to the vendor as they were really useless in the first place.

Please help.
 
Thanks for this - the problem was I couldn't even boot into open firmware anymore.

I'll persevere and get back to you,

Thanks again,

Karina T.
 
Hi again, finally got a set of 10.4 install disks and ran the Open Firmware Password App setting it to "password". At this point on restarting the mac, it wouldn't startup normally at all. I held the power button in for an age hoping it would boot into OF which it finally did - much to my surprise. I ran reset-nvram then reset-all as this was before I read your last message.

Booted up normally to 10.4.6 and as I was about to teach, I decided not to meddle further at that point. Shall try and do a complete reset like you recommend.

I'm not sure what the CUDA chip is on the logic board but I did try resetting the SMU although I didn't unplug the power cable first. I've read varying reports of having to do this or not.

Thursday afternoon is my main studio maintenance day so I'll try out a few things then.

Many thanks.
 
macworks said:
When you boot into Open Firmware:

1) reset-nvram
2) set-defaults
3) reset-all
Click to expand...

Hi again,

Managed to startup in OF by pressing the mod keys at startup! Ran the 3 commands you stated and then succeeded in starting up in single user mode and running Applejack maintenance app from single user mode.

So, for now at least, it seems to be back to normal. Doesn't fill me with extreme confidence though!

Thanks so much for your advice.

Karina T.
 
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