G5 will not boot

S

ShaunFerguson

Registered
I have read through many posts but have not found a solution.
Here's the problem:

Malfunction ...
G5 2.7 DP early 2005. Two internal drives (400Gb each). 8Gb RAM.
OS 10.4.11 on internal discs. One external with 10.5.6.
No problems until today.

Only new item recently was a new back-up battery.

The amusements started with the "close down your computer" notice while working in Firefox.
Shut down, restarted. Sent report to Apple.
Back to Firefox. Fine for a few minutes, then everything froze.
Shut down using power button on front of computer.

Restarted. Everything stopped at grey screen with Apple logo and no clock.
Started with option key down and chose different start-up disc.
Back to grey screen. Light on usb mouse goes out.

Started again and held down mouse key to open DVD tray; loaded System disc.
Ran Hardware Test (quick); no problems reported.
So tried again.
Wouldn't start from Diskwarrior CD.
Won't start from a CD when "C" is held down.
And it won't start from the original install disc that came with the G5.
We get as far as the grey screen.

But it does run the Hardware Test; so I ran the "Extended Test".
Result: everything passed test (took 3 hrs).

Restarted. Screen stays black.
Restart with option key, choose Install disc; grey screen with Apple logo.

Added bits to this report (which is being written on our old 7300) then used option key to select start disc (usual one) and started the G5 again.
And it started without any argument on main drive.
Disk Utility - repair perms; told it to verify disc; excessive fan noise; froze.
Tried using the external (Leopard) to restart; got the "your computer needs to shut down" message.

If I leave it on the grey screen in the hope that something will happen eventually the fans go bananas.
Managed to get it to run Techtool (came with Apple Protection) and G5 passed all tests.
Then managed to get it to start from Install DVD - but it froze just after loading
Desktop.

Since when whatever I do I can't get beyond the grey screen with Apple logo or it freezes on the blue "select start-up disc" screen.

Found thread in this forum concerning PRAM battery; checked the one I put in at beginning of April; still fully charged. So it can't be that.

So - any ideas what to do next?

(Also posted this at Apple Discussions.)
 
Shaun, I had the same identical trouble with my 2004 G5. It is still broken.
Was the CPU the only problem, and was it hard to replace? Could you tell us
what the repair job cost? Thanks
 
They said that was the only fault - but I suppose there might be something else turn up when the CPU is fitted and the machine checked again.
Cost - £540 for the part and £40 for the labour; plus VAT at 15%, so £667 in all. Which is a bit of a pain ...
 
Maybe you could pick up a CPU for your G4 on ebay; or try OWC. There's a couple of other places but I haven't got the references to hand. You could also ask if anyone has one for sale on the Apple Discussions site.
 
My father went through the same issue with his PMG6 1.6 GHz. Right now, it's just sitting there collecting dust in his house while he uses his dual G4 Quicksilver for his work. Such a shame. :(
 
This is being written on our PowerMac 7300 (running OS 8.6) - which I bought in 1997; it has system 7 point something then. It's had a new XLR8 processor (some years back; 500MHz replacing the 166 it originally had) and 1Gb RAM. Runs fine, if a trifle slow ... The only problem is the browser (Explorer) which is hopelessly out of date and not very efficient. But I accept it might be hard finding parts for it now should it blow a gasket or two. My brother's in commercial design; he has machines with OSX, but he says there's a couple of older pre-OSX models that can be given a task and sit happily working through it in a quiet corner.
 
Jackrushing said:
Shaun, I had the same identical trouble with my 2004 G5. It is still broken.
Was the CPU the only problem, and was it hard to replace? Could you tell us
what the repair job cost? Thanks
Click to expand...

Replacing the processor on those is not very difficult because you really only need to remove the processor cover and fan to get to the processors. Then it is a matter of having a long handled hex driver to loosen the standoff screws. The problem lies in calibrating the processors after the repair. Only Apple authorized shops have access to the service diags to calibrate the processors. The main problem is not paying a shop to do it because I imagine most wouldn't charge that much. Its just finding the part cheap thats the problem.
 
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