need some major help with my powermac g4!

hello,

I recently purchased 2 sticks of 512 MB if RAM from cdw.com. it is Kingston sdram and i called to make sure it was the right kind, and the guy said exactly right. So I go to put it in and my computer has three slits for memory. I had 1 stick of 256 and 1 stick of 128. So I took out the 128 and put in the 2 512's and my computer wouldn't load. It just stated on the grey apple screen without the grey spinning thing! So I took out the old ram and put the old ones back in, and it did the exact same thing! I called Kingston and they had me reset the pram and that didnt help. I am in big need of help!

Computer specs are:
733 MHz powerpc processor
~386 MB of originial RAM.
quicksilver body type.

If any one has any suggestions please post! This was my only birthday gift and I really want it to work. Btw I could post this because I used my iPod.

Thanks!

Paul

JSchwage said:

Did you make sure you pushed the RAM in the slots all the way? Sometimes you have to shove those things in there pretty hard. Make sure the clips on either side go into the grooves on the RAM.

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yes I pushed very hard. It is to my understanding that they close by there selves too?

Thanks

JSchwage said:

Try resetting the PMU by pressing the PMU button. It's a little round grey button on the motherboard.

Here's a photo of what it looks like: http://www.info.apple.com/images/kbase/86760/86760_08.jpg

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no luck. Still did the same thing after pressing the button.

Thanks

JSchwage said:

Try unplugging all your USB devices before you turn it on. See if that works.

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tried that with the new and old ram but it still did the same thing.

Thanks

JSchwage said:

What monitor are you using? An Apple one? Does it have USB ports on it by any chance?

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I am using a planar monitor and it just has a power supply place and the monitor cord place.

Thanks

teleromeo said:

If you put back the original ram and it starts up correctly you should narrow your issue down to a problem with the new sticks. If it acts the same with the old sticks the problem is elswhere.

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it acts the same no matter what ram and what combination I put them in with. I was going to call apple but its 50 bucks for a one time call and I just don't have that money.

Thanks

JSchwage said:

Are you trying to boot into Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X? After doing some quick googling, I've found that you're not the only person with this problem.

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Os x 10.4 tiger. I can't start up without extensions in tiger.

Thanks

JSchwage said:

Do you have your original Tiger DVD? Try booting off of it by pressing the C key when you turn it on. If you can't open the optical drive tray, try sliding something in between the outer door to open it. From there you should be able to stick a paperclip in a hole on the drive to open it.

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I do have the original install disc but I can't open the tray. There is no button on the drive after I open the panel but there is a tiny button under the power button that I tried hitting several times and it did nothing.
thanks

JSchwage said:

Isn't there a little hole on the drive somewhere that you can stick a paperclip into? Push it in all the way until the tray pops open. You may have to take the drive out to get at the hole though. I can't remember if the front panel door is large enough to expose the hole.

Here's an example: http://case-mods.linear1.org/i/pict2435.jpg

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there is no hole there is just a black trey. Also, I tried holding down that little button while I started it up and it started up in open firmware or something but I can't type anything.

Thanks

motulist said:

I hesitate to ask, but... did you have yourself grounded at all times when you were touching the insides of your computer?

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I did not but I did touch a grounded metal object before starting.

JSchwage said:

Yeah, but if I remember correctly, the front panel door on the Quicksilver isn't large large enough to expose the button. Plus, there's no eject button on the front panel door on the Quicksilver like there is on the Sawtooths.

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that actually worked!!! I hit the eject button in the keyboard and it opened!! I am now in the disk utilies fixing the permissions. It had taken a while, so is it working right. Also, what exactly does this do?

Thanks!!