Frozen cursor on login page on G5

[Lacan]

Hi all,

My cursor froze on my G5 desktop the other night and when I restarted the computer I now get a frozen cursor top left at the login page. This may have been caused by my Wacom pen software or more likely the batteries in my wireless keyboard were flat. I've replaced batteries but the keyboard doesn't seem to want to connect now and I've tried both wired mouse and keyboard but neither are connecting so i cant safe boot or reset on start up. Can anyone help me unfreeze this cursor please? I'm locked out my computer. Thanks.

 

[now i see it]

My guess is your ancient computer has finally died. I've had a few that just stopped working in the past.

 

[Lacan]

My guess is your ancient computer has finally died. I've had a few that just stopped working in the past.

Really? Why do you say that? I hope not lol.

 

[majus]

This problem may be better addressed in the PowerPC Forum, which is what the G5 is.

PowerPC Macs

Power Mac, PowerBook, iMac Gx, iBook, etc...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Lacan]

This problem may be better addressed in the PowerPC Forum, which is what the G5 is.

PowerPC Macs

Power Mac, PowerBook, iMac Gx, iBook, etc...

forums.macrumors.com

Sorry I get confused, it's a MacPro early 2009, 2.5QCX. Is this a PowerPC? I used to know these things but my memory these days is shot. I'll post in the other forum if required.

Edit: isn't this the Intel chip?

 

[Soba]

Sorry I get confused, it's a MacPro early 2009, 2.5QCX. Is this a PowerPC? I used to know these things but my memory these days is shot. I'll post in the other forum if required.

Edit: isn't this the Intel chip?

To my knowledge, the Mac Pro never shipped with a 2.5GHz processor.

Look at the front of your tower and tell us how many CD/DVD drive panels you see. If there is only one panel, then you have a Power Mac G5. If there are two panels, you have a Mac Pro.

(See attached photos for reference.)

Also, can you clarify what your exact problem is? It sounds like you're saying that the system starts up fine and you reach the login screen as expected, but you are unable to move the mouse pointer or type on the keyboard. Is that correct?

 

[Lacan]

Thanks Soba - yes there are 2 CD panels so Mac pro. I thought it wasn't powerpc.

Yes youre correct - loads fine to login page but cursor is frozen. Can't seem to get wired mouse / keyboard to connect worringly.

 

[majus]

To my knowledge, the Mac Pro never shipped with a 2.5GHz processor.

Correct. It has to be a G5.

::edit:: 2 CD doors, then likely a 2.66 QC 2009.

 

[Soba]

Thanks Soba - yes there are 2 CD panels so Mac pro. I thought it wasn't powerpc.

Yes youre correct - loads fine to login page but cursor is frozen. Can't seem to get wired mouse / keyboard to connect worringly.

You do indeed have a Mac Pro with an Intel processor.

Have you tried connecting your wired keyboard and mouse to other USB ports on the Mac? Have you tried disconnecting everything from the system except for the keyboard, mouse, and display? (Sometimes a USB device or USB hub will fail randomly, which will cause problems with every other USB device attached to the system, hence the need to remove everything but keyboard and mouse for troubleshooting.)

This is a long shot and might be just voodoo, but you can try resetting the system management controller on the Mac. Very easy to do:

1. Shut down your Mac (since neither your keyboard nor mouse works, you will need to hold down the power button until the system powers off, which should be after about 5 seconds).
2. Unplug the power cord from the back of the Mac.
3. Wait at least 15 seconds, then plug the cord back in.
4. Wait at least 5 seconds, then press the power button to power the Mac back on.

See if this makes any difference and allows you to log in.

If not, I'm curious if the hardware is working and capable of recognizing the keyboard and mouse at all. If after the SMC reset you still can't move the mouse or type anything in, reboot your Mac again and then when you hear the startup chime, immediately press and hold the Option key (if you're using a PC keyboard, it is the same as the Alt key). After a few moments, you should see the Startup Manager (also called the "boot picker") that will show you the bootable drives in your system, and you can then release the Option/alt key.

If this works, you should be able to move the mouse here, and the fact you accessed Startup Manager at all also shows that your keyboard is in fact working and is recognized by the Mac. Select your Mac's usual boot drive and click the arrow below it to boot from it.

Let us know how this goes and what (if anything) works.

 

[MIKX]

Have you tried the NVRAM.PRAM re-set ?

if not . .

Shut down

Remove the power cord for about one minute.

Re-connect the Mac Pro

Now you have to hold down these keys until you hear the " Happy Mac Chime" THREE TIMES.

HOLD DOWN : Apple Ley + Option Key + P key + R key.

Don't let go of the above keys until you hear the THIRD CHIME.

Now wait as it ( hopefully ) boots up.

Please let us know how it goes.

Good Luck.


NOTE : The NVRAM/PRAM reset ( 3 chimes ) can fix a lot of Mac Pro problems

 

[Soba]

Have you tried the NVRAM.PRAM re-set ?

if not . .

Shut down

Remove the power cord for about one minute.

Re-connect the Mac Pro

Now you have to hold down these keys until you hear the " Happy Mac Chime" THREE TIMES.

HOLD DOWN : Apple Ley + Option Key + P key + R key.

Don't let go of the above keys until you hear the THIRD CHIME.

Now wait as it ( hopefully ) boots up.

Please let us know how it goes.

Good Luck.


NOTE : The NVRAM/PRAM reset ( 3 chimes ) can fix a lot of Mac Pro problems

@MIKX It’s actually 4 chimes.

You need to reset the NVRAM 3 times in sequence, so it will chime for each of those 3 resets. On the 4th boot, it will chime again and then you allow it to boot normally with no reset.

3 chimes will only reset the NVRAM twice and this will not fully reset the NVRAM.

@Lacan If your keyboard allows you into Startup Manager as I described in my prior post, then reboot your system and try the NVRAM reset 3 times in a row as MIKX suggested (but releasing the keys after 4 chimes). I suggested the startup manager test first because it is a simpler way to verify if the keyboard works at boot time. If you can’t get into Startup Manager, it’s unlikely that the Mac will register the keystrokes needed to reset the NVRAM.

 

[Lacan]

Thanks all, this morning I managed to get her working. Removing the power cord and trying various USB ports i got a wired key/mouse working. I guess I ought to do a disk utility repair?

 

[MIKX]

Lacan

Did you do the NVRAM/PRAM re-set ?

 

[Lacan]

Lacan

Did you do the NVRAM/PRAM re-set ?

No, not yet, I'm at work right now. Should I do that when I login tonight?

 

[MIKX]

Yes, it certainly will not hurt anything.

If you had done that first it might have fixed your problem and that information would be useful to all of us.