G5 Will Not Boot: The Plot Thickens

[BWCDoc]

I posted a request for help because my G5 crashes occasionally and will not boot afterward (a partial copy of the original post is below). I am using my G4 on which I have a Quicken program that runs in OS 9. While running Quicken in OS 9, I realized that I needed some info that was on the HD of my G5, so I quit 9, rebooted the G4 into OS 10 and started the G5 in slave mode (the only way that the G5 will boot). After getting the info I needed, I went back to Startup Disk to relaunch OS9 when I noticed that the slaved system from the G5 was a choice. Being the desperate person that I am, I took a chance, clicked on it and hit return. The G4 began the rebooting process from 10.5.8 that it was in into the 10.5.8 on that was on the G5. The G4 crashed just like the G5 does when it tries to boot.

I don't know if the G4 crash was due to the same thing that causes the G5 to crash or if it was something else but it is another piece in the puzzle. Even if there is a problem with the software on the G5 OS 10 system, why wont the G5 boot using the OS 10.5.0 system CD's?

Any ideas?
You would have my undying appreciation if you could solve this problem.


Here is a partial re-post of my original request for help:

I have a PPC G5 1.8 DP (PCI) running 10.5.8 that has begun to crash randomly. When I try to restart, it will boot up to the Apple screen and then click off again. Rarely, I can get it to restart, occasionally I can get it to boot in Safe Mode and I can always get it to boot in Slave Mode. If I can somewhat rarely get it to boot with the OS 10.5 CD, I can use Utilities to run Disk Repair (it's always O.K.) and do a Permissions Repair (usually 12-15 files need adjusting). Usually, it will then reboot to the HD afterward. But not this time. This time I can't get it to boot with the CD. It booted once into Safe Mode but won't again.

I have tried many things to try to get the G5 to boot including holding my breath. Among the more practical things were resetting the PMU (many, many times), removing and reinstalling the battery, unplugging the computer, testing the memory and just letting it sit. Once it began crashing, I have been forced to leave it running, but it sleeps and wakes normally.

I have a PPC G4 MDD that I am using at the moment and have connected the G5 to it via firewire. I can see and use the G5 HD with no problem. It is currently running in slave mode. Since I get an error message stating that Safe Mode was unable to repair the disk when I run Disk Utility from the G4 (the only time that this message has appeared), I have added another internal HD and am copying the contents from the G5 system hard drive onto it (minus the system files). When that process is completed after about 50 hours, I'm thinking that I will reformat the HD and reload the system. That is unless someone has a better idea.

Needless to say, I would be EXTREMELY appreciative if someone could help me solve this problem, otherwise, I'll have to buy a new computer.

Now for those masochists who want to know what I have done to try to get the G5 to restart, I give you "The List":

(The list is very long so I did not reproduce it here. If you want to see what I did, open my original post "G5 Will Not Start After Crash - Please Help, Desperate.")

 

[ITguy2016]

One thing I did not see that you had done is to try and disconnect the original HD as suggested. Question: Why did you choose to back up the original HD to the new HD instead of removing the original HD and attempting to install the OS on the new drive?

One thing I did see is where you said you reversed the battery. You need to make certain the battery is installed in the correct direction (polarity). Not that I think the battery is the problem (at least being dead, however it may have caused damage if improperly installed).

 

[BWCDoc]

Question: Why did you choose to back up the original HD to the new HD instead of removing the original HD and attempting to install the OS on the new drive?

Because sometimes I can be very stupid. I thought of that about 2 hours after I wrote the post.

I did disconnect both HD's and try to boot from the OS X CD; no success.
I tried connecting only the new HD without the system; no success.
Right now, the battery is out.

This has me completely flummoxed.

I guess that I will be forced to buy another computer. I've had my eye on the 12-core Mac Pro or an iMac. I'm leaning toward the Mac Pro.

 

[ITguy2016]

Question: Why did you choose to back up the original HD to the new HD instead of removing the original HD and attempting to install the OS on the new drive?

Because sometimes I can be very stupid. I thought of that about 2 hours after I wrote the post.

I did disconnect both HD's and try to boot from the OS X CD; no success.
I tried connecting only the new HD without the system; no success.
Right now, the battery is out.

This has me completely flummoxed.

I guess that I will be forced to buy another computer. I've had my eye on the 12-core Mac Pro or an iMac. I'm leaning toward the Mac Pro.

This is puzzling. Probably a failing component which is not worth replacing (such as the system board). Unfortunately these systems have poor reliability ratings and, after 12 years, yours has succumbed to, what seems to be, their inevitable failure.