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G5 won't boot (Fans Going Crazy)

N

normanway

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 19, 2010
20
0
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Hi, my G5 is playing up, the first time it's happened since I've had it. Working normaly and it just froze and the fans came on and it sounded like it was gonna take off. I had to power down by holding the power button.
After ten mins I started it back up an it was fine for half hour then the fans went crazy again and it froze so I powered down and left it until the morning. This time after turning on it was just a black screen and after 5 mins the fans kicked in and went crazy.

I looked on some forums on a laptop and done a few suggestions, like Single mode which it modified something and I repeated the process and all was ok. Still no boot tho. I tried reset-nvram set-defaults reset-all and it worked and I was able to enter my password and carry on as normal, I was really happy!!! Then an hour or two later a screen popped up saying I had to restart it. So i did and now it just sits at the apple screen and after five mins the fans go Crazy.
Not sure what else to do. I don't have hardware test CDs so can't check that. I hear the chime on boot up and then just hangs at the apple screen. ??? I've reseated the ram and the video card and now I don't have a clue. HELP Please. I'm pulling my
hair out. Thanks in advance.
 
Sounds like a logic board issue to me. open it up and look to see if theres any popped capacitors on the board. (google "popped capacitor" for pics) the box that popped up was a Kernel Panic, which happens when OS X finds an issue.
You could try:
1. Remove RAM just use 1 Ram stick, if it doesn't work, try the other stick.


Hope this helps!
 
If its an iMac its probably the power supply. I've see this as a pretty common bad PSU symptom for iMac G5 systems. Just repaired one just like this earlier in the week. This might apply to the Powermac too, but I can't say I've personally seen it work.
 
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Hi thanks for the replies. I will take out the ram 1 by 1 and see what happens and also check the capacitors. It's a power mac G5 not iMac. If it is logic board or power supply what kinda price would I be looking at to fix? Any ideas?
 
normanway said:
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Hi thanks for the replies. I will take out the ram 1 by 1 and see what happens and also check the capacitors. It's a power mac G5 not iMac. If it is logic board or power supply what kinda price would I be looking at to fix? Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Having the same troubles as you before, I believe it's the ram. You will have to take out the ram in pairs. Also make sure you have matching ram installed as that could cause it. They have to be in the same slots on top and bottom. Example: have 1 512mb of OWC in slot 1 on top and 1 512mb of OWC in slot 1 on bottom.
 
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Ok cool. I have 2 sticks of ram 2x 1GB. I read that they are supposed to be inserted from the inside slots out. I have 4 slots and the two sticks are like in this example in brackets.... I(I)(I)I Would you say this is correct?
 
normanway said:
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Ok cool. I have 2 sticks of ram 2x 1GB. I read that they are supposed to be inserted from the inside slots out. I have 4 slots and the two sticks are like in this example in brackets.... I(I)(I)I Would you say this is correct?
Click to expand...

I believe so.
In my late 2003 G5 the slots are like this
4
3
2
1

1
2
3
4
and the ram is installed with each corresponding number.
 
normanway said:
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Hi thanks for the replies. I will take out the ram 1 by 1 and see what happens and also check the capacitors. It's a power mac G5 not iMac. If it is logic board or power supply what kinda price would I be looking at to fix? Any ideas?
Click to expand...
If you got the power supply from my AASP, I would charge about $269 for it installed. Logicboard.. just get a new computer.
 
Hrududu said:
If you got the power supply from my AASP, I would charge about $269 for it installed. Logicboard.. just get a new computer.
Click to expand...

if its a failed logic board then i agree you should just buy a new PowerMac G5
Macofalltrades.com has them for a fair price and they are guaranteed to work. I have never had a bad experience with them
 
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Hi I've tried swapping the Ram around. I took the 2x1gb out and put 2x128mb original ram for this spec in. Still I get the chime and just hangs at the apple screen. Whilst the original ram was in there I tried to reset the nvram, set defaults etc.. When I type reset-all it does nothing. It just sits there when it should restart?? I think my friend has some hardware test CDs for his MacBook would they work also on G5? And also would it tell me if the Logic Board is gone? Thanks.
 
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I also tried just one stick of ram but that just resulted in a black screen with the power light on the monitor flashing. I presume it needs a pair to boot?
 
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I read somewhere about it possibly being the video card, I don't of any way to check that?
 
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Would a fresh install make a difference. Obviously if the Logic board is knackered it won't make a difference.
 
If it is possible, try to do a fresh install. Remember to put the ram back in though.
It could also be a different hardware related problem. Do you have any printers or other peripherals other than your keyboard and mouse conneced, disconnect them and try again. Try and disconnect your cd rom and extra hard drives to rule out if a the problem is related to them.

Hope it helps!
 
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Hi, I will probably try a fresh install after my new pram battery arrives. I don't have any other things connected ie: printers etc.. I only have one hard drive and an external HD where all my music and music projects, samples are stored. Hopefully I can get it working as I have some important music projects to finish. Thanks for your reply I will post back and keep things updated. :)
 
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I need my mac back so have tried to reinstall pressing C during start up doesn't do anything, it just hangs at the apple screen. Then 5 mins later the fans take off. :(
 
It is definitely the power supply. I really wouldn't mess with it anymore to make sure nothing else breaks. I doubt it's the pram battery though. Sorry to say, but the power supplies are super expensive!
 
Is that a definate power supply problem then? grrr.

pressing option during boot up takes me to select from either my HD or install disk, i select either one and nothing happens.

I guess i need someone to take a look and confirm its the power supply. Either that or i just buy a new mac. I only paid £100 for the G5 off Ebay so was a proper bargain, just a shame its broke.

Gutted. :(
 
What type of G5 is it?

Those symptoms happened to me when my liquid cooling system sprung a leak. 18 months ago I had it replaced for free out of warranty, I doubt they're still doing that though, but it might be worth a phone call, you never know. I wouldn't spend any money on it
 
Hi, the G5 serial is CK442HA4S8H.

I didnt buy it brand new so i wouldnt be covered by any warranty.

I think the way forward is to buy a new one or second hand with warranty or apple care plan.

Thanks
 
had the same problem

A few weeks ago on my new to me powerpc G5. I tried all these suggestions but what worked for me was reseating the video card.

I'm guessing some corrosion was affecting the connections. No problems since. I would try it and I hope it works.
 
I know this isn't exactly constructive to say but this is why I stay away from ANY Mac with a G5 chip. Just look at all the G5 issues on the first page of threads.

The G5 CPU and all the technology around it is something for both IBM and Apple to be ashamed of forever in my opinion. As a huge lover of PowerPC hardware myself I am ashamed of the G5.

End rant.
 
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