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Need Major Help w/ Installing RAM (System won't boot)

B

berkleeboy210

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Hi gang,

I've been trying to install a pair of 1gig sticks into my PowerMac G5 all afternoon.

I unplugged every thing from the tower, removed the air circulator, and the fan assembly.

Installed the RAM and made sure it was firmly in place (until i heard it snap into the holders).

Put the Fan Assembly back in the system, and the air circulator and tried to boot her up.

It Starts up but nothing shows up on the screen, but the computer is running.

Any Ideas? Help ASAP would be GREATLY appreciated.

By the way: The RAM is from macsales.com
 
what the?

i cant believe you had to remove the fan assembly.



anyway, im sure you tried to reseat the ram? you should give it a shot.
 
beatle888 said:
what the?

i cant believe you had to remove the fan assembly.



anyway, im sure you tried to reseat the ram? you should give it a shot.
Click to expand...

Yea, you have to take the fan assembly out to fully install the RAM.

How do I reset the ram/
 
oh sorry to confuse.

i meant reinstall the ram. take it out and reseat it (unplug the ram then plug them back in, you might be pleasently surprised).
 
beatle888 said:
oh sorry to confuse.

i meant reinstall the ram. take it out and reseat it (unplug the ram then plug them back in, you might be pleasently surprised).
Click to expand...

did tht, still nothing. just took the new ram out and left the stock ram in and it still wont boot.

on thephone w/ apple now
 
zap the Pram or wait for more MacRumors members to help. dont listen to them. their so limited with knowledge unless your case# is escalated to a more advanced representative.

try searching google and definitely try zapping Pram.
 
Well He Was Chatting with a Product Specialist, and said "Service is the only Option".

Tried Resetting the Pram and that didn't work.

Should I bring it to my Apple Store and have them take a look?

When I first turn it on no light comes on then after about 5-10 seconds the white light flashes twice about every 5 seconds until i power the machine down.
 
berkleeboy210 said:
Well He Was Chatting with a Product Specialist, and said "Service is the only Option".

Tried Resetting the Pram and that didn't work.

Should I bring it to my Apple Store and have them take a look?

When I first turn it on no light comes on then after about 5-10 seconds the white light flashes twice about every 5 seconds until i power the machine down.
Click to expand...

Is there something on the Apple website that tells you what the flashing means? Like on a pc when it beeps at ya saying BEEP BEEP BEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP (roughly translated - im broke - buy a mac there so much better)
 
StokeLee said:
Is there something on the Apple website that tells you what the flashing means? Like on a pc when it beeps at ya saying BEEP BEEP BEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP (roughly translated - im broke - buy a mac there so much better)
Click to expand...

I just was browsing through other forums, and they say that the flashing light indicates major hardware failure.
 
Apple Stores in Massachusetts won't have there Genius Bars open due to the Tax Free Weekend here. ugh.. Cambridgeside isn't resuming genius bar service until Tuesday. 😕

It's gunna be a long weekend, until I get some answers on what's wrong w/ my baby.
 
She Works Again!!! Thank GOD!!!

I went to the Apple Store tonight, and for the hell of it I bought there RAM to throw into the machine. and that did the trick.

I guess the RAM from macsales is faulty.

But I'm just glad that my baby is working again, and I didn't have to send it in for a logic board replacement!

Just wanted to give ya'll an update!
 
berkleeboy210 said:
She Works Again!!! Thank GOD!!!

I went to the Apple Store tonight, and for the hell of it I bought there RAM to throw into the machine. and that did the trick.

I guess the RAM from macsales is faulty.

But I'm just glad that my baby is working again, and I didn't have to send it in for a logic board replacement!

Just wanted to give ya'll an update!
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear you had trouble, but I've never had any problems with OWC RAM.

Of course you do have to make very sure that you're ordering the "right" RAM sticks for your system.

OWC sells several brands of RAM.
Which one did you buy? Specs?

They sell OWC RAM and SAMSUNG RAM and a few others.

I hope your AppleStore genius didn't pull a fast one.

Apple RAM is insanely overpriced.

It takes REALLY FIRM PRESSURE to get RAM to seat properly in the PowerMacs and it only fits one way, so it's pretty hard to screw up.
Even so, with all my experience, I had to re-install my cards the first time
because the keeper clips had not closed all the way.

When I've had to manually start my G5, I have to hold the start button down for a few seconds, then the light stays on.

Anyhoo,

Glad you're back up and running.
 
lilstewart92 said:
I don't understand 😕

It didn't work with the stock RAM and it suddenly works with there RAM?
hmm...
Click to expand...

I installed the stock RAM and there RAM, and now everything is working again.
 
FFTT said:
I'm sorry to hear you had trouble, but I've never had any problems with OWC RAM.

Of course you do have to make very sure that you're ordering the "right" RAM sticks for your system.

I hope your AppleStore genius didn't pull a fast one.

Apple RAM is insanely overpriced.

It takes REALLY FIRM PRESSURE to get RAM to seat properly in the PowerMacs and it only fits one way, so it's pretty hard to screw up.
Even so, with all my experience, i had to re-install my cards the first time
because the keeper clips had not closed all the way.

When I've had to manually start my G5, I have to hold the start button down for a few seconds, then the light stays on.

Anyhoo,

Glad you're back up and running.
Click to expand...

Would it Matter if I ordered the RAM that said (8 DIMM Slots) I looked and my PowerMac only has 4.
 
berkleeboy210 said:
Would it Matter if I ordered the RAM that said (8 DIMM Slots) I looked and my PowerMac only has 4.
Click to expand...

You have the prosumer 4 RAM slot motherboard and it does make a difference.
 
Had a similar problem on my 1.5 GHz PB rev C

I had a similar problem on my 1.5 GHz PB rev C. I had 1 GB OWC RAM in the 2nd DIMM slot and stock 512 MB RAM in the 1st DIMM slot. When I installed Tiger, my Powerbook stopped working -- sometimes it would have to be hard rebooted 20+ times before it would come up once. I swapped the order of the RAM (OWC RAM in the 1st DIMM slot) and it has worked flawlessly since. Go fig.
 
CanadaRAM said:
4-socket vs 8-socket makes a difference in the RAM modules that will work? How?
Click to expand...

Not exactly sure honestly, looking at OWC to check if there's any difference in the part numbers.

O.K. OWC 2 GB upgrade in 1 GB pairs does have the same part number, so i guess you're right. OWC3200DDR2GBP $249.00

They also offer Techworks in a 2 GB upgrade 1 GB paired for the Rev B towers.
TWK12565PAIR

And then Samsung " FACTORY ORIGINAL MODULES"
1 GB MUST BE PURCHASED IN PAIRS OWC3200DDRSAM1G $143.99 EACH.

So which ones did your buy?
 
berkleeboy210 said:
I installed the stock RAM and there RAM, and now everything is working again.
Click to expand...

Glad it's all working again, it's horrible to hear stories like this, especially when it relates to those gorgeous PowerMacs.

Just a heads-up though:

there RAM = caveman speak for "look, there is some RAM"
their RAM = RAM belonging to them
they're RAM = They are RAM

This is one of my little bugbears, please make sure you use the correct word.
 
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