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rom623drh

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 4, 2015
32
1
My Mac G5 PPC keeps shutting down. there are times it will run most of the day, and then there are those days, runs a few minutes and shuts down, reboots fine, shuts down, reboots fine; shuts down. I've only been using Mac for a short period of time, I love my machine, but this is getting a little unnerving. any help!
Poor Old Preacher
 
Have you looked at the system logs (Console) to see if there are any clues? This might help explain why and what kind of 'shut down' is happening.
 
what would I be looking for? It appears that my printer Kodak ESP 3.2 is the main topic, and I don't even have it connected. Shut down, ran for 30mins. I hear the fan or fans kick in when first starting then I'm not sure if they are running during operation. Someone suggested graphics card?
 
Last edited:
Look under "Log Database Queries" then "All Messages". Below is a sample from the log on my G5....

Code:
12/6/15 4:13:10 PM kernel PCI sleep prevented by non-power-managed IOService (5)
12/6/15 4:13:10 PM kernel IOPMSlotsMacRISC4::determineSleepSupport has canSleep true
12/6/15 4:13:27 PM kernel PM notification timeout (pid 120, SystemUIServer)
12/6/15 4:13:28 PM kernel IONetworkController::disable
12/6/15 4:13:29 PM kernel System Sleep
12/7/15 9:11:56 AM kernel System Wake
12/7/15 9:11:56 AM kernel Wake event 0800

Edit: The log is time stamped - review the entries before it shut down and after you powered it on. Look for errors, failures and anything else that jumps out as being bad / wrong.
 
It's not overheating, with old dust/fluff accumulated in the vents/heatsinks/fans, etc?
That is what I would suspect. If you get a chance, install iStat Menus or Menu Meters. That will let you get an idea of how hot the CPU is getting.

I assume by "shutdown" you mean that all of a sudden the Mac just shuts off and the screen goes dark. Correct?

If so, than yeah, it's probably thermal shutdown due to overheating. Another question to consider. Does it start shutting down more frequently and faster the heavier you use the machine? If so, probably another tipoff to overheating.
 
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Look under "Log Database Queries" then "All Messages". Below is a sample from the log on my G5....

Code:
12/6/15 4:13:10 PM kernel PCI sleep prevented by non-power-managed IOService (5)
12/6/15 4:13:10 PM kernel IOPMSlotsMacRISC4::determineSleepSupport has canSleep true
12/6/15 4:13:27 PM kernel PM notification timeout (pid 120, SystemUIServer)
12/6/15 4:13:28 PM kernel IONetworkController::disable
12/6/15 4:13:29 PM kernel System Sleep
12/7/15 9:11:56 AM kernel System Wake
12/7/15 9:11:56 AM kernel Wake event 0800

Edit: The log is time stamped - review the entries before it shut down and after you powered it on. Look for errors, failures and anything else that jumps out as being bad / wrong.



How do I get to "Log Database Queries"?
 
Is this a PowerMac or an iMac G5? If the latter, it's very likely due to the capacitors in the power supply. Apple used a bad batch of capacitors, and as they aged, they began bulging and failing. I had an iMac that would do just what you are describing.
 
How do I get to "Log Database Queries"?
First you need to start Console then it should be the top line - see below picture....
 

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First you need to start Console then it should be the top line - see below picture....
Got it!! Still the only big issue is the Kodak esp 3.2 printer which is not connected. Though I'm not sure what I was looking for, but the only crash report was WORD failed to open, I relaunched, and opened right up. Nothing other than that.
 
Is this a PowerMac or an iMac G5? If the latter, it's very likely due to the capacitors in the power supply. Apple used a bad batch of capacitors, and as they aged, they began bulging and failing. I had an iMac that would do just what you are describing.
This is a PowerMac PPC g5
 
Is this a PowerMac or an iMac G5? If the latter, it's very likely due to the capacitors in the power supply. Apple used a bad batch of capacitors, and as they aged, they began bulging and failing. I had an iMac that would do just what you are describing.
This is a PowerMac PPC g5
 
That is what I would suspect. If you get a chance, install iStat Menus or Menu Meters. That will let you get an idea of how hot the CPU is getting.

I assume by "shutdown" you mean that all of a sudden the Mac just shuts off and the screen goes dark. Correct?

If so, than yeah, it's probably thermal shutdown due to overheating. Another question to consider. Does it start shutting down more frequently and faster the heavier you use the machine? If so, probably another tipoff to overheating.
Ran AppleJack, took it apart for cleaning, pulled what components I could, fan, Graphics card, mem sticks, give it a good cleaning, (fans were pretty clean, as well as the upper compartment, but the lower area / you can't get into / I did blow dust out of there), put it back together, fired it up, downloaded the meters. Still running, 5 hrs. Drive Bay temp. (1832*) I'm assuming bad sensor, nothing has melted yet!! running temp 107* is that good?
 
Got it!! Still the only big issue is the Kodak esp 3.2 printer which is not connected. Though I'm not sure what I was looking for, but the only crash report was WORD failed to open, I relaunched, and opened right up. Nothing other than that.


Ensure you system clock is set properly - then watch your clock and take note of the the time when it shuts down. Fire your machine back up and post a portion of the log up to the shutdown. Depending on the volume (number) of entries but a few minutes should be enough.
 
Ran AppleJack, took it apart for cleaning, pulled what components I could, fan, Graphics card, mem sticks, give it a good cleaning, (fans were pretty clean, as well as the upper compartment, but the lower area / you can't get into / I did blow dust out of there), put it back together, fired it up, downloaded the meters. Still running, 5 hrs. Drive Bay temp. (1832*) I'm assuming bad sensor, nothing has melted yet!! running temp 107* is that good?
107 is pretty good for a G5. It's possible to hit a little above 170º or so (freaked me out the first time I saw that) but that's extreme.

The next step would be new thermal paste if it is indeed overheating.

Watch the temps on the CPUs for a while. If they fluctuate more than a few degrees under minimal stress then you probably need to repaste them.
 
new question, how do I uninstall a Printer?
Depending on the type of printer you can either delete it in the Settings app under Printers, run the install app and choose undelete or find an uninstall app/script from the manufacturer. The maker of your printer should have a support document describing how to uninstall.
 
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Ensure you system clock is set properly - then watch your clock and take note of the the time when it shuts down. Fire your machine back up and post a portion of the log up to the shutdown. Depending on the volume (number) of entries but a few minutes should be enough.
I did note the time of the last shut down this morning, but I'm not sure I looked at the right logs, but still didn't find anything unusual other than the Printer. If it shuts down again I will make close notice as to the time and post a log report. thank you for your help.
 
107 is pretty good for a G5. It's possible to hit a little above 170º or so (freaked me out the first time I saw that) but that's extreme.

The next step would be new thermal paste if it is indeed overheating.

Watch the temps on the CPUs for a while. If they fluctuate more than a few degrees under minimal stress then you probably need to repaste them.
Both CPU AMB under 85* steady CPU A 108 CPU B 115 fluctuating a couple of degrees either way
Heatsink 160 + -
 
Both CPU AMB under 85* steady CPU A 108 CPU B 115 fluctuating a couple of degrees either way
Heatsink 160 + -
Just at idle? It should be steady at idle. In other words, it shouldn't increase then cool down then repeat.
 
First you need to start Console then it should be the top line - see below picture....

Consle Log NOTE:: Shut down at 11:45 am
12/11/15 11:43:15 AM [0x0-0x18018].com.microsoft.Entourage[136] /n QD image printing path.../n
12/11/15 11:44:34 AM /Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Microsoft Entourage.app/Contents/MacOS/Microsoft Entourage[136] Warning: accessing obsolete X509Anchors.
12/11/15 11:54:45 AM kernel Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:57:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_PPC
12/11/15 11:45:05 AM quicklookd[147] !!! _NSLayoutTreeLineFragmentUsedRectForGlyphAtIndex invalid glyph index 14392
12/11/15 11:54:42 AM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] fsck_hfs: Volume is journaled. No checking performed.
12/11/15 11:54:42 AM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] fsck_hfs: Use the -f option to force checking.
12/11/15 11:54:44 AM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] launchctl: Please convert the following to launchd: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist
12/11/15 11:54:44 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.adobe.versioncueCS3) Unknown key: ServiceDescription
12/11/15 11:54:44 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.RemoteDesktop.PrivilegeProxy) Unknown key for boolean: EnableTransactions
12/11/15 11:54:44 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.usbmuxd) Unknown key for boolean: EnableTransactions
12/11/15 11:54:44 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cupsd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
 
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