I am having a problem when booting up the computer. I can not get it to power using the regualar start up button. I have been able to get it completely booted up one time by holding down the command, option and c key. It will get to the point the OS 10 is starting to load and then the screen just goes black and a get a no signal message on screen. I kind of thing this could be a bad video card, I have two hard drives and one external drive hooked to the computer. I was able to change the boot up drive to the second drive this morning but I am still having the same problem. This is my main office computer I use for book work and artwork design, I have been using my old programming that runs under OS 9 classic for many years now. I guess I am lazy and I just do not want to take the time to learn the new programs out there, the old ones still work just fine and I have 34 years of practice using them. If someone has had this problem or knows where I should look please let me know. jerry at swadvsupply@gmail.com
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Problem with an old G5 mac tower around a 2005 model.
- Thread starter JerryDWilliams
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A few things to try first:
(Assuming it will boot from power button) reset the PRAM - hold down alt/cmd/p/r and let it chime 3 times.
Remove the video card, clean the contacts and put it back.
If you have an OSX install disk, try booting from that - if that works it could point to a failing hard drive.
(Assuming it will boot from power button) reset the PRAM - hold down alt/cmd/p/r and let it chime 3 times.
Remove the video card, clean the contacts and put it back.
If you have an OSX install disk, try booting from that - if that works it could point to a failing hard drive.
Can you provide specifics on the problem? For example what, if anything, happens when you press the power button? Does the power light illuminate? Does it flash? Do you hear the "boot" chime? Do the fans spin up?
As for using old technology hey, if it meets your needs, why change?
As for using old technology hey, if it meets your needs, why change?
The "no signal" on the screen may be, as you said, a failed graphics card. But, your power supply may be failing, so you don't have reliable power to keep the video card on.
There's other possibilities of failure with a computer that is more than 15 years old.
You could try reseating the graphics card...
There's other possibilities of failure with a computer that is more than 15 years old.
You could try reseating the graphics card...
I have done all of the things that you have talked about except removing the video card. I tried several more times to boot the computer up and it would get to the point that OS 10.4.11 was loading when the screen just went black and a no signal message would display. I used to set up Mac computers for others and handle the programming needs back before OS 10 came along since then I just have not had the time to learn that much about 10 and just quit doing it. I really think right now that it a video card problem, I did manage to change the start up disk to the second drive in this computer and it did the same thing, so it should not be a drive problem. Last night I took this computer out and put in my backup computer and got my office back to working. I also managed to to the backup computer to mount my Firewire drive and cloned all of my current records to the drive in the backup computer. If you are not using Lacie Firewire drives you should be they are really fast and very dependable. I have 33 years of booking records and over 2 million in commercial artwork backup on 4 or 5 of these drive. I just can't afford to loss all of the artwork it would take two years to recreate it. Thanks for your time if you have other thoughts on this please let me know. Right I am going to talk to an Apple store in Texas that I have done business with and a guy here in Ardmore and find out what they thing the problem is, I am sure that the repair cost will be more than the computer is worth so it is I will get one Ebay and buy another used one, maybe more than one, it would be nice to have some extra parts around. Jerry
It powers up to a point just fine, when it gets to the point that OS 10.4.11 is loading the screen goes black. I did mange to get it completely booted up one time and I changed the start up disc to drive number 2 in the computer but I am still having the same problem. I got my backup computer out and installed it and cloned the drive in off the my Lacie firewire drive so all is safe and back to working now. Can't afford to loss 33 years of booking and over 2 million in commercial artwork, the firewire drives are about the best I have worked with. I may work on the old computer some more but if the repair cost is too much I just purchase another old one on Ebay, that is where both of old G5 came from. Thanks for your feed back. Jerry
I think it is most likely the video card, but if it is the power supply I may have one of those on hand that I took out of another computer. I am going to talk with an apple dealer in texas that I know and find out what he thinks. I am sure the repair cost would be more than the computer is worth, if it I will just purchase another one on Ebay. Problem solved I hope. I did get my backup G5 out of storage and got it up and running, cloned the hard drive from a lacie firewire drive so all records are good and nothing was lost. Thanks Jerry
I think you are likely right, sounds like the video card is overheating when it is stressed. Booting the OS X GUI puts a lot of stress on the video card as it's 3D engine is used to draw the desktop.
But one thing at a time, let's get back to basics. We don't know what model Mac you have, you said you think it's a 2005 G5, but we need to know the model. The is a sticker on the back of the machine with the specs, snap a photo of all the stickers on the back and upload them here.
Once we know the exact Mac you have we can point you to a download of the Apple Hardware Test CD( AHTCD ), that's all the tech is going to be able to use to diagnose your problem if they are worth their salt. If you have a way to burn the CD you just boot from it by holding the "c" key at startup and fallow the on-screen instruction to run the tests.
The AHTCD will put minimal stress on the GPU until it goes to test it, so hopefully it will be able to drive the display long enough to complete the tests to tell you what is wrong with the machine. If it doesn't we will cross that bridge when we get there, but this is the best two steps we can start with.
EDIT: I think the specs are printed inside the door on the G5, at the bottom. Just lift the latch on the rear and take off the side panel, look at the bottom of the opening.
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@JerryDWilliams seems you already have a plan with your hardware/data backup provisions.
As you rely on OS9 software have you considered a Mac that runs it natively rather than through Classic?
Also have you tried it in an emulator - that would allow you to run it on more common and inexpensive PC hardware?
As you rely on OS9 software have you considered a Mac that runs it natively rather than through Classic?
Also have you tried it in an emulator - that would allow you to run it on more common and inexpensive PC hardware?