Dual 1 Ghz G4 Won't Boot

Hi All,
I originally thought this was a Tiger install issue, so I began a post here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=296078&tstart=15
But I've come to realize that there is a larger issue, so I thought I'd move the discussions here to see if anyone else has some ideas.
It all started when I decided to do a reinstall of Tiger. The computer had started giving me error messages at startup, which I could bypass by holding down the escape key during boot. (Does anyone know what that actually does, BTW? It was a shot in the dark.)
First, the computer wouldn't boot from the DVD. It would just hang on the grey screen. Eventually, that was reduced to a kernel panic on boot. A bootable clone firewire drive caused kernel panic.
If I start in Target Mode, I can examine the hard drive just fine from a powerbook.
Yesterday, I reset the firmware and zapped the pram. Immediately after that, the DVD froze on the blue screen instead of the grey screen.
Booting into single user mode gives me this error:
com.apple.driver.KeyLargoATA has no kernel dependency
I should mention that I was able to successfully reinstall the operating system from the powerbook with the desktop in Target Mode. I had one successful start of the computer and operating system. I ran software update which required a restart. After that restart, I was back to square one.
I'm running out of ideas fast here.

Are you using a retail (universal) copy of Tiger
or one that shipped with another Mac (machine
specific), perhaps the powerbook? Feel free to answer
honestly as using a machine specific disk can mean
disaster for the Mac you put it on.
Cheers!
DALE
I bought the computer off ebay and it came with Tiger installed.
When the problems started, I panicked and went out and bought the full retail version of Tiger. It has not booted from that DVD once.
I also own full versions of OS 9, 10.1 and 10.2.
None of those CDs will boot on this machine.

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Hi
After playing with the ribbon cables, trying to plug and unplug a HD near the superdrives, in order to format it with disk utility, it didn't work so i gave up and went out.
When I came back the computer won't boot.
Power light comes on for a second, but goes off, no chimes, no boot.
I tried resetting that motherboard button, but it did nothing...( i forgot that that button is called I used to do it on my g3.)
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thanks

HI-
ANY IDEAS?
Did you unplug whatever it was that you plugged in?
In the process, did you disturb any other cables/connections?
Double check all cables, especially the motherboard cable, and the power button board ribbon.
If that doesn't help, unplug the machine, remove the PRAM battery, wait 15-30 minutes, install the battery, plug in the machine, and try again.
I tried resetting that motherboard button, but it did nothing...( i forgot that that button is called I used to do it on my g3.)
That would be the PMU, or CUDA button.

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I have a problem similar to another recent poster.
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credit card is the last resort of the desperate
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Hello! Unhook the hard drive and then see if it will boot to a known good disc such as an install disc or ext drive. If it boots from those sources then the motherboard and powersupply are likely good. If it won't boot from either then the MB or PSU is likely bad. Tom

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Hi meta360, and a warm welcome to the forums!
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Has everything interface:
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save a little money interface:
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Are you able to start up in Safe Mode? This will take quite awhile longer than a normal startup because it does a file check and repair of the hard disk.
If this works you will see your normal desktop. Once completely started up in Safe Mode, try to restart normally, and go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Click on the top hard drive icon in the left sidebar and note the S.M.A.R.T. status at the bottom right of the pane. What does it say?
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I guess if it were me I'd try hotter/longer, then never allow it to Sleep except for the Monitor, & set Processor to Highest Energy Saver>Options tab.
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Actually now that I look at it today, the clicking is right from where the power supply is. The fan also does the classic 1/4 turn. I reset pmu with no love. Pulled the video card:no love. Pulled the drive(which was in there in the top bay actually) no love. reset ps to board plug firmly. Reseated memory etc. all no love. :Bad ps. I am going to test the output though before I order a new one. I think this is the 600 watt. Does anyone have any experience with the 100 dollar new ones on ebay? http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Apple-PowerMac-G5-600W-Power-Supply-Parts-Repair_W0QQite mZ180217313539QQihZ008QQcategoryZ51044QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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2003 G5 won't boot

I have 2003 2GHz dual G5 that now won't boot after installing a new hard drive.
On pressing the power on there is a red flash inside the machine above the switch, a click-click sound, the fans move a fraction, then nothing.
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I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

I have also experienced this problem today. I tried to install the 10.5.1 update, which failed but rebooted the machine anyway. Upon reboot, there was no video and the status light flashed repeatedly. It was not 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 flashes as are documented in the manual.. it never stops. I cannot reset PRAM or access Open Firmware.
I disconnected all third-party peripherals and tried again, to no avail. The machine was running absolutely fine before this reboot.
$4000 says I'm extremely dissatisfied (p-i-s-s-e-d was censored) and will not be purchasing another Mac. My DEC Alpha was dropped off a truck and still works 100%.
PS: When I purchased my G5, I was denied the Apple Care Protection Plan based upon the fact I was in Florida.. not that it would help at this stage in the game.

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Will it still boot from the install DVD? If yes, this should verify the hardware.
Will it boot in Safe Mode? See
What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107392
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
 Cheers, Tom

Need Methods for Testing Hardware -- Dual 2.0 GHz Won't Boot

Have a Dual 2.0GHz Power Mac (M9032LL/A) that won't boot.... I'd like to know how hardware is diagnosed on these machines? I hear the Apple Hardware Test CD isn't that accurate and not really any help and there's no LED lights on the logicboard of these models, so, short of swapping stuff out, how do I tell what's bad? I'm assuming either a processor, the logic board, or maybe the video card are bad and would like to verify what may be wrong.
The computer doesn't boot reliably but once it is on, it works great. When the power button is pressed, there's no chime, but it makes the other usual appropriate noises, such as the fans and hard drive briefly kicking up and back down... then no more progress. The mouse never lights up (it's optical and flashes when the computer starts up normally), no video ever shows, and the computer just sounds like it's sitting idle-- the fans are slightly on, but the hard drive makes no noise. After several minutes, the fans begin to go into overdrive (the wind-tunnel sound) and I just have to shut it off with the power button.
This problem has become increasingly more bothersome over time-- it used to happen only occasionally. Now the computer won't start on its own at all. Booting into open firmware has tricked it into booting, but has become less and less reliable (described below).
+For those that may be able to help further than recommending hardware testing methods, here's specifics on my situation:+
Troubleshooting I've done:
- reset the PMU (can't remember if I've reset the PRAM)
- installed a new power supply
- tried a different monitor and power cord
- installed a new battery
- re-seated video card
- removed the two sticks of third party RAM... when I booted after doing this, the boot got further. This time the computer acted like it was on, but with no video... it responded to the keyboard (volume and eject) and appeared to show up on the network. I checked monitor by plugging it into laptop, and the monitor worked fine, so I assumed the computer's not outputting any video. Force-shut-down and rebooted the computer, but it went back to the same boot problem described above (fans went into overdrive).
In the past I have successfully booted it by booting into open firmware, then typed 'mac-boot' and the computer starts up and works completely fine. It's not flakey, doesn't crash, etc. However, it won't reliably boot into open firmware!
I've also successfully booted into single-user mode. Both in this mode and in open firmware, the fans will go into wind-tunnel mode after about the several minutes as it does when booting via power button alone. However, the command line is still responsive, and a boot command stops the wind-tunnel noise as the computer then boots.
I'd really like to rescue this computer, it's such a speedy, reliable machine that's given me years of excellent performance. If it's time to let it go, I'd like to know for sure, so a way to test the hardware, especially the logicboard and processors, would be nice...
Many thanks for any help,
Selena M.

To those that offered help, thanks, I appreciate it and ended up finding the problem using the most basic hardware test of all-- remove one of the parts on the suspect list, so long as the computer can run with out it, and see what happens, and that resolved my issue!
To those having the same problem-- I found a fix for my machine and it's working great!!! The primary suspects were: logic board, RAM, CPUS or video card. If it was the logic board or a CPU, I'd just call it a parts machine, so tried removing the other parts to see what happened. Still crashed/didn't boot without the third party RAM, and also no difference without the Apple RAM.... but when I removed the video card and hit the power button-- there was that startup chime I hadn't heard in so long!!!!! The machine booted immediately and responded properly to the keyboard's volume and eject buttons. Since I couldn't attach a monitor, I accessed it over the network and it was working fine. I shut down and booted several more times, and it came on every time. So, if those of you that are having the same problems haven't tried this, see if your computer boots without the video card...
*Best of all*, the new video card was free! Apparently the card in my machine has known issues and they'll replace it for free if you send them your old one AND mention this article: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=32473. Read through it, and if your video card matches that model number they list, call the phone number they provide. Make sure you mention the article number, which is 32473, so they can reference it and so they won't charge you an over the phone tech support fee (because this is for a recall). They'll look the article up, ask you what you did and so on. Tell them you tried everything the article suggested and that your computer behaves as the article describes, and they'll send a new card.
Also, note that I'd seen this article before when trying to solve my booting issue, but my computer didn't behave exactly like they described, so I just kinda blew it off. But later, while skimming various forums for answers, I read a post from someone with similar booting problem to mine and he offered the above tip and article number. It's a good thing too, as it saved me the cost of a video card! Otherwise, I just would have bought a new one.
Anyways, I hope this can help one of you out that are having similar problems... just remove that video card (if you haven't already) and see if your computer works. If so, get a new one for free from Apple and hopefully you'll have your computer back!
Good luck!

Dual 1 Ghz G4 Won't Boot

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