Power Mac 5400/180 start up problem

My daughter's hard drive on her PM 5400/180 was corrupt. So we took a different hard drive and put it in her computer. We ran disk first aid, erased the hard drive, installed system 9.1. The computer starts to boot up, and gets hung at the happy face. The PRAM battery is new. We zapped the PRAM with the keys and pushed the button on the motherboard. It will start up from the System 9.1 CD. Any ideas on what we can try.

The usual way to distinguish hardware problems from Hard Drive & Software problems is to boot from a System/install CD. If you can do that without incident, it isolates the problem to the hard drive and its contents.
Hanging up at the small smiling mac SE indicates you are getting no further than loading the Hard Disk driver. If this hard drive passes the Disk Test function, I would say it is time to run Initialize with the "Zero all Data" option, to be certain that disk errors are not derailing the boot-up process while the Mac is not yet smart enough to properly report them to you. This process may take several hours, but when completed, your Mac's Hard drive will have all good blocks. [Note: If this were a SCSI drive, a "Test Disk" pass would be required afterward, before you could say all bad blocks had been scrubbed out.]
Since this process writes over all data, a re-install of the System Software will be required upon completion.

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Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8 Problems / Failed Logic Board?

Okay, it seems that many other people are having problems with the Power Mac G5. All I can really say to Apple is that I love Macintosh and the Power Mac G5 has been the greatest computer I have ever owned. It seems that the logic board is the main issue for most people. Maybe Apple still needs to work out some bugs, but one thing for sure is that it would really be nice if there were no more produced like this and that everyone gets their problems solved without going through it again.
Well, my G5 stopped working about a month ago. I've been really lonely and sad too... It started that the computer would randomly start, meaning that I would have to power it up and down several times until it randomly start. Other people have had these issues too. And after about 2 days of doing this it froze and now it refuses to start. I've done everything I possibly can without being a technician. I have two video cards and switching them dosen't help, my monitor works, and when I take out the ram there's no beeping. No power to keyboard or mouse, can't reset firmware, or reinstall OS or run hardware test. I reset PMU, but still no luck. I've tested both my Superdrive and Hard Drive. They both work. I have a friend with a G5 and I put my Hard Drive in and it booted up perfectly.
Fans are functional, they speed up after about five minutes with no chime at start up. Which the chime is supposed to indicate a hardware failure. My only clues are the logic board and the processors, possibly the power board. Though it seems to be the logic board most of the time. The big thing is, does Apple know what's causing this to happen to Apple fans and costumers?
I saw an earlier post with a guy who bought the same G5 a year and a half ago with three year warranty and had the logic board replaced-three times already!!!
Unfortunately my G5 is out of warranty. I bought it from CompUSA and someone had boughten it and decided to return, unused still. They gave me a the 3-year warranty extension program, but I could never activate it. I've had the computer about a year and a half myself. I bought it early June last year June 2004. But this was right before the new line-up came out. So it's the November 2003 model. It's ecspecially depressing that a week or two later I could of gotten it for $500 dollars cheaper and a newer model. Not to also mention the beautiful new Apple Cinema Displays that match the G5. Though I doubt that Apple with have any sympathy for me for not waiting a little longer. I love my G5 and I just want to hear the chime and watch my 20" Apple ADC Display turn on. I don't live anywhere close the any Apple Stores to take it in for diagnostics.
So I'm really in a tunnel of doom. I'm thinking of buying the logic board from mac-pro.com for $700. I heard Apple wants a $1000, but I don't know. Though driving it in to the Apple store isn't gonna be easy for me. Even so, I'm afraid of how costly it will be. I need to know what's defective and needs replacement more than anything. I only wish there was some way I could activate my 3-year warranty extension program. Well, I suppose that's really enough of my pitiful crying.
Does Apple or anyone care to help me? I would be forever so happy if I could get my G5 working again. Thanks to anyone who'll attempt to help. You too Apple.

Hey Everyone -
Have you looked into the iMac G5 repair exstension Program for video and power issues? Posted on Apples website....The iMac G5 repair extension program for video and power issues applies to the first generation G5 computers that have video or power-related issues as a result of specific component failure. If your iMac G5 is exhibiting any of following symptoms: scrambled or discorted video, no video, no power, your computer may be leigible for repair, free of charge. This article was posted on October 21, 2005.
My computer was freezing up, not booting up, locking on the blue page, static looking when trying to boot up, etc. I took it in to the Apple Store yesterday, and they will be replacing the board within the next 2 weeks. Although my have an extended warrenty, the replacement program is avaliable for certain first generation iMac G5 models that were sold between approximatrely September 2004 and June 2005 freaturing 17- and 20-inch displays with 1.6GHz and 1.8Ghz processors.
If Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider determines that your iMac G5 computer is eligible as part of the program, the repair will be covered by Apple for up to two years from the original date of purchase even if your iMac G5 is out of warrenty. This is a worldwide Apple program.
It's worth looking up the article, it list the serial number ranges that apply. Worth a look!

Power Mac won't start up

My son removed the RAM from his Power Mac to give me the amount. He used canned air to blow out the dust. When he put the RAM back in, the computer won't start up. We have power, the fan starts, then you can see a little light by the RAM flash and a small beep. I have ordered new RAM. IS there anything else that may be wrong??

One of the dimm modules may be your problem. Turn your power off and eject two of the dimms and leave one seated. You don't have to take the two that are ejected out of the ejector tabs, just make sure they are not seated in the socket in the locked postition. Power up and listen for startup chime. If you get a chime, power down. Push down one of the ejected dimms and make sure it's seated.You'll now have two dimm's engaged. Power up and listen for chime. If you get one, go through the routine again powering down and trying it out with all dimms seated. Depending on which dimm is bad,you'll get no chime if it is seated. If you get no chime when any dimm seated, then you have something seriously wrong with your motherboard or you have something hanging out of the buss when it should be in (for example, an AGP card loose in its socket).

Power Mac G5 won' Start Up

Power Mac G5 (bought in 2005) won't start up. Power Cords and plugs have been checked,House fuse box is Ok because other computer on the same power strip goes on as well as my printer. Press the power button nfor the G5 and nothing happens. I was able to use it on 5/5/13 powered up and shut down normally. Need help in trouble shooting.

OOPs, you marked it answered/Solved, might repst to get more helpers looking at it.
Is there a Red LED lit on the logic board?
If not then there is no 5V DC to start up.
Might be time to replace the PRAM Battery, 4 years is close to their lifespan, far less if ever without AC power, & can cause strange startup problems...
See which one your G5 has...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/CR2032/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/BAA36VPRAM/

Power Mac G5 on start up it repetedly has white screen with circling icon then just switches off

Power Mac G5... Pleas Help!!! i'm not sure if my hard drive is broken but on start up it repetedly has white screen with the circling (doing somthing) icon then just switches off. If i press alt when switching on i get a grey screen with 3 icons, 1st is like a refresh arrow button & last is a straight arrow button on pressing either of these mac just starts the white screen thing again, the middle icon is a picture of a hard drive with a blue cross in the corner & written under neath it says macintosh HD. Does this mean my hard drive has gone?

Been there, done that. Try a Safe Boot (holding down the shift key at boot) and see if it boots. If it boots, then you may be having problems with either the power supply or the video card. What video card is in the machine?
If it does a safe boot OK, then we can troubleshoot using a verbose boot. Verbose boot puts up a Unix Console screen and displays text output during the boot process. When I had these symptoms, verbose boot showed me that the power supply was clicking off right after the kext to drive the GeForce 6800 card loaded. I replaced the power supply and the problem went away.
To initiate a verbose boot, hold down the cmd-V combination until you see the console screen come up. Watch the output and pay attention, because you need to remember what is being said when the machine shuts down. You may need to repeat this two or three times.
As an aside, often times power supplies exhibit this behavior when they have become choked with dust. This is pretty universal after five or six years, requiring that the power supply be removed and the dust blown out with clean shop air.

Dual G5 2.0 Power Mac (June 2004) referb - booting problem

Hi all - my dual G5 2.0 Power Mac (June 2004) decided to rev its fans and boot no more. When I push the power button in front, the white light comes on while pushing it, then goes off, yet I hear the fans starting, the hard drive spinning etc. The key board isn't getting power (the caps light doesn't go on) and after a few minutes the fans rev like a jet engine...starting slow then gaining speed. I can't open the DVD from the key board (have tried all usb ports). Have also looked through this discussion area and tried many of the solutions provided (reset the PMU, unplug, try different outlets etc.) Any help would be appreciated. I do have Applecare but they are closed for the night.
Thanks for you help
Dual G5 2.0 (June 2004) referb from Apple Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Your OS is not loading and the fans default into a speed up mode.
Power up and hold down the mouse button, the cd tray will spit. Insert Tiger/install disk and power boot holding c. (note: use a wired keyboard/mouse directly to the machine and nothing else for now)
In the Installer, select Disk Utility from the menu>Repair disk/permissions. note any errors you see.
If you can't access the drive, it might be dead. I hope you backed up files.
All you need to do is get a new drive and reinstall Tiger etc.
If you can get a 6 pin firewire 400 cable to each Mac and t boot the problem Mac. the hard drive should appear on the other which you can recover files.
If the OS is fried you can do a archive and install too.

Power Mac 8500/180 LCD monitor question

A friend has a Power Macintosh 8500/180 and wishes to upgrade the monitor from the huge CRT it is now using to LCD.
Looking at the specs of this machine it has a DB15 display port, which it seems can output via VGA via an adapter such as this: http://www.lindy.co.uk/shop/showProductDetail.do?orderNumber=70187&source=search. Can anybody confirm whether this should work?
I also seem to remember that in years gone by Mac's were only compatible with Multisync monitors. Is this the case with LCD? In other words, would any old LCD work, or should a multisync LCD be purchased?
Likewise, would a driver be required, and would it matter if the monitor was widesceen?
Many thanks
Darren

The 8500 has a couple of hardware limitations beyond the physical conversion of the VGA cable for connection to the DB-15 port. (1) The 8500's onboard video support/VRAM is maxed out at 4 MBs, which is not really adequate for a modern display. (2) LCD displays have a native resolution/refresh, so the computer's onboard graphics controller or add-in graphics card should support those specs for optimal viewing quality. A widescreen display with a 16:9 aspect ratio further complicates the support capabilities of an older graphics card. What OS is your friend running on the 8500? The expense of adding a modern Mac-compatible graphics PCI card for a widescreen display well exceeds the value of an 8500 today. If a display with the older 4:3 aspect ratio is used, a more capable graphics card may be needed, but one that's not so current/expensive. Used Mac-compatible graphics cards, like an ATI Orion, Nexus, or the made-for-Apple ATI Rage 128 (pulled from a Blue & White G3) aren't too expensive and all of these cards have a VGA port, eliminating the need for the adapter. Your friend can always try connecting a 4:3 LCD display to the onboard DB-15 monitor port, via the adapter that you linked. Getting the DIP switches set correctly is the trick.

I have a power mac G5, when starting up doesnt send no signal to the screen at all

My name is Emilio1991 and I have problems starting it up, I hit the power button and it start great but it have a problem it doesnt send not signal to the screen at all, I thought it was the video card and buyed a new one and it still with thet same problem I try to find solutios and nothing about that can some one help me with that/???

Couple of more ideas...
Have you done a PRAM reset, CMD+Option+p+r...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
In fact, do 3 in a row, takes a bit of time.
Might be time to replace the PRAM Battery, 4 years is close to their lifespan, far less if ever without AC power, & can cause strange startup problems...
See which one your G5 has...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/CR2032/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/BAA36VPRAM/

Power Mac Won't Start Sometimes

I am running a power mac G4, lately when I try to start the computer, I push the power button on my display and the light comes on and the fan starts but nothing else, no chime or screen, I have reset the pmu/smu and checked the internal battery, it tested at 3.68 volts. I notice if the computer doesn't start, I turn it off by holding the power button in, then if I open and close the cover, the next time it starts. Help me please.

Texas Mac Man wrote:
It still could be the battery. You need to test the voltage while installed or under some type of load.
Definitely. Best way to test the battery (Apple Service Source method) is with battery in holder, computer off, AC disconnected. Test battery voltage and replace if lower than 3.3 volts.
Have mentioned before that I have an 11-year-old Tadiran that still measures 3.69 volts open-circuit but drops to 0.28 volts with a 150 ohm load across it.

Power mac g5, slow start up continues

My original problem was, No wake up chime when I pushed the power button and of course I'd do a force shutdown and try to re-start which took about 3 or 4 times before it would finally start, so one day when I went to start it, I pushed the power button and "no chime" so I left it sit for a while leading to high speed fans for 5 minutes or so, I then shut it down, pressed the power button and it started on the second time, and since then I've noticed that if I let the fans run for a few minutes letting things heat up, it will always start up the second time... When I posted my issue, a suggestion was made to do the hair dryer trick,,,,Ok, I did the Hair Dryer Trick "twice" once with the memory in and once with the memory out, " However, I noticed that after putting the memory back in, I now have a very slow starting G5,,I thought that maybe something may have happened in the operating system, so, I've gone from Tiger to Leopard and back to tiger again just to find that I have the same problem, keep in mind that, once it dose wake up, all seems to run just fine no matter which OS I run.
Now, as far as the memory, I have 7 gig and they are as follows, 6 at 1 gig each and 2 at 512 = 7 gig. Besides having to install them in pairs, is there a special order that they should go?, cause now that I've thought about it, the slow start up problem seemed to start after I took the memory out and re installed it and I'm sure that I didn't re install them in the same order they were in but I did install them in pairs, maybe this is causing the slow wake up,
Anyway, this is everything that I've done so far. Now, I read another suggestion about removing the logic board and re heating all the solder joints around the memory slots, no problem there, I am a tech for 25 years, but just hate to waste a lot of time if this won't work.
So my question after all this is, dose the logic board need to be replaced? or is the memory mismatch causing a problem?
Thanks
Dennis

Hi Dennis,
Not likely a RAM order problem, but I have read that bigger pairs should be 1st,(inner), is all the RAM reported correctly n System Profiler?
It may help to pull the board & heat, or reflow in an oven if you know how to protect the plastic parts.

My power mac would not start it flashing the glob signal

I was trying to start my power mac this morning but it keep flashing the globe signal on a gray screen, I cannot use my mac
can some one know how to fix it?

That results from the Startup Disk preference having somehow been set to NetBoot volume, as discussed in this Aple KBase article -
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25439?viewlocale=en_US
The solution is to wait it out until it finally boots normally - this can take several minutes. Then correct the setting in Startup Disk (in System Preferences).

Power mac will not start

my brother just bought the new 27inch imac and was going to migrate from his power mac. his power mac is now dead. it will not start at all. any ideas

I decided to get a hard drive enclosure. I chose the Mercury Elite Pro...highly recommended in my Mac magazines.
The ones from OWC are easy to put drives in, even for a beginner. Easy to understand instructions and they back up their merchandise 100%, no questions asked. Now if a drive goes bad, I can put a new one in the enclosure in minutes (or put a bigger one in). Mine works great!
But make sure you get an enclosure that uses the PowerMac drive. Since you did not tell us what model he has we can not advise as to which one he needs.
Once the Migration is over, he can reformat the drive to GUID (for Intel) and use it as a backup drive....always needed! DALE

Is my Power Mac G5's Hardware Causing Problems?

My Power Mac G5's specifications can be viewed here, since the panic attacks are extremely long.
I have recently had the following problems:
1. Mac showed a blank screen ( this lasted a day, connecting to the second port on the Mac fixed it ).
2. My Mac has at least 30 damaged SUID files says were damaged and will not be repaired.
3. No versions of Flash Player will install, even on different user accounts.
Is any hardware in my Power Mac G5 damaged?

1. I don't think so, I'm thinking it gets confused as to which port has the disply attached.
2.
3. Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when trying to install... 10.1.102.64
The last really supported Flash for PPC was 10.1.102.64, but if it's for like Facebook or such, people have been fooling FB to think they have a later version installed.

Power Mac G4 Digital Audio Electrical Problem?

My G4 has recently begun making a 'whinning' noise. I thought it was the hard drive going bad. I replaced the hard drive and within minutes the replacement began to hum [squeeech?] like the first. I obtained a replacement drive and within an hour the same problem developed. This time Maxtor/Seagate sent me a Seagate Barracuda drive.
Last evening I installed the Seagate drive AND switched my power surge protector to a different electrical outlet. Booted my Mac and it ran fine for about an hour + and then it too started to whine...and continues as I write this.
At work someone suggested it may be an electrical problem.
Can anyone HELP ME???
Also e-mail to me at: <Edited by Moderator>
Thank You!

Hi-
I would venture a guess that a fan is making the noise. Are your fans dirty? Do they spin freely? Check the large case fan, behind the hard drive, and the fan in the power supply.
Any wires going where they shouldn't?
BTW- including an email address is an invitation to spammers. If you wish to have email alerting you to a response, simply subscribe to the post in "My Subscriptions".
In the mean time, I've asked the hosts to edit the email address from the post.

Apple17 inch/power light always on/start up problem

My cat peed on my display. All worked well but now the power/sleep light on the display never goes off. Whenever I try to start up I get open firmware screen and have to type in Mac-boot and all works fine . But when I try to start up, everything blinks then I get the open firmware screen. When I disconnect the display from the tower the computer will turn on but when I plug in the display it will not turn on. Eventually I get everything going. I guess the question is since the display seems damaged will that cause this open firmware problem since the display light is always on? I feel so just wondering what everyone thinks. Did reset pram , no help.

Thanks for your help.
Tried charging the battery last night, but no luck there.
Tried resetting the PMU and initially this worked. The mac started up fine.
Unfortunately it bombed out before I could copy any files across though.
It now doesn't even get to the start-up screen before bombing out.
You hear the chime (usually), but then the screen goes, if it turns on at all.
I've tried PRAM, and holding shift down, but it doesn't seem to get far enough for these to kick in.
I've had problems with the USB ports over the last few months.
I thought this was unrelated, but from what I can read it could be the motherboard playing up, and if so it would account for both of these things happening.
Thanks for your help though, I really appreciate it.

Power Mac 5400/180 start up problem

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