My boss has a G4 iMac with 10.4. He did the most recent security update and when it rebooted it made the gong sound and then sat for about a minute with a black screen. After that minute the fans kicked in on overdrive and nothing happens after that. I unplugged everything from the machine except for the power plug and rebooted. The results were the same. I also tried booting up using the 10.4 disk that came with the machine and held down the C key. Still nothing worked. Any ideas or suggestions?
This sounds like what happened to Tracy yesterday. Uh oh?
https://www.b4print.com/forums/index.php?topic=1777.0;topicseen (https://www.b4print.com/forums/index.php?topic=1777.0;topicseen)
Yeah, I asked Traci this morning what update it wasm, and make/model of machine, I have not heard back. I talked with my IT buddy this morning about it, and he has not come across the problem. One guy in our Art Department is running a G4, and he is okay as well. I am confused.
I did that Security update on Two G4's and a G5 with no issues. Most times when these type of things happen the Mac wasn't long for trouble and may have exhibited this problem anyway at the next reboot. One more reason to keep everything backed up, your system clean, and repair permissions before and after every install.
NEVER DO THE INTERNET UPDATES I TELLS YA!
I read Tracy's post and felt it was a bit different of an issue as I can't get anything more than just a black screen. No user shell or anything of the such. The big problem is the machine was backed up to an external drive every night but of course last week that drive went bad. Holding down the command + s doesn't do anything as it won't get past the fan initialization. Zapping PRam had the same issue. I got tired of holding the keys down for more than 5 minutes in hopes it would do something.
Quote from: almaink on June 03, 2008, 11:23:06 AMI did that Security update on Two G4's and a G5 with no issues. Most times when these type of things happen the Mac wasn't long for trouble and may have exhibited this problem anyway at the next reboot. One more reason to keep everything backed up, your system clean, and repair permissions before and after every install.
agreed, however I read somewhere (yea it's always somewhere :wink:) that the automatic updaters can be problematic. Not always obviously but something can get corrupt during d/l and automatic install or some such shite.
I'm gonna see if I can find it again.
Quote from: almaink on June 03, 2008, 11:23:06 AMI did that Security update on Two G4's and a G5 with no issues. Most times when these type of things happen the Mac wasn't long for trouble and may have exhibited this problem anyway at the next reboot. One more reason to keep everything backed up, your system clean, and repair permissions before and after every install.
Words of wisdom.
Quote from: Halftone on June 03, 2008, 11:26:44 AMI read Tracy's post and felt it was a bit different of an issue as I can't get anything more than just a black screen. No user shell or anything of the such. The big problem is the machine was backed up to an external drive every night but of course last week that drive went bad. Holding down the command + s doesn't do anything as it won't get past the fan initialization. Zapping PRam had the same issue. I got tired of holding the keys down for more than 5 minutes in hopes it would do something.
I've seen this happen when the battery dies. You can buy a new one at radio shack for $10 - $15. Worth a shot if all else fails.
You could also try booting from the install DVD and running disk utility from the DVD. I don't think it will help but worth a shot as U never know.
yeah try booting from the install disk and go to the menu for disk utility and repair permissions. full instructions are in the thread from yesterday, didnt help me but maybe it will you. good luck man. the tech has my computer!
I appreciate all the responses. As far as rebooting from the 10.4 DVD, I already stated that I tried that but it won't boot up from it. :smiley:
I can't even get the DVD out of the drive now.
Basically the steps things happen:
1) Startup Gong
2) Black screen sits for 1 minute
3) Black screen stays but fans kick in overdrive.
4) Nothing else happens, fans go on forever.
I'm still thinking battery...or the mainboard. I'd try replacing the battery first though. :wink:
Quote from: Joe link=topic=1786.msg29103#msg29103 date=1212518619I'm still thinking battery...or the mainboard. I'd try replacing the battery first though. :wink:
I'll look into that Joe. Thanks. I don't suppose the battery is a AA is it? :laugh:
Quote from: Halftone on June 03, 2008, 12:51:01 PMQuote from: Joe link=topic=1786.msg29103#msg29103 date=1212518619I'm still thinking battery...or the mainboard. I'd try replacing the battery first though. :wink:
I'll look into that Joe. Thanks. I don't suppose the battery is a AA is it? :laugh:
Unfortunately no. :grin:
I had another thought though. I had a similar problem on a co-workers G4 a couple of years ago. Her G4 would do nothing, just like yours is doing. On the main board you should be able to find a little round silver tiny micro switch. I think it is fairly close to the battery. When you push the little round silver button down you should feel a click. Release it and try starting it again. Might not work but this one is free to try. It fixed her machine at the time. Good luck.
Halftone you may need to re-set you open firmware. A PRAM reset isn't quite the same thing. Try Joe's motherboard reset idea, and if that doesn't work post back.
We had this happen to us about 6 months ago. Try starting the computer holding down the shift key. That should get you into safe mode.
If it boots up, log into the Administrator account and use disk utility to repair permissions and delete these files:
admin/lib/preferences/ com.apple.systempreferences.plist
admin/lib/preferences/ com.apple.sysenuiserver.plist
admin/lib/preferences/ com.apple.finder.plist
admin/lib/preferences/ com.apple.universalaccess.plist
Then reboot normally. The computer should boot up just fine, and the files you deleted will be recreated since they are just preferences.
Good luck
-MC
I know you're being bombarded with suggestions, bu-u-ut...you could also try a Zap PRAM, [resetting parameter RAM].
On startup, hold down Cmd+Opt+P+R keys. Wait, [in theory], until you get 3 chimes. Let go of the keys and wait for it to restart normally. [You hope... :rolleyes:]. Sounds like you won't get this far, but, ya never know...
Battery replacement would be an early elimination, though, as Joe says.
Thanks again for all the responses. New things I tried and didn't work:
1) I tried resetting the mother board
2) Replaced the battery
3) Tried booting in safe mode
I'm starting to think it's a bad board.
Thanks for all the help.
It is starting to sound like it. Bummer.
Well the boss brought in his computer from home which is the same model. I swapped the hard drives and of course the bad machine didn't boot but the good one did. So at least we can do a new backup of his computer before we bring it into the shop. Definitely seeming to be a bad board.