URGENT -- My G5 won't kick in!

[chrispick]

Hey all,

Need some guru help ASAP. My G5 won't start up.

It seems to begin to start up okay, but it clutches early on, never sending power to the monitor or keyboard (although my iLok key lights up like normally).

It does, however, power up my firewire drive, though I've since removed that variable from the system to simply troubleshooting. I've also removed the iLok. Right now, in fact, nothing's connected to the box except its power cable.

Still no luck.

Any one else had this experience or similar? Recommendations? I'm smack in the middle fo a job, so quick assistance would be very helpful.

BTW: My system stats are listed below.

Thanks.

<small>[ August 15, 2005, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: heavypick ]</small>

[jon]

Have you opened up the computer to see if the hard drives are firmly seated?

[chrispick]

Originally posted by terance:
Have you opened up the computer to see if the hard drives are firmly seated?

Yes. It is.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

2 dumb questions:

Have you started up in safe mode?

Have you started from you CD or DVD disk?

With the latter, if it works, repair permissions (obviously).

[qo]

Are the drives spinning? Are the fans spinning? In other words, is it making any sound in there?

Bad RAM can cause this. I'd remove all the RAM except the matched 512MB sticks. If that doesn't work, remove them and replace with the other RAM.

If that doesn't reveal anything, perhaps the power supply is biting it, or the motherboard...

[chrispick]

Originally posted by MIDI Life Crisis:
2 dumb questions:

Have you started up in safe mode?

Have you started from you CD or DVD disk?

With the latter, if it works, repair permissions (obviously).

It never gets this far starting up. Plus, like I said, no power to the keyboard or monitor.

[chrispick]

Originally posted by qo:
Are the drives spinning? Are the fans spinning? In other words, is it making any sound in there?

Bad RAM can cause this. I'd remove all the RAM except the matched 512MB sticks. If that doesn't work, remove them and replace with the other RAM.

If that doesn't reveal anything, perhaps the power supply is biting it, or the motherboard...

The fan facing the drive spins -- pretty hard and loud, at that. The hard drive doesn't appear to be spinning at full rate (if at all -- it's hard for me to tell, actually -- the fan is extreme loud for some reason).

I'll try popping out the RAM. I've already tried reseating them. And they worked fine a few hours ago, FWIW.

Thanks.

[qo]

Actually, heavypick, your mention of the fans sparked my memory about one of the initial RAM sticks I bought being bad. And, the symptom was exactly as you are describing. The fans went into their jet takeoff routine and no other power seemed evident.

I suppose other things could cause this, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's just RAM.

[chrispick]

Originally posted by qo:
Actually, heavypick, your mention of the fans sparked my memory about one of the initial RAM sticks I bought being bad. And, the symptom was exactly as you are describing. The fans went into their jet takeoff routine and no other power seemed evident.

I suppose other things could cause this, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's just RAM.

Well, it's in a shop right now. It's under warranty, so I'm hoping the hosing is minor, if at all.

I'll keep interested parties posted on the outcome.

[chrispick]

I fried the logic board. Now I'm a real cowboy. Warranty takes care of it. Hopefully, it'll be back in my hands tomorrow night.

Thanks for all the help.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Originally posted by heavypick:
I fried the logic board. Now I'm a real cowboy. Warranty takes care of it. Hopefully, it'll be back in my hands tomorrow night.

Thanks for all the help.

I guess the big question is: HOW? Any ideas what did it? Bad power? Were you using an APS or some sort of line conditioner?

I've been thinking about a dual G5, but hear a few horror stories and problems with noise. Maybe I'm better off with my G4 @ 1.4 gHz? Would love to know what caused your particular problem.

Thank you for posting!!!

[chrispick]

Originally posted by MIDI Life Crisis:

I guess the big question is: HOW? Any ideas what did it? Bad power? Were you using an APS or some sort of line conditioner?

I've been thinking about a dual G5, but hear a few horror stories and problems with noise. Maybe I'm better off with my G4 @ 1.4 gHz? Would love to know what caused your particular problem.

Thank you for posting!!!

Well, I should clarify: I don't know if I literally fried it or it just went bad on its own accord. It might've been borderline faulty to begin with (i.e., manufacturing flaw or something). I don't know yet. But, when I pick it up I'll ask.

As for noise, up until all went awry with the logic board, my system wasn't prohibitively loud.

What can you do? It's a computer. It's a machine and machines break. Sucks, sure, but without it I'd never be able to compose, arrange, perform, orchestrate and master the stuff I do. Gotta keep that in mind.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Originally posted by heavypick:
What can you do? It's a computer. It's a machine and machines break. Sucks, sure, but without it I'd never be able to compose, arrange, perform, orchestrate and master the stuff I do. Gotta keep that in mind.

Totally agree. I would never want to go back to my TEAC 2340, drum kit and piano with mallets again Orchestral scores would be more time consuming, but not all that different, however. Of course, getting them all played would be somewhat more costly!