08-30-2011, 01:41 PM

I have a G5 PowerPc Server and the hard drive starting making some bad noises. The result was the computer would open to a gray screen with the "Folder/with a ?" in it. I swapped out the hard drive but have been unable to boot up from the original install DVD. Instead, I get the following; "panic: We are hanging here... I tried starting with the option key and the Install disc icon appears, but when I move to the next step arrow the same panic appears. It was running 10.4.11 with 1GB of memory without any issues. Any ideas? I have attempted safe start, start from install disc with the same results. Could this be an issue with the mother board since I it does not seem to care that a new hard drive has been connected? Thanks for your time.

08-30-2011, 01:49 PM

Is the disk you're using definitely the original disk that came with this computer? If it is great...but if it is from another computer...that would explain why it isn't working.

If the disk is the original disk that came with this computer...then try holding down the "c" key when trying to boot from the DVD...maybe this will result in a better outcome.

HTH,

- Nick

08-30-2011, 02:18 PM

They are the original Mac OSX Server Install DVD, and install disks 1-3 with serial number. I have tried starting with the disk in and C key with the same results. Any idea why I can't see the new out of the box hard drive? I was expecting to see a prompt allowing me to format the new drive and reload the OS system.

08-30-2011, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by lar2146

They are the original Mac OSX Server Install DVD, and install disks 1-3 with serial number. I have tried starting with the disk in and C key with the same results. Any idea why I can't see the new out of the box hard drive? I was expecting to see a prompt allowing me to format the new drive and reload the OS system.

Can you please repeat what exactly you are seeing...or how far into the process you are able to get booting with the DVD?

If you are able to successfully boot from the DVD...then the reason why your computer cannot "see" the new hard drive...is that the new HD probably needs to be formatted.

This means that you need to open up "Disk Utility" (after you boot from the DVD)...and format the HD. After the HD is formatted...then you quit Disk Utility...and proceed with the OS install process.

- Nick

08-30-2011, 02:37 PM

When I attempt a boot up, I get a chime, followed by the gray apple screen, followed by a folder with a ? in it. When I boot to the disk using the install disk and C it shows the install disk and has an arrow to continue. When I click to continue I get either the multiple language screen saying I need to restart or a panic hanging here prompt. I was considering formatting the new drive using an old G3 server tower and then reconnecting the hard drive.

08-30-2011, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by lar2146

When I attempt a boot up, I get a chime, followed by the gray apple screen, followed by a folder with a ? in it. When I boot to the disk using the install disk and C it shows the install disk and has an arrow to continue. When I click to continue I get either the multiple language screen saying I need to restart or a panic hanging here prompt. I was considering formatting the new drive using an old G3 server tower and then reconnecting the hard drive.

Ok thanks for the info...that helps. For some reason you're getting a kernel panic (the multi-language message).

Just so I know...was this computer working fine before the HD died? If so...for how long (hours, days, weeks, months, etc.)?

Did you do any sort of ram or video card upgrade/replacement recently?

- Nick

08-30-2011, 02:56 PM

The computer was working fine, but the HD was getting noisy. I backed everything up to a external USB drive and picked up a new drive. Before I could replace it the kernel panic appeared.

08-30-2011, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by lar2146

The computer was working fine, but the HD was getting noisy. I backed everything up to a external USB drive and picked up a new drive. Before I could replace it the kernel panic appeared.

I was hoping for more specific answers to my previous questions. I ask them for a reason...so i can get a better idea of what's going on.

I will say though...if your computer was running fine before (and you've done no hardware upgrades to it)...then the HD died...and the kernel panics only started when you tried to boot from the DVD...then I can only think of two things:

1. Your optical drive (CD/DVD drive) has a problem which is causing the kernel panics.
2. Something very strange is going on here.

If your computer worked fine before the HD died, if it's not the optical drive, and if your DVD discs are ok...then something is not right.

Here's one more idea. I'm assuming that you were trying to boot from DVD #1 (the OS install DVD). How about trying to boot the computer from one of the other DVD's...such as the "hardware test" DVD (I'm also assuming the disks you have are the gray/silver disks).

- Nick

08-30-2011, 04:53 PM

I don't have a silver set of osx install disks I have the black Mac OS X Server disks for this G5. I have the Install DVD and Instal Disc 1-3.

08-30-2011, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by lar2146

I don't have a silver set of osx install disks I have the black Mac OS X Server disks for this G5. I have the Install DVD and Instal Disc 1-3.

Ok...thanks for the info. We may have to tackle this from a different direction. MANY times...kernel panics are caused by hardware problems. And MANY times the most frequent hardware problem is the ram.

Some additional questions:

1. Can you tell me how many sticks of ram you have in this computer?
2. What OS version are these OS X disks you have (you mentioned 10.4.11 earlier)? Need to know the exact OS X version number printed on the disks.
3. What is the exact model Powermac G5 you have (what is the cpu speed, single cpu or dual cpu, how many ram slots does it have [4 or 8])?

Thanks,

- Nick

08-30-2011, 05:36 PM

I have 2 512 mb ddr2 sticks. The OSX Install Disc read Version 10.4. The computer is a PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz Server. 8 RAM Slots. Hope this helps.

08-30-2011, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by lar2146

I have 2 512 mb ddr2 sticks. The OSX Install Disc read Version 10.4. The computer is a PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz Server. 8 RAM Slots. Hope this helps.

Thanks for that info. Regarding the OS disks...do they say more than just OS 10.4...such as 10.4.x?

Thanks,

- Nick

08-30-2011, 06:57 PM

Mac OS X Server Install DVD Version 10.4 & Mac OS X Server Install Disc 1, 2, 3 all Version 10.4 (not 10.4.x)

08-30-2011, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by lar2146

I have 2 512 mb ddr2 sticks. The OSX Install Disc read Version 10.4. The computer is a PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8 GHz Server. 8 RAM Slots. Hope this helps.

Ok..just wanted to be sure about the OS version on the disks. Like I mentioned before...kernel panics many times can be caused by bad ram. You have 2 x 512meg sticks of ram in your computer. In Powermac G5's...ram must be installed in matched pairs...that's why you have 2 x 512meg sticks of ram in there.

Normally (with other computer models)...I would suggest pulling one stick & leaving the other one in to do some troubleshooting. But we cannot do that with a Powermac G5...since the ram needs to be installed in pairs. The only way to test to see if the ram is bad...is to have access to other (good) ram.

If all that happened to this computer is the HD going bad...then in theory...nothing else should be "bad". But obviously something is wrong...since you're now getting kernel panics.

The only other thing I can think of is...that new hard drive you got could be defective in some way (it can happen). Maybe you could return the HD...and exchange it for another one.

- Nick

08-30-2011, 07:19 PM

Thanks for all your time and expertise. I'll try a new drive and then look towards the RAM.