Problems with my iMac g5

Here are the specs for my particular iMac:

Apple iMac G5 (2.0GHz, 20-inch) specs and Desktop specifications - CNET Reviews

Now, here is my problem.

everything had been running fine for years now. and one day I went to restart it because it was running a bit slow. it shows some strange symbol before booting that i had never seen before, but then booted up normally. The next reboot I did, nothing happend. wont boot up at all.

Now I am sure there is more information that anyone who can help me fix this problem would need so youll have to excuse my lack of knowledge on the topic.

Basically I am trying to narrow down the issues, hopefully to come to the conclusion that it is not the logic board as I am suspecting it is after a few other things I have read.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Brad.

bbb543 said:

everything had been running fine for years now. and one day I went to restart it because it was running a bit slow. it shows some strange symbol before booting that i had never seen before,

Click to expand...

I guess my first question would be...what was the strange symbol?

- Nick

i wish i could remember. It seems like it was one of the old school square mac symbols in the shape of a computer i believe. It was in the spot where the spinning loader would normally be. with a blue screen, but then it loaded up normally, just slower. And the very next reboot it just made a faint noise inside the machine and then did nothing.

Also it had Leopard running as the OS

Ok. i just tried again. by using the button inside on the mother board. it powered up for a moment. showed a folder with a question mark and then went to a little mac symbol.

also on the indicator lights, when i plug it in there is one light on, number 1. and when i hit the inside power button the second light turned on as well, followed by powering up. then went back to nothing and the #1 light back on.

after 10 minutes i can get it to boot up, a folder with a question mark comes up, then it goes to this symbol inside the folder:


then boots normally..and crashes as soon as the desktop opens.

sorry for so many posts but..i spends at least a week and couldnt get this far so this is all new to me.

and this is what i am getting now..

Hmm... Thats strange i never saw anything like that before!

It really seems like the Hard Drive has died or is dying.

Do you still have the OSX DVD that came with your iMac?

If so, with the DVD in the drive, hold down the Option key after the startup sound. You should see Apple Hardware Test after a bit. If so, click on that and run the extended test when the AHT appears. See what it reports.

I dont, my dad has it..in florida..but I got it working for the time being...somehow it started working. and has hasnt died for the last 10 minutes...is there a way to wipe the drive without the disk? Also based on the led ligghts (1-4) on the mother board...Apple has a test to determine the problem...which led to the logic board. but now I am able to get the second light on..which allows the computer to turn on and function..as it is right now. should I be expected it to crash again or any idea what I am to look forward to?

No ~ ring Dad and tell him you need the DVD fast

You need to run Apple Hardware Test from the original install DVD and see what is reported. In the meantime when you get it up and going, go to Disk Utility under Utilities, click on the top drive listed and see what S.M.A.R.T. Status has to say on the condition of the hard drive.

harryb2448 said:

No ~ ring Dad and tell him you need the DVD fast

You need to run Apple Hardware Test from the original install DVD and see what is reported. In the meantime when you get it up and going, go to Disk Utility under Utilities, click on the top drive listed and see what S.M.A.R.T. Status has to say on the condition of the hard drive.

Click to expand...

got it up and running for the past 20 or so minutes..ill look into that right now.
thanks for the insight

harryb2448 said:

No ~ ring Dad and tell him you need the DVD fast

You need to run Apple Hardware Test from the original install DVD and see what is reported. In the meantime when you get it up and going, go to Disk Utility under Utilities, click on the top drive listed and see what S.M.A.R.T. Status has to say on the condition of the hard drive.

Click to expand...

S.M.A.R.T. status is verified.

Waiting on original disk.

Well the computer died out again. cant get it to turn on with the normal power button nor the one inside the computer. Motherboard? or perhaps something else? Id take it in to apple but if its something I can diagnose with the help of some of you and fix myself, it would be much more economical seeing that I am a struggling student.