G4 PowerPC Startup

Hello,
I have a start up problem with my mirror front G4 867 Power PC.
When I start up; after about 20 seconds the fan in the door runs like mad.
The screen shows the Apple and the revolving Sun/Flower. This goes on for a short while and then the unit shuts down.
I've replaced the PRAM battery, reset the PRAM and the PMU.

Any ideas please?

Do you still have your original startup - recovery disk that came with your G4? If you do, try starting the machine with that instead. Hold down the C key as soon as you hear the startup sound. It's hard to tell from what's happening but it's possible the hard drive may have died.

desh said:

Hello,
I have a start up problem with my mirror front G4 867 Power PC.
When I start up; after about 20 seconds the fan in the door runs like mad.
The screen shows the Apple and the revolving Sun/Flower. This goes on for a short while and then the unit shuts down.
I've replaced the PRAM battery, reset the PRAM and the PMU.

Any ideas please?

Click to expand...

Is this a computer you just got (new to you)...or have you owned it for a long time & the problem just started?

- Nick

chscag said:

Do you still have your original startup - recovery disk that came with your G4? If you do, try starting the machine with that instead. Hold down the C key as soon as you hear the startup sound. It's hard to tell from what's happening but it's possible the hard drive may have died.

Click to expand...

I have software restore 1 to 4 and Install 1 and 2 but no startup disc

pigoo3 said:

Is this a computer you just got (new to you)...or have you owned it for a long time & the problem just started?

- Nick

Click to expand...

the latter Nick

thanks

chscag said:

Do you still have your original startup - recovery disk that came with your G4? If you do, try starting the machine with that instead. Hold down the C key as soon as you hear the startup sound. It's hard to tell from what's happening but it's possible the hard drive may have died.

Click to expand...

I also have Apple hardware test

Since this computer is not "new to you"...when was the last time it worked properly?...and between the last time it was working properly & when the fan problem started...were you getting any warning signs of a problem?

The fan problem is usually due to a hardware issue/hardware failure. Or did you install anything new or different recently (hard drive, ram, optical drive, etc.)?

- Nick

If the discs came with the computer, pop in disc one, reboot and hold down 'C' and see if you can enter Utilities > Disk utility and run Repair Disk to check the state of the drive. if no joy run Apple Hardware Test. Keep us posted.

pigoo3 said:

Since this computer is not "new to you"...when was the last time it worked properly?...and between the last time it was working properly & when the fan problem started...were you getting any warning signs of a problem?

The fan problem is usually due to a hardware issue/hardware failure. Or did you install anything new or different recently (hard drive, ram, optical drive, etc.)?

- Nick

Click to expand...

Well, I had a long period where it wasn't used much , maybe a year.
I added an extra hard drive inside; a Lacie that I was using as an external initially.
But it worked fine .
I had a problem with a Digidesign Mbox that died on me. Perhaps that has something to do with it.

What if I isolate the hard drives, one at a time?

desh said:

What if I isolate the hard drives, one at a time?

Click to expand...

Any troubleshoting ideas you can try the better. And the simpler things can be made (fewer devices internally or externally) the better for narrowing things down.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Since this computer is not "new to you"...when was the last time it worked properly?...and between the last time it was working properly & when the fan problem started...were you getting any warning signs of a problem?

The fan problem is usually due to a hardware issue/hardware failure. Or did you install anything new or different recently (hard drive, ram, optical drive, etc.)?

- Nick

Click to expand...

harryb2448 said:

If the discs came with the computer, pop in disc one, reboot and hold down 'C' and see if you can enter Utilities > Disk utility and run Repair Disk to check the state of the drive. if no joy run Apple Hardware Test. Keep us posted.

Click to expand...

I ran the hardware test and got error code post/16/2048DIMMO/J21

So I removed the memory module and ran the short test (can't do the long one as it shuts down part way through) and everything checks out

Same thing; fan still runs and shuts down although front light 'pulses'

I can manage to boot to normal screen for seconds; then it all shuts down.

Might be an idea to remove things one by one? as I just mentioned to Nick

thanks

I ran another short hardware test that said everything was OK.

The problem still persists so I disconnected each item:

Graphics card, each memory module and each of the hard drives. I disconnected them from the mother board (ribbon connector) as I haven't sussed out how to remove the carriage that they're in, in order to totally remove them including disconnecting the power.

I don't know if its relevant but it flashes up a lot on screen 'no signal', then it recovers
wonder if its the graphics card?

Apart from kicking it around the garage for half an hour; I'm a bit stumped.

Thanks

Sure sounds like the gfx card. Take it out, clean the terminal and re-seat firmly and see if there is any improvement.

Whilst open it may well pay to replace the AA1/2 PRAM battery as the machine has been sitting around idly.