g4 mac pro crashed

[nursematt]

What is or does this symbol mean? Tried to install new software 10.4. kicked me out. went back to 10.2 but when it boots up get this symbol. Nothing else just the symbol. Any help would be appreciated. At witts end.

 

[MacHeadCase]

We need further info on your system so we can help. Your post to me is very confusing.

First off, you have a Power Mac G4: a Mac Pro is Intel-based.

1- How much RAM does it have?

2- Which model is this? Is it a G4 Cube? Is it a Mirror Door? Is it a QuickSilver? There are many Power Mac G4 models... And even more...

3- Which OS version does the Power Mac have installed on it? Be specific i.e. not OS X Tiger but 10.4.8 for example.

4- What did you do right before this problem started? Did you install new software? Did you add a peripheral? Did you change anything in your user account?

5- Which troubleshooting procedures did you try on your own so far?

 

[nursematt]

I am so sorry, you are right. I will try to be as specific as possible. It is a G4 power mac not the pro series. Sorry about that. 500 mhz dual processors. Not sure which model. Got some miles on it. Not sure how much Ram. Bought the mac used. Whick did not have the install discs.

Up till now been working fine with os 10.2 not which version of 10.2. Tried to update the software with another computer's 10.4.1. Looks like it started the install process fine, did the disc scan then came up the window sayingg needed 10.3 to upgrade to the 10.4. Ok no Problem. ennded the install process took the disc out and figured would be buying a retail copy of 10.4 or what ever I needed to update the system. When I restarted the mac got the symbol indicated above. Not sure what I did wrong.

Attempts to remedy:
1. tried to reinstall 10.2 which recently purchased. Did not even get the install screen. Came up the the screen above.

2. Figured I toasted the hd. Installed a new HD. Still have the old HD in as a slave. No good either. Still get the little face picture above.

3. Before installing the new HD. Saw a post to attemp to turn power off of HD and start only from dvd. Seemed to work for the 10.4. Got the install screen again. shut down and plugged the hd back in and restarted. No good the face man was back.

result: That is it so far. Figured would check in with some folks who know more than I do right now. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dtravis7]

Could you try one thing? Disconnect the old drive and just have the new HDD connected and try to boot with the 10.2 CD. Be SURE and hold down the C key right after the startup sound and keep it down and let us know what happens. It sounds like it's still trying to boot from the old HDD.

The Dual 500Mhz G4 is the Gigabit Ethernet model.

http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/g4mp.html


If you still can not boot from the 10.2 CD, Is the CD for sure a Factory 10.2 CD?

Also if the above does not work right at the startup sound hold Command-Option-P-R all at the same time. Command is the one with the Apple on it, Option is next to it and the P and the R keys. Hold them and listen for 2 more startup sounds then let go. Then restart and hold C and see if the 10.2 CD boots.

 

[nursematt]

thanks will give it a try. Let you know what happens. appreciate the quick reply. The 10.2 looks like a factory cd. Any way to make sure it is real. have a powerbook g4. any way could make sure it is legit with the powerbook. It is running 10.4.1.

 

[louishen]

that symbol looks like the old OS9 start-up icon.

Your G4 Pro might be able to boot up into the old 1990s os

Try booting up from the 10.2 install CD (press C on strat-up with the CD in

If that works - then you will need to reinstall - but back up some of your files first

 

[nursematt]

Tried a couple of things this am. did not try the command option p-r thing yet. could now rember the key strokes and my internet was down so couldn't look them up. What I did try is using the new hd tried to start up the 10.2 install disc. tried both "c" key on startup and just putting the disc in and letting it boot. Neither worked. Just for kicks put in the 10.4 install dvd and got the install screen again. I knew it wouldn't install but checked the utilities to see of it was seeing the new hd. It did. Said had 128 gb. It is actually 160 gb drive but I read somewhere in the mac forums that my machine would only recognize the 128. No problem. Tried the 10.2 install cd again and no good the same icon as before. Check the 10.2 on a powerbook to look at the contents of the cd and looks ok. There is the usual suspects of read first, install, and the languages, etc. Not sure why reading the 10.4 and not 10.2. Only difference is the 10.4 is a dvd. Could that have anything to do with it? Would it benefit to purchase a retail version of the 10.4 or do you need 10.3 to upgrade to the 10.4? Just some thoughts.

 

[celica73]

That symbol means it passed all the hardware checks but hasn't found a bootable drive. Something happened to the 10.2 system so the machine isn't recognizing it. A new drive has no OS, so you get the same error with the new drive.

Can you boot with a system CD/DVD by holding down the "C" key at startup? If so, boot to the CD and run disk utility to see if the drive can be repaired. If that goes well, then go to the startup disk option and select the internal drive as the startup disk, then re-boot.

Edit: Does that folder alternately flash with a question mark?

Scott

 

[nursematt]

Tried the command-option-p-r thing this am. No good. Got same symbol. Have even tried unplugging the HD and put the 10.2 disc in the cd drive to force it to start up with the install disc. No good.
Scott. Do get a question mark at first the just the face picture. No question mark after that.

Also tried booting while holding the C key. No good. Currious though it spun up the DVD version of the 10.4 but not the cd version of the 10.2. Got anything to do with it?

 

[nursematt]

Just wanted to say thank everyone who has tried to help me these last few days. I have fixed the problem. Kind of silly really. Rember when tried to install the 10.4 and got the message that needed 10.3. Well just quit the process there. did it again today and it also says that have to pick the start up disc to start the computer, Ie the hard drive. so picked the appropieate hard drive and up and running again. I feel so foolish. Thanks again.