DrExtrovert Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I'm having trouble booting my Powermac G4 Mirror Door. First off here are my specs: Powermac G4 dual 1ghz Mirror Door 2 gigs of ram 1-160 gig HDD OSX 10.4 AGP Radeon Pro 9000 ---I think ? I just got it so not sure what all is in it other than that. I did an update to 10.4.11 I think..(I bought it off ebay and it booted up the first time with no problems. And yeah like an idiot I ran a software update...I think there was a java update as well and a few other updates...Upon reboot it just hangs on the Gray Apple logo screen. And appears that the machine is frozen. I have zapped PRAM about 10 few times, reset Open Firmware a few times, reset-nvram <ENTER> set-defaults <ENTER> reset-all <ENTER> Pressed CUDA (not really CUDDA on this model) button on the motherboard. Took out the battery, let it sit for 30 mins...Did a hard reset...Tried just one stick of ram, going through all 4/512mg sticks one at a time and trying different combos. Still hangs at the gray screen ...I've tried booting from an older OSX 10.0 disc, even tried the software install disk, tried booting from just the hdd and nothing seems to work....HELP !!! There was nothing on it so can I just do a fresh clean install ? Or have a fubbed myself ? Any advice thanks in advance...And yes this is a little new to me...HELP ! OK While trying to get to disk permissions: OK I know this sounds kinda stupid...It's option and the s key held down together right ? Not options + s key ? Do I do this with a DVD in the drive ? or no disc ? It actually got passed the gray screen and on to the pizza wheel but it just keeps spinning...This is with the 10.4 cd in the drive. I can't ever get to the disk permissions. I can move the mouse around so it doesn't appear to be frozen. Sorry I am a noob with Mac's..but it still just sits there spinning away... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
c0rk007hck Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 If you did a software update, you software is wrecked, and not your hardware. Just do a fresh install with a tiger or leopard dvd (leopard will run fast as hell on this machine) and format your whole hd, to avoid crashes. Then install it Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/#findComment-1128404 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrExtrovert Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 If you did a software update, you software is wrecked, and not your hardware.Just do a fresh install with a tiger or leopard dvd (leopard will run fast as hell on this machine) and format your whole hd, to avoid crashes. Then install it At this point it appears it is the power supply. I took it in to a Apple store and had them try and take a look at it and now it won't even come up with a display. It chimes but with no video and not post error codes. I've replaced the PRAM battery, tested ALL the ram, the drives all appear to be OK. At this point it looks like I am going to part it out. The cheapest power supply I could find was $150 on ebay. And I searched for 2 hours ALL over the net at Apple part houses and nothing was cheaper than $250 for a power supply. This sucks !!! So if anyone knows of a place that I can get a power supply cheaper, please let me know. Thanks again for everyone's help ! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/#findComment-1129592 Share on other sites More sharing options...
c0rk007hck Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Boot your mac into verbose mode, how to do this check: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492 Post the last messages here Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/#findComment-1129698 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrExtrovert Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 Boot your mac into verbose mode, how to do this check:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492 Post the last messages here OK I will try that...And report back. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/#findComment-1129753 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrExtrovert Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 OK here is what some of the last lines were: Couldn't allow alloc class AppleMacRiscPCI2AGPist and then it just keeps repeating Still waiting for boot divice OK I was able to get a copy of Disk Warrior 4.0 and loaded it up and BAM !!! It showed up and I could see both HDD's so I ran ALL test on both drives...I repaired disk permissions, it came back with some errors and I chose to repair,replace and fix everything. I then rebooted, got a chime, and OH MY GOD---Apple Gray screen and it just sits there. So I zapped the pram, ran command-option-o-f reset-nvram,set-defaults,reset-all.It did it's thing and rebooted, got a chime, again apple gray screen and nothing...Just sits there !!! When I ran the test hardware in Disk Warrior it said both drives were fine and had no errors...So It seems as though they are not the issue. I have no idea why it decided to NOW show display...All I did was let it sit overnight with the pram battery and all memory pulled out of the machine, un-plugged the power supply connector from the board...Which I know would help. So now I am back where I started....I am seriously about to make this thing a boat anchor....I thank ALL of you how have given me suggestions...You guys are AWESOME !!! If I could I would buy YOU ALL drinks...PLEASE HELP or should I just sell it as parts ???? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/#findComment-1130212 Share on other sites More sharing options...
c0rk007hck Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Still waiting for root device means your disk drivers are gone, reinstall mac (i suggest you install leopard), or call free apple for support (the best help desk in the world). Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/#findComment-1130624 Share on other sites More sharing options...
catwirk Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 I am having similar issues with my G4 533 Dual. I've reinstalled 10.4 from the DVD three times now. When I try to update, process aborts and I get a gray screen on reboot. I tried downloading the updates individually: 10.4.1, 10.4.2, etc. Update 10.4.1 loaded like a dream. The 10.4.2 combo update aborted and we're back to square one. Disk Utility says everything is fine. Zapped PRAM. Unplugged all the USBs and Firewire cable. Note: cannot boot in Safe Mode. So I'm reinstalling yet again, back to 10.4. And I'm afraid to go any further. How do I stop this nightmare? Don't tell me to buy Leopard. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161261-power-mac-g4-hung-on-gray-screen-after-10411-update/#findComment-1413038 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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