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TICKET ARCHIVE -> G5 10.4.6 won't boot with mod keys or OF

midiwife - Oct 6, 2006 - 1:00 am

I run 7 G5 2.7GHz Powerpcs (1GHz ram) and 10.4.6 in a music tech lab.

The main teaching machine now refuses to boot into single user mode or any other mode requiring modifying keys at startup.

I think the problem is an open firmware one, I did manage to boot into open firmware once and did the following:

reset-nvram

then

reset-all

and this solved the problem. I then booted into single user mode and ran Applejack which I use to maintain all the macs.

Only managed this once and now the same problem again, only this time, I can't even boot into open firmware (trying the same method - holding in the power button till it boots into OF).

Plus, when it boots 'normally' there is no apple icon, just a silvery grey screen and startup takes longer than than on the other machines. It does though get to a full load of the OS.

I want to run Applejack as I'd been having some unexplained crashes running Cubase SX (unexpected quits).

The mac's just over a year old and I really don't want to have to send it back to the vendor as they were really useless in the first place.

Please help.

- Oct 6, 2006 - 3:58 am

Hi Karina,
my name is Steven and I will try to help you. try booting into open firmware with Command-Option-O-F pressed while powering on. When you come into open firmware, type the following:

"reset-nvram" enter
"set-defaults" enter
"reset-all" - Mac should now reboot

See if this solves your problem

Steven

midiwife - Oct 7, 2006 - 12:52 am

Hi Steven,
No - I can't apply any modifying keys at startup at all - hence, can't do Command-Option-O-F. This is the problem!

I followed the advice on the Apple Support pages and held the power button in until the mac booted into OF automatically - as I describe above. Then I did the resets you mention (not the set-defaults mind you, but the other 2.

That's when I was able to startup in single user mode and run Applejack but since then, I'm unable to startup in single user mode (command-S) or again, use any modifying keys. PLUS... I can't do the force OF boot by holding in the power button till it automatically went into OF.

So no, I'm stuck.

Plus I've tried resetting the SMU by pressing the little internal button near the battery.

Stumped!

TechSupport - Oct 10, 2006 - 10:05 am