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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Unable to bootup iMAC G5

sam9 - Mar 15, 2007 - 8:01 am

(I send this to the forum under hardware section)
A couple days ago after installing the latest Software Update on my iMAC G5,
I was not able to reboot it again. I get the Gery box and it hangs there. I tried to using the Installation CD1, but during the Checking the Destination Disk step, unable to continue due to error and gives me the RESTART button option. I tried to use the Disk Utility and ran the Disk Verify and then Disk fix and during the end it says it was unable to due to the xxxxx bytes not matching!?
I backed my personal data on a Lacie external hard drive. Holding down the Apple key+T+P just starts the fan in very high speed and nothing happens.
I also opened the back on the computer and pushed the SMU reset button on the mother board.

I also have a iMAC -Intel and after the Software Update it is fine. Is there any suggestions I should be doing, I read that I can use the G5 as a slave and Intel as a master?
Sam

gsahli - Mar 15, 2007 - 9:50 am

Please try this - put the Install DVD in again, and restart the MAc holding the C key down until you are sure it is using the DVD for startup.
Now - DON'T Start the installer - instead, find Disk Utility in the top (Finder) menus, and use Disk Utility to repair the hard drive.

sam9 - Mar 15, 2007 - 11:45 am

Hi.
I have done it already and no use. The disk verify ends fine but the disk repair ends with error. Could this be because of the last Software Update?

gsahli - Mar 15, 2007 - 12:51 pm

It is highly unlikely it is because of the last update, but possible. Regardless, you should try a utility like Disk Warrior, and if that doesn't help, you will need to reinstall OS X.

Is there any problem reported in SMART status (bottom of Disk Utility)? And have you looked in the Console Utility logs to see if there are errors reported that relate to Disk?

- Mar 15, 2007 - 1:47 pm

I went to Disk Utility and ran VERIFY DISK, the S.M.A.R.T. Staus shows Verified. The Verify disk ended with the red message as the following.
-Volume Bit Map needs minor repair
-Invalid volume free block count
(it should be 30302543 instead of 30302541)
-The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired
-Error: The underlying tasl reported on exit
1 HFS volume checked
- Volume needs repair

gsahli - Mar 15, 2007 - 4:30 pm

I think Disk Warrior could fix that.
But otherwise, I think you would also be successful just reinstalling OS X (including reformatting the drive).

sam9 - Mar 15, 2007 - 5:13 pm

Thank you for the information.
I have Disk Warrior on my other iMAC Intel, also backed up on the Lacie external USB drive. How do I use the Disk Warrior to work on G5 without the CD.
I can not pass the step PREPARING FOR INSTALLATION VERIFYING DESTINATION VOLUME, using the Mac OS X Install Disc 1.
So; I guess you mean to format the hard drive and then install the OSX, correct?, what about other Disk Utility option?
Sam

gsahli - Mar 15, 2007 - 7:04 pm

Oh, now you've given me more info - I think you are trying to install OS X 10.4 using the Intel install DVD, on a G5 iMac? I'm sorry, that won't work. Even though they look the same, Intel OS X and PowerPC OS X are different and require different Install DVDs.

sam9 - Mar 16, 2007 - 2:36 am

I used the iMac G5 Max OSX install Disc 1,
I have 2 iMac computers, one is G5 which is crashed and the other one Intel chip.
I was able to browse the files on the hard disk of the G5 using the Disk Utility.

sam9 - Mar 16, 2007 - 2:36 am

I used the iMac G5 Max OSX install Disc 1,
I have 2 iMac computers, one is G5 which is crashed and the other one Intel chip.
I was able to browse the files on the hard disk of the G5 using the Disk Utility.

gsahli - Mar 16, 2007 - 8:27 am

OK,
I don't think I have any new ideas. Would you like me to send you back to the rest of the Techs?

sam9 - Mar 16, 2007 - 9:19 am

yes please

sam9 - Mar 18, 2007 - 4:06 pm

Hi
I am still waiting for an answer about what is suggested to do for the next step of trouble shooting.

ishan - Mar 19, 2007 - 10:55 am

Connect your iMac G5 (the one which isn't working right" to the iMac Intel which has Diskwarrior on it in Target mode. To do so, turn off you iMac G5, then turn it on with the "T" key held down. Connect the two computers with a Firewire cable. You will then see your iMac G5's hard drive on the desktop of your iMac Intel; the hard drive will have a Firewire icon on it. You can now run DiskWarrior which is on your iMac Intel to rebuild the directory on the iMac G5's drive (which shows as a Firewire drive on the iMac Intel's desktop). Once DiskWarrior has done its work, eject that Firewire hard drive and turn off the G5. Then reinstall as you were trying to do.

After all is done a) beat yourself with a stick for misplacing your Diskwarrior CD b) call Alsoft and pay whatever minimum amount they want for a replacement (they will ask for a serial number, so make sure your DiskWarrior belongs to you) and c) get an external FW drive on which you keep a clone of your internal drives, so that if this happens again, you can boot up from the external drive. For Intel Macintoshes, you can also boot up with a drive connected by USB2.0; it doesn't have to be a Firewire drive.

HTH and please let us know what happens. Thanks.

sam9 - Mar 19, 2007 - 2:52 pm

Hello and Thank you for your clear instructions.
I followed the steps but this is the error message upon running Disk Warrir V.3. on FW G5 HD.
¨The Directory of the disk ¨Macintosh HD¨ can not be rebuild. The original directory is too severely damaged. Th disk was not modified (2155,2179).
So I wet ahead and ran MAC Disk Utility and ran the DISK REPAIR on FW G5 HD. The last line of he message was in GREEN font and I think it means good news! Next, I ran the DISK VERIFY and it also was in GREEN message(Volume passed verification)
Message from DISK REPAIR
Checking volume bitmap.
Checking volume bitmap.
Map needs minor repair",0)
Checking volume information.
Invalid volume free block count
(It should be 30302483 instead of 30302481)
Repairing volume.
Look for links to corrupt files in Damaged Files directory.
Rechecking volume.
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking volume bitmap.
Checking volume information.
The volume Macintosh HD was repaired successfully.
Mounting Disk

1 HFS volume checked
Repair attempted on 1 volume
1 HFS volume repaired


So, I went ahead and boot up the G5 and again had the same problem as the beginning! the GERY BOX showed up.
So this time I boot it up from the OSX CD1. After the PREPARING the DISK/Verifying destination volume)step, the iMac G5 started reading the data and that looks like good news.


I do have a Lacie USB External HD. I backed up both iMACs personal data on it. I did not know you can make the iMAC to boot up from the External HD. (You mentioned FW for G5 and USB for Intel).

About the Disk Warrior.
A friend brought over Disk Warrior V.4 on a CD. I can not install it on the iMAC Intel!?. The message says it you must boot up from the Disk Warrior CD! The V.3 was installed on the computer HD already.

I booted up the G5 from the V.4 CD but nothing happens at all. To be honest, I never used Disk Warrior since I never had the need for it.

Well, the iMAC read both CD1 and CD2 and then booted up fine and I was able to logon fine.

Meanwhile what do you think or suggest as far as the Hard Drive? is it ready to crash again?
How often should I use Disk Utility to verify the HD or when to use Disk Warrior?

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP

ishan - Mar 19, 2007 - 7:17 pm

There is an app called Apple Hardware Diagnostics (AHD) on your original install disks. It'll give you some idea of what may be wrong with your entire system, including your hard drive. Drive Genius (a commercial app) can do a byte by byte analysis of your drive and map out any bad blocks, but reformatiing the drive should have the same effect. Keep us up to date when you have time. I know how frustrating this is; I've been there