[DEMUG] A dead iMac: n o start-up Most Recent Console Log File, After Another Glitch

Thu Jul 31 05:41:54 EDT 2008

Glad to hear you found it that pairing down the USB devices helped. iMac G5s had some odd behaviour in regard to USB and firewire, so this could be the culpriet. Also, older USB devices sometimes don't work well on newer style USB plugs. You might consider purchasing a USB hub which has its own power supply. This will remove some load from the iMac. 

In my humble opinion the 1st & 2nd Gen iMacs have power supplies and logic boards which suffered from a batch of fault components from a Mfgr in Taiwan. Dell and others were hit too. Apple did issue a repair extension for some systems. You may want to call Apple Care to see if your unit's serial number qualifies. 

If the unit continues to shut down at random times, or finally stop powering up altogether, it may be a good indication that the logic board/power supply is failed. iMacs which have suffered that fault usually smell kind of burnt-peanut butter near the plug for the power cord. 

There is one last cheap fix. The backup battery. Most Macs have a small battery that retains the clock time and date, etc. If these get weak or run dead, the mac will often have trouble starting up, or, you can turn it off and on many times in hope that it might get 'lucky' 

--- On Sat, 7/26/08, Michael Weinberg <jnm2 at mac.com> wrote:
From: Michael Weinberg <jnm2 at mac.com>
Subject: Re: [DEMUG] A dead iMac: n o start-up Most Recent Console Log File, After Another Glitch
To: "Downeast Mac Users Group Chat" <demug at lists.demug.org>
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2008, 11:45 AM

I re-thought my peripherals (ie:which ones did I really use on a  
regular basis),  reduced the number of USB connectors, discarded my  
old USB hub and Eureka! I got a more straight-forward start-up.   
Power alone didn't work but Command-Power did.  Let's see if my luck  
holds. Or did I really want an excuse to get an Intel iMac? Thank you  
all who offered help. Michael

On Jul 25, 2008, at 8:36 PM, James Baranski wrote:

Michael,

Your iMac is having the typical signs of a failing power supply. *OR*
one of your
peripherals has a problem causing it to demand more power then the
Imac can supply
via the USB or FW busses.

Over time, your iMac may not be able to supply enough power for all
the peripherals,
or for all the busses the peripherals use.  Try to limit the number
of peripherals, or used new powered hubs.

Another possible solution is replacing the PRAM battery.  It doesn't
make a lot of sense,
but sometimes replacing the PRAM battery helps.

I would bet on that it's a hardware problem.  If you can work around
the problem, you
might be able to continue using the computer for a couple more years.

Jim.

On Jul 25, 2008, at 3:43 PM, Michael Weinberg wrote:

> Hello Harry! I just found it. Here it is. Any joy?<system_log.rtf>
>
> On Jul 25, 2008, at 3:28 PM, Michael Weinberg wrote:
>
> Sorry, I can't find it . . . where is it located?
> Michael
>
> On Jul 25, 2008, at 3:13 PM, Harry Freeman wrote:
>
> Greetings Michael ( + )!( + )
>
> Michael there wasn't enough information in that file, this time copy
> and send the "system.log" file.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Harry
> ø?ºº?ø,¸¸,ø?ºº?ø,¸¸,ø?ºº?ø,¸¸,ø?º?ø
>
> On Jul 25, 2008, at 11:35 AM, Michael Weinberg wrote:
>
>> Thanks for your suggestion. Here it is -- does it tell us anything?
>> Michael<Console Log File.rtf>
>>
>> On Jul 25, 2008, at 9:53 AM, Harry Freeman wrote:
>>
>> Greetings ( + )!( + )
>>
>> If you can get the platform started again take a look at the
"Console
>> Log File" as it should hold a clue as to what the problem might
be.
>>
>> You will find the Console Log File by clicking on ~/Applications/
>> Utilities/Console
>>
>> Once you have that file post it to DEMUG and someone should be
>> able to
>> help.
>>
>> Harry
>> ----------------------------------------------------
>>
>> On Jul 25, 2008, at 4:30 AM, Michael Weinberg wrote:
>>
>>> I have a 1.6GHz PowerPC G5 iMac. For the past several weeks it has
>>> behaved very erratically when I attempt to start up. At such times
>>> the power button on the back of the panel is ineffective. Usually,
>>> after a frustrating series of useless "fixes" I somehow
manage to
>>> get
>>> it started. Most typically, I must manually disconnect everything
>>> except the power cord and the keyboard (I have a bunch of
"stuff"
>>> like a spare hard drive, zip drive, floppy drive. DSL modem, USB
>>> hub,
>>> a laser printer with an ethernet connector, an inkjet printer with
a
>>> USB connection, a stereo radio, and a fluorescent light etc.,
etc.,
>>> attached to the iMac or one of several power surge protectors
>>> plugged
>>> into two separate wall sockets), unplug the iMac itself for a
period
>>> of time ranging from 30 seconds to forty-five minutes), and try a
>>> bunch of key combinations (Command, Control, Power Button)
(Command,
>>> shift, Power Button) (Power Button alone, either pressed and held
>>> for
>>> five or ten seconds, or just pressed) before the machine starts
>>> up --
>>> no one technique seems to work every time.  Very occasionally,
when
>>> the power light on the front of the panel goes on, a loud chiming
>>> sound emerges from the reluctant beast, and then a normal start-up
>>> sequence begins. I get no messages from it. And it behaves like
>>> nothing has happened until the next time it refuses to start.
>>> This seems to happen whatever I do to turn off the machine; ie:
>>> choose Shut Down from the Apple Menu, or Log Out.
>>>
>>> We live in Belfast, Must I drive to Augusta to have any work done
on
>>> it. What may be up? I suspect some fault in the Power Button or
the
>>> Power Module itself. Or, in myself, perhaps.
>>>
>>> I"m 78 years old and I told my wife of 52 years that this was
the
>>> last computer I would buy. Am I destined to disappoint her once
>>> again?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> DEMUG mailing list
>>> DEMUG at lists.demug.org
>>> http://lists.demug.org/mailman/listinfo/demug_lists.demug.org
>>
>>
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