Re: Dead G5 Help

Mark wrote:
[[ We have a Mac G5 (out of warranty) that stopped booting. Swapped RAM, checked the web, nothing. We then took the machine (without the monitor, which is powered by the G5) to a local repair shop. Later that week, they called, said the machine was up and running fine. ]]

Did the repair shop use YOUR video connecting cable or THEIRS?

[[ We payed them, brought the machine home, plugged in THE MONITOR and all the rest. Wouldn't boot. Next I brought the machine, sans monitor to a trusted friend, who called back and said after running some diagnostics, he had it up and running. (both of these people used a traditional powered CRT) ]]

Did the trusted friend use YOUR video connecting cable, or HIS OWN?
Was it a standard VGA cable, or the digital connection cable?

[[ Brought it home, plugged it into the damned monitor (24" Apple LCD, older model, powered by the G5) and guess what, it would not boot. Brought it back to my buddy, told him we thought the LCD was screwing with the G5. He tried to get it to boot again (with a CRT), no luck. He swapped RAM, video card from his G5, no luck, dead. ]]

Did your buddy use YOUR video connecting cable, or HIS OWN?

[[ We're not well off, so we don't really want to send the machine to Apple. Has anyone had or heard of this type of problem? We shipped the old monitor back to Apple about 3 months ago, and received no explanation to date. Help? ]]

Can you see the pattern I'm getting at above?

I'm no expert, but I recall from some years' back, that without a "good connection" to a display, some Macs might not boot. I'm thinking, that perhaps the video cable you're using (or the display card itself) might have a defect that is preventing the proper "handshake" between computer and monitor at boot time, and thus the "failed boots".

Suggestions:
- Of course, try another connecting cable. In fact, I'd try a "proven cable" on BOTH ports (I'm assuming the video card has both VGA and digital connections).
- Might be worth pulling the video card and re-seating it, just in case the contacts are marginal.
- Might even be worth trying a _different_ video card, if one is available to you.

Just some thoughts,
- John
.

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