I started an internship at a local company about two weeks ago. When I say local, I really mean local. I walk 4 blocks to work. So today while I was at work, the lights flickered because of a storm that was passing by. It didn't seem that bad at all, but one of my coworkers joked, "save your work." Of course that's become habit for most of us now. I didn't think much about it until I got home.
I sat down at my computer and tried to wake it up. It didn't work when I clicked the mouse, so I tried the keyboard. No go. All the fans were on in the apartment, so I knew the power was on. The light on the front of the computer was on, too. I remembered the storm and thought that maybe the power had gone off. The clock on the microwave in the kitchen had been reset, so I know that it did. Maybe the computer was just frozen? I tried pushing and holding down the power button to turn it off. The light on the front of it just stayed on, so something was seriously wrong. I got down closer to the computer and realized that it wasn't humming at all (the only humming I heard was of the apartment's fans). Now I started to get reall scared.
I tried turning off the power strip. Sure enough, the light on the front of the computer went off. I turned it back on, and the light turned back on, but the computer still wouldn't start. Maybe one of the outlets was bad? I tried that, too, but nothing. Next step: Apple support. I followed their instructions for if a computer won't start. I reset the SMU both by unplugging the computer for 2 minutes and by opening the computer and pressing the reset button. No luck.
The only things left to do were search the internet or go to an Apple Store and get help. I really didn't feel like lugging my computer to the store. After some googling, I found some people with similar problems. Of course there were the threads on discussion boards that end with people never getting to a solution (I hate those), but one person with the same experience had found the answer before. I'm going to repeat the solution here so that anyone having this issue might be able to find it easier.
If your PowerMac G5 won't start and the power light is always on:
Have you tried pressing the PMU reset button? This is located close to the center of the RAM slots, at the bottom of the logic board. You'll have to slide out the inlet fan assembly to see it. Press and release that button. Do not press a second time, unless this doesn't help. You can also remove the battery (this is in a holder at the top center of the logic board) Leave this out and the power cord disconnected for 10 minutes or so. Put the battery back in. reconnect the power cord. Wait 10 seconds. Press the PMU reset button, Wait 10 more seconds. Make sure the fans are back in place, and the clear cover is secure. Press the power button. If it works, you'll need to reset the time and date. If it doesn't work - take to an Apple auth service.
2 Comments Tags: Apple, Hardware, Personal, PowerMac G5, Thunderstorm