don't know what it's doing

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Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
i just got my G5 yesterday. it's my first mac and when i turn on the computer a small, blue globe just flashes for a minute or two. then all the fans start kicking up faster and louder and the globe disappears and replaced by a folder icon also flashing. what is it doing. the whole load up process took about 5 minutes and don't think this should happen to a dual 2.0GHz lol. what do those icons mean? is it over heating?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 14
    formerlurkerformerlurker Posts: 2,686member
    Sounds like one or more of your startup files might be fuxored, meaning you might need to reinstall your OS. You might want to reset NVRAM (open firmware) and PRAM first, followed by running FSCK.



    Look for instructions for the above, and other troubleshooting hints here -FAQ of the Genius Bar forum (which is where this will be moved when a Moderator catches up with it).



    If it's still giving you trouble, look for the Hardware Test CD and boot with it.



    How long was the machine operational, before this happened?
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  • Reply 2 of 14
    w1n78w1n78 Posts: 26member
    i just got the G5 yesterday. it would do it every other time i turn it on. i thought it was normal but the last one took about 5 min. so i got worried. if i restore the computer do i just boot it up like i do windows? also will it format the drive and i loose everything?
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  • Reply 3 of 14
    w1n78w1n78 Posts: 26member
    ok i just did the PRAM trick and it seems to work. what i'll do is shut down the computer for 10 minutes and see if it still does it, thanks for the help.
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  • Reply 4 of 14
    jwri004jwri004 Posts: 626member
    Nice machine to be cutting your teeth on.



    Most people here will be very jealous (not me, I luv my Ti too much!)



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  • Reply 5 of 14
    w1n78w1n78 Posts: 26member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by jwri004

    Nice machine to be cutting your teeth on.



    Most people here will be very jealous (not me, I luv my Ti too much!)







    thx, i'm a heavy power user on the PC side. just wanted to do it right when i did my switch



    well the PRAM trick seemed to do the trick coz it's not doing that thing anymore, yay. now to buy software lol, damn pockets are still numb from the G5
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  • Reply 6 of 14
    admactaniumadmactanium Posts: 812member
    sounds like the computer lost the system folder. the pram thing just reset that. not that it's any solution, but i don't really turn my macs off. i don't know why i'd have to.
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  • Reply 7 of 14
    w1n78w1n78 Posts: 26member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by admactanium

    sounds like the computer lost the system folder. the pram thing just reset that. not that it's any solution, but i don't really turn my macs off. i don't know why i'd have to.



    is it bad that i turn off the mac? i usually leave my PC's on but i don't run a server from home anymore. anyone know what the power supply wattage on the G5 is? just don't want a big electric bill. my PC's have 350W on them.
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  • Reply 8 of 14
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by w1n78

    is it bad that i turn off the mac? i usually leave my PC's on but i don't run a server from home anymore. anyone know what the power supply wattage on the G5 is? just don't want a big electric bill. my PC's have 350W on them.



    Just sleep it. No need to leave fully on or turn it off.



    Several ways to sleep it. Easiest perhaps is to go to the Apple menu and choose Sleep.



    Or briefly touch (quick tap) the front power button once and choose sleep from the dialog box. (Holding the power button for too long will shut it off cold - not usually a good thing to do).



    You can also set it to sleep after a period of inactivity. Apple Menu (or Dock) System Preferences:Energy Saver:Sleep (tab) ... Self explanatory from there I think.
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  • Reply 9 of 14
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    As far as power usage:



    223 watts - PowerMac dual 2 GHz G5/2.0GHz, 4GB RAM plus 20" Cinema display

    278 watts - above under load with all fans on

    11 watts - above in sleep mode



    (Not verified, only found through Googling) source
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  • Reply 10 of 14
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    (damn, sorry I kept meaning to hit EDIT...too late)



    Not an expert, as I only have a measly G3 iBook, which as we all know uses 2 AA batteries and can be recharged through friction on the trackpad and keypresses. 8)
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  • Reply 11 of 14
    w1n78w1n78 Posts: 26member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnq

    As far as power usage:



    223 watts - PowerMac dual 2 GHz G5/2.0GHz, 4GB RAM plus 20" Cinema display

    278 watts - above under load with all fans on

    11 watts - above in sleep mode



    (Not verified, only found through Googling) source




    wow good info. didn't get any of the monitors for 2 reasons:

    1) the G5 ate all my toy money til next pay day

    2) got an NEC multisync 75 (17") already and love it, plus got the lcd version of that if i wanted to switch.



    would love that 23" i saw at the store though but 2k for a monitor is a bit high for me at the moment. hmm i'll put it to sleep and see how loud it gets. my room gets awfully hot since my room faces the sun as it sets and i'm in california. so after 5PM it get really hot in the room and the fan just goes crazy



    my shuttle (game pc) which has an amd athlon on it don't like hot temperatures either and that tends to over heat when playing high frame games.



    thx for the info again. feel like i'm starting all over again in computers lol. oh well i did it on the PC now it's the Mac's turn
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  • Reply 12 of 14
    jambojambo Posts: 3,036member
    Moving to Genius Bar...
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  • Reply 13 of 14
    amaroneamarone Posts: 75member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnq

    Just sleep it. No need to leave fully on or turn it off.



    Several ways to sleep it. Easiest perhaps is to go to the Apple menu and choose Sleep.



    Or briefly touch (quick tap) the front power button once and choose sleep from the dialog box. (Holding the power button for too long will shut it off cold - not usually a good thing to do).



    You can also set it to sleep after a period of inactivity. Apple Menu (or Dock) System Preferences:Energy Saver:Sleep (tab) ... Self explanatory from there I think.




    ... or CTRL-eject and then press "S" on your keyboard.
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