I know, I know - a WIERD request.

Basically a mate of mine has been updating his DP G5 and on the lastest firmware update, has developed a ****-load of startup problems.

Is there any way of retreiving or downloading the orginal firmware, so he can revert to original settings?

Is it possible to revert to an older Firmware?

Any suggestions - we've checked the Mac forums, and it is pointing towards the firmware. Can't take it back under warrantee, as it's just run out.

I don't want this to prove an expensive introduction to Apple!!!

Any ideas?

Dan

 

OK, not sure if you can but I will see if I can find out.

In the meantime, what are the problems he is getting?

 

Umm, on power up IIRC

On power up, fans excessively spinning, won't find OS

Restart, and it's OK

Dan - will be out for a drink until about 10.30ish

 

When you say "latest" firmware, which version is it exactly? There are two available:

v5.1.4 for Rev A (pre June 04) PowerMac G5
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120287

v5.1.8f7 for Rev B (post June 04) PowerMac G5
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...areupdate.html

Have you done the usual such as PMU reset, PRAM reset etc?

Cheers,
Alex

 

Early in the new year I ran the system updates on my G4 to OSX 10.3.7.... startup time has increased noticably and takes ages to connect to iChat. Once up and running all seems to be o.k. I have been told it is a known issue and should be resolved in later system updates

 

Tried doing "Repair Permissions" on your startup volume in Disk Utility? Seems to help out with a lot of OS X's little unexplained hiccups.

 

Sorry bout no response - been at bit tied up

Done the PRAM stuff (not too sure about the PMU reset - remind me how you do it), also done the repair permissions stuff

Will also check what firmware update he put on it ASAP

Cheers, and will keep you updated

Dan

 

Dan some more links for you...

Resetting PMU (Power Management Unit) on a pre-June 2004 PMG5
http://g5support.com/group/viewtopic.php?t=338

Resetting SMU (System Management Unit) on a post-June 2004 PMG5
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300341

The PMU/SMU controls the "thermal operation" of the PMG5. It controls the speed of all fans, reports zone temperatures to the OS and system controller and does general power management such as sleep, shutdown etc. On newer 2.5GHz DP G5's it also controls the liquid cooling system.

Just for clarification, is this one of the pre-2004 PMG5's or has he bought it more recently as a refurb?

Cheers,
Alex

 

Thanks for that Alex,

Have passed it on, and he's gonna do that tonight

The G5 is a pre2004 one (not a refurb)

Dan

 

Dan, any luck?

 

not heard from him yet - he's gone off on a studio job. Will speak to him over the weekend

Will keep you posted

Dan

 

I've noticed this on my D2.5 too, I have had a red LED come on on the mother board, towards the rear (not the open door one.)
I have a feeling that things got a lot worse after the firmware upgrade arond 10.3.6

Just sent it away for repair.Not impressed that Apple cant loan machine or simply replace it, after forking out over 2k for something that is broken this seems poor.

I would suggest running the Hardware test CD, boot up (C key down) then run the extended test, mine reported a dodgy processor.

Fan noise was terrible, PMU reset helped for a while.

My machine would go to sleep whilst I was in the middle of doing something, mouse moving etc... Then after that, if I restarted it wouldn't boot up. Would have to leave it for 10-15 mins (to cool down ?).

iChat sometimes takes ages to load, webobjects builder and xcode the same...

All in all whilst it is a dream to use it has been the most problematic Mac I've had since those ****ty old 7200s!

 

OK - tried the reset stuff. No joy.

Apparently, he can run the Extended hardware test on his Mac "It won't let him"......

Any suggestions?

Dan

 

Do you mean he has tried booting from the Hardware Test CD and it has refused?

 

it has refused to run the test

Don't really know, as I've never had to run the test myself

Dan

 

Dan, unfortunately I am out of ideas. If it won't run the HW Test CD, it sounds like something has gone seriously amiss with the firmware upgrade. Will it boot from the install CD? Maybe put up a post on g5support.com or find a friendly Apple Service Provider

 

I'm kinda at the same place Will get him to bring it to work - will have a look there

Could be down to him being a Mac numptie!!!

Cheers for your help though

Dan