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Author Topic: G5 won't shut down or restart:  (Read 2484 times)

Offline kbeartx

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« on: October 28, 2008, 08:57:22 PM »
My main Mac [G5 dual 2.0GHz, 3.5 GB RAM, Leopard 10.5.4] is getting wonky lately.  The Menu commands Log Out, Restart, and Shut Down are inoperable.  No Freeze or Lockup, but nothing happens.  I booted in Safe Mode and there was no change.  Fast User Switching does work, but still no Log Out, Restart, or Shut Down if I use an account other than my main one. Just about everything seems to work OK generally, and I customarily leave the Mac running 24/7, but it concerns me that things might be degenerating under the surface.

Tried using OnyX to repair persimmons, did not appear to be doing anything and I canceled it after an hour or so. The Boot Drive passed the Smart Status check.

Normally, I would run DiscWarrior or boot from a System CD to continue troubleshooting, but I don't have these now [the G5 was purchased used w/ Leopard installed but w/o the DVD, and I have not upgraded DW since Panther].

Short of buying stuff right now, any tips, suggestions, and specific advice will be welcomed.

While composing this post, I realized I can try to boot to a bootable backup [but I suspect it will fail since I can't restart w/o employing the hardware...]

KB coolio.gif
« Last Edit: October 28, 2008, 09:03:59 PM by kbeartx »
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2008, 09:48:52 PM »
Uhhh, yeah, I see what you mean...
Could be dangerous but try setting your Energy Saver pref panel to "Restart automatically after a power failure."
Then while making sure nothing is accessing the HD, pull the plug! eek2.gif
If you're really fast, you should then be able to plug it back in and try using the installer DVD for booting. From there, you should be able to set the external (FireWire) HD as the 'preferred' start up drive. Might be helpful to have another human around to do the electrical connecting! wink.gif I wouldn't trust my cat...
OTOH, I was sure there was a certain key set for causing the startup screen to ask the user to select a start up drive...wallbash.gif

At any rate, it sounds like the OS is fine but something in your user account is cattywhompas! Else the other accounts would have the same problem. Thinking.gif
« Last Edit: October 28, 2008, 09:50:48 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline Paddy

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2008, 10:44:14 PM »
Um, Jim, Kenny said he has no installer DVD, so that's out.

Kenny, why not try changing the startup disk preference in the system preferences to the other bootable drive - or just try holding down the option key when you start up - you should get the option to start from any connected bootable drive. If that doesn't work and the other bootable drive is an SATA drive, you could take it out of the external enclosure and stick it in the G5 temporarily.
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Offline krissel

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2008, 03:04:21 AM »
Be sure to have a backup before you go to much longer like this.

These two links talk about similar problems with Leopard on G5s. Potential culprits range from the need for a new install to removing third party RAM and a failing drive.
Taking out third party RAM would be an easy check.

But the last post on the second link got me to thinking that since this is a second hand install, there may be some problems with the ID number of the original installer and your ID.  Did you keep the original admin from the previous owner or did you create a new admin account?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?t...amp;tstart=3393

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6416140
« Last Edit: October 29, 2008, 03:06:24 AM by krissel »
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2008, 11:09:46 AM »
My bad, I thought he was also having a problem with his physical power button! No need to pull the plug to shutdown! eek2.gif It's 'just' the software shutdown/restart commands that are kaput.

And your "Option" key at start up is what I couldn't remember. That should allow him to select the external, bootable drive.
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Offline kbeartx

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2008, 11:36:33 AM »
Thanks for all your rapid responses.

Quick follow-up:

I was unsuccessful in booting to Bootable Backup # 1, which is on a separate physical drive, by using Startup Disk pref pane.  The machine consistently reverts to the main boot drive.  

I will try the option-key method next.

KB coolio.gif
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Offline kbeartx

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2008, 08:44:50 PM »
Up-to-date Update:

Holding the Shift key when restarting [after shutting down by holding the power button] I was able to select and boot to my backup drive [which is a smallish partition on my large '2nd' drive], and then was able to shut down/restart/logout via the Apple Menu.

This behavior assures me that the prob is in the software on the main boot drive and reassures me that I'm not looking at serious hardware probs in the near future.

At this point, I want to give this further consideration before I proceed.  The backup is about a month old, and was done immediately before I updated to 10.5.4 as well as iTunes 8 and Quick Time 7.5.5.  FWIW, I have a 3rd partition/drive with a full bootable backup that's about two months old.  

I'm thinking of overwriting the older backup w/ a copy of the newer backup as a 'safety' copy, then update iTunes [I think the QT update is required as well], and at some point the 10.5.4 upgrade, and work on carefully 'reconciling' certain data files and folders on the main boot drive w/ the more functional OS files on the backup partition w/o re-introducing the source of the wonkiness.

KB coolio.gif
« Last Edit: October 30, 2008, 08:45:55 PM by kbeartx »
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Offline kbeartx

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2008, 10:50:55 PM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Oct 28 2008, 09:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
At any rate, it sounds like the OS is fine but something in your user account is cattywhompas! Else the other accounts would have the same problem.


Umm, ... the other accounts do have the same problem...therefore I conclude that the system itself is wonky.

It's only if/when I boot to a backup drive/partition that I get normal/full functionality.
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Offline Gregg

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2008, 06:42:16 AM »
QUOTE(kbeartx @ Oct 30 2008, 08:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm thinking of overwriting the older backup w/ a copy of the newer backup as a 'safety' copy, then update iTunes [I think the QT update is required as well], and at some point the 10.5.4 upgrade, and work on carefully 'reconciling' certain data files and folders on the main boot drive w/ the more functional OS files on the backup partition w/o re-introducing the source of the wonkiness.


Oh boy! Sounds like loads of fun!! goodluck.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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G5 won't shut down or restart:
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2008, 12:23:35 PM »
Of course, kbear, the only thing "cattywhompas" was my brain!
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:
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