Startup Chime sounds then shuts down

[kps]

QUOTE(krissel @ Aug 14 2007, 12:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Karl, can you help him with terminal commands to see if that file is actually there? And what would happen if he reblesses his startup volume via Terminal?

He can navigate to /usr using the finder through the GO menu. Then look in the 'standalone' directory.

He could rebless OS X through single user mode.

The PPC boot files and a blessed system must be there because the machine eventually boots, so all this may be pointless.

But at this point the issue could be with open firmware, or it's a hardware issue.

If he want to, he can look at 'man bless' and do a little digging first with some info commands to see what is going on:

bless --info /

MY output from a G5 running 10.4.9:

CODE

G5:~ shortname$ bless --info /
finderinfo[0]:   3048 => Blessed System Folder is /System/Library/CoreServices
finderinfo[1]:      0 => No Blessed System File
finderinfo[2]:      0 => Open-folder linked list empty
finderinfo[3]: 3804202 => OS 9 blessed folder is /System Folder
finderinfo[4]:      0 => Unused field unset
finderinfo[5]:   3048 => OS X blessed folder is /System/Library/CoreServices
64-bit VSDB volume id:  0x1E01446380AE9823

Best to try re-blessing /System/Library/CoreServices from single user mode as root with volumes mounted as per instructions.
Never having to do this, I have no first hand experience with this.


Kris --you must boot the machine first in order to be any user. Switching users is irrelevant, it only applies to login.

Note to Chris: I have a 350 G4 sawtooth with the original PRAM battery still running strong after more than 7 years.

[chriskleeman]

From KPS:

QUOTE

Note to Chris: I have a 350 G4 sawtooth with the original PRAM battery still running strong after more than 7 years.

Your battery is the exception, not the rule IMHO...

From Maclife forums

QUOTE

Pram batteries can last from 1 to 3 years. My experience, as a former Mac repair tech, is that unless it is known to be good, a new pram battery is the first step to troubleshooting any mal-functioning older Macs. Basically if you dont remember clearly installing a new pram battery in the last 2 years or so buy a new one.
Dead or dieing prams can produce random and unpredictable behavior.

Other folks recommend 3-5 years. My personal experience has been 3-4 years tops in all my Mac's.

Thought it was a good place to start, as many of these kind of problems are can easily be PRAM battery or faulty RAM induced sometimes...

And sometimes, trouble can come in multiples! I just hope your computer isn't dying Bill. Do you have a good voltmeter? I'm sure I can come up with power specs for your power supply if you can or want to test the connection points on the mother board.

Chris K

[kps]

Yo chris, I wasn't implying your advice was bad.

PRAM batteries will usually give signs of failing. Sporadic boot issues, strange system dates, etc.

Bill, if you can't zap the PRAM, which you indicated earlier, I'd reset NVRAM through OpenFirmware first.

some good info here:

http://www.bombich.com/mactips/openfirmware.html

Full directions here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642

Have you tried "option" + boot on the secondary or with the DVD/CD boot disk in the drive?

If none of this resolves the issue, I'd look at hardware as the cause.

Why? Because you changed the battery, reinstalled the system, the machine won't boot properly from the secondary HD containing a blessed system or from the DVD/CD.

[chriskleeman]

Yo KPS,

No offense taken! We're all scratching our heads here, me more than anyone else!

I just want to send you a fresh PRAM Battery! I got an extra one in April!

Chris K

[kps]

ts'all good...keep on strum'n!

[bil207]

Well it's been up and running since last night and have had no problems with putting it to sleep or waking, only restarting or starting up cold.

I haven't had a chance to try restting the NVRAM but will try next time that I have to restart.

[krissel]

QUOTE(kps @ Aug 14 2007, 09:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kris --you must boot the machine first in order to be any user. Switching users is irrelevant, it only applies to login.

Yup, I just thought if he managed to get it to start up at some point he could try that. The additional info that he has two fresh installs makes the suggestion rather useless.  


If resetting the NVRAM doesn't work check all the hardware including trying a different power cord. I once had startup problems with my old 9600 and changing the power cord solved it.

[bil207]

QUOTE(krissel @ Aug 14 2007, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(kps @ Aug 14 2007, 09:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kris --you must boot the machine first in order to be any user. Switching users is irrelevant, it only applies to login.

Yup, I just thought if he managed to get it to start up at some point he could try that. The additional info that he has two fresh installs makes the suggestion rather useless.  


If resetting the NVRAM doesn't work check all the hardware including trying a different power cord. I once had startup problems with my old 9600 and changing the power cord solved it.

The curios thing is once it's up and running everything is fine, go into deep sleep and wakes with no problem.

If I can keep it up and running until after Labor Day when I go back to Long Island I'll be fine.

[krissel]

Now just pray you don't have a power outage.