Anyone with Apple G5 knowledge?

[deeveus 81]

Picked up a G5 for nothing today, they appear to be pretty well built machines, it asks to restart every time you turn it on and have absolutely no idea on what the issue is, I've put 2GB of RAM in and a 1TB HDD but I guess I need apple O/S disks. How hard and where can you obtain these from? After installing the new 1TB HDD it comes up with the safari icon thing flashing with question mark? (only reason I know that is because I own an iPhone)

Cheers

Edited January 6, 2013 by The Diesel Guy

[kwhelan 241]

Picked up a G5 for nothing today, they appear to be pretty well built machines, it asks to restart every time you turn it on and have absolutely no idea on what the issue is, I've put 2GB of RAM in and a 1TB HDD but I guess I need apple O/S disks. How hard and where can you obtain these from? After installing the new 1TB HDD it comes up with the safari icon thing flashing with question mark? (only reason I know that is because I own an iPhone)

Cheers

flashing icon means unsupported disk,you need to format the disk to mac as it would have come already formatted for windows,you will need an apple os disk which can format and then install the os fresh,g5 you are probably needing v10.5 called leopard it was the last version to support powerpc chips,apple changed their systems to intel for all the later hardware

[deeveus 81]

flashing icon means unsupported disk,you need to format the disk to mac as it would have come already formatted for windows,you will need an apple os disk which can format and then install the os fresh,g5 you are probably needing v10.5 called leopard it was the last version to support powerpc chips,apple changed their systems to intel for all the later hardware

Thanks Kevin, that makes a bit more sense. As far as I can tell there's no limit on HDD size for an old machine such as this as I was a bit concerned about putting a 1TB in.

The only issue now is finding that O/S ! Other issue I might have is I only have PC's - so is it possible to download the software onto PC, then ISO it to a disk in Apple format somehow? Or do I actually need the disks?

Edited January 7, 2013 by The Diesel Guy

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

Is it a G5 PowerMac/Mac Pro, or is it an iMac?

I have 10.5 on an OEM disks, if you can promise to send it back asap. No licencing key required as they only work on Apple anyways.

i dont think that it will support 1TB if its the G5 iMac, but i could be wrong.

But the G5 iMacs are fairly bullet proof machines, the most common issue with them is the power supplies, worth opening up and replacing any domed capacitors, can also usually hear a high pitched noise if you dont have senior ears. as for the PowerMac/Mac Pro versions, havent got a lot of experience as not much of a market for them these days. I have three of them that are coffee tables in my lounge, can post photo lol

[deeveus 81]

Yeah I know the sound, I own a PC repair & sales shop. But no busted caps, it appears fine.

I absolutely no nothing about Apple, how would I find out exactly what it is? Would a picture of the base suit?

Edited January 7, 2013 by The Diesel Guy

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

Yeah I know the sound, I own a PC repair & sales shop. But no busted caps, it appears fine.

I absolutely no nothing about Apple, how would I find out exactly what it is? Would a picture of the base suit?

pretty self explanatory. reading from left to right its a 17" G5 iMac, with a 1.8GHz PowerPC Processor, 256MB Ram and 80GB HDD. never figured out what the SD means, they all seem to have that. then obviously got built in 56k modem (wohoo!) and is optimised for world wide AC power.

of course, thats just what it came from the factory with, could have changed since then someone might have upgraded the RAM etc.

this is also a useful Apple website to bookmark, also works for iPhones, Extreme Routers etc you name it. have linked you to part lookup on this iMac specifically

http://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?s...h_keywords=1989

non-iSight 17" iMac G5s are worth next to nothing, i sell them for about $60. mind you, you wouldn't give your dog a 2004 computer running windows. advanced for the day etc, really the first Apple computer than started the accelerated growth

Edited January 7, 2013 by _Ethrty-Andy_

[E30-323ti 66]

Have you still got the original 80gb HDD with the live OS on it??

If so, put it back in and clone this onto your new 1TB drive (plug in with USB or FW400), pull it out (again) and put the newly cloned 1TB drive back in, and done....

[deeveus 81]

Have you still got the original 80gb HDD with the live OS on it??

If so, put it back in and clone this onto your new 1TB drive (plug in with USB or FW400), pull it out (again) and put the newly cloned 1TB drive back in, and done....

No, I understand the previous owner deleted the partition on the old 80gb, which I still have and is working fine, but just no O/S - it asks to restart the machine as soon as you start it.

As I never use a webcam iSight isn't a requirement for me. I wouldn't mind taking this G5 home and learning a little around Mac O/S If you have those Disks Kevin I'd be greatful if you could send them, I'd send them straight back once done (within the week)

Cheers.

EDIT:

Also, if you're in the game Kevin, do you have 2nd hand or new wireless keyboard/mouse/airport cards available? I have my wireless rooter in the garage 30m away from the house as I hate wires!

Edited January 7, 2013 by The Diesel Guy

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

will PM

[deeveus 81]

Done, thanks heaps Andy!