iMac G5 start up problems

[thatch49]

A colleague has gone on holiday and we are heving a problem starting up his computer.

iMac G5 2GHz 20" (manufactured27.08.05).

Switch on and it makes the normal start up noise, then grey screen with apple logo appears and a circle that revolves forever.

Tried putting in original discs - it shows 3 icons - the Hard Disc, an option to install software and Hardware tests - Chose the Hard Disc option - again spins forever and goes nowhere.

Restarted and then chose Hardware tests - Airport / Logic Board / Mass Storage all passed - on memory about 70% of the way through it gave up and gave me a tartan type pattern of lines on the screen - ended up switching off.

Restarted and chose the option to install OSX - it won't proceed because it cannot see the hard disc.

Tried Tech Tools Pro but it passed most tests and then froze up.

Tried resetting PRAM a few times.

Can anyone help ?

 

[spamjim]

If I recall correctly, Tech Tools defaults to run all tests at once. Can you select one test at a time and see which tests work and which freeze?

 

[thatch49]

Will have to try,

Have just done Apple Hardware Tests (extended tests) and it passed on all counts - airport / mass storage / memory / logic board / video ram so I don't know if Tech Tools will be any better.

 

[lanceomni]

Have you booted in Verbose? Command+v

If so on what line does it hang?