[Alaskamac]

We have an iMac G5, several years old. It won't boot. When we turn it on it gives us a message in several languages that says we have a problem, and to restart, but it only does the same thing. We put in disc one and hold down the option key to start, go for the hardware test option, and that takes forever to boot up.

On one occasion we got an error message that said:
"Invalid Memory Access at %SRR0: 00000000.0006cb40
%SRR1:10000000.00003030"
Aplle Powermac8, 2 5.2.f1 BootROM built on 4/6/05 at 12:46:02"

We have gotten similar Invalid Access messages and a BAD DEPTH message.

What's going on with our iMac? Anyone out there have a clue?

[AKcrab]

Sounds like bad RAM.

[Alaskamac]

Is that just a matter than of replacing the RAM?

Is that a remedy that can be done at home? (I have been all the way to the bottom of my PISMO and back out again--successfully).

[AKcrab]

If it IS the RAM, it's easy enough for you to do.

If your iMac has an isight camera, the RAM is in a slot at the bottom of the unit (under the apple on the front) that requires a regular phillips screwdriver

If your iMac doesn't have an iSight camera, the RAM is accessible by removing the back (which only requires loosening 3 phillips screws).

There is no way (short of testing with known good RAM) to be certain RAM is the problem. It could be the logic board.

Will it boot from disk one? You said it takes forever to boot up, but I'm not clear if you successfully booted.

[Alaskamac]

Sorry for being unclear, no, it is not booting up at all. We put in disk 1 and started by holding down the option key, which sends it to hardware test. It takes a long time to get it to get that far, and even then the result has been inconsistent. We have gotten far enough to give the error messages I related above, but other times it never gets that far, it just shows the icon for hardware test and the spinning wheel for over an hour at which point I bail out and shut it down.

Also, I can't even eject the disk, holding down the mouse key on startup doesn't work.

Would the next step to be to replace the RAM and see if that handles it, or is there a way to determine if it is the logic board?

[Alaskamac]

Okay, more information if anyone out there is listening.

I get kernel panics so bad that I cannot run the hardware test. It begins to run, asks what language I want, and then posts an error message that says,

"Invalid memory access at %SRRO: 00000000:00000000 % SRR1: 10000000.00083030

Apple PowerMac8.2 5.2.2.5f1 BootROM built on 04/06/05 at 12:46:02
Copyright 1994-2005 Apple Computer, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to Open Firmware, the system time and date is: 07/14/09 01:57:28

To continue booting, type “mac-boot” and press return.
To shut down, type “shut-down” and press return.
Reducing system power

ok
0 > _"

However, at this point it doesn't matter what I do, I can't enter anything via the keyboard, the mouse does not respond, etc.

Does this sound like bad RAM or bad logic board? I opened it up and found four capacitors have overheated a little, one has leaked a little, but I don't know that they have necessarily ruined the logic board.

Thoughts?

[AKcrab]

If you have the bulging/leaking capacitors, I'm afraid your logic board it toast.

[Alaskamac]

Bummer

[Alaskamac]

Replaced 29 capacitors on the logic board, all is good!

[AKcrab]

Good job!! What was the total cost for you in the end?