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gev003 · Feb 16, 2006, 07:07 PM

<deep breath> have an early model g5 1.6 single processor mac, I bought it in september of 2004, until 3 days ago it has been the best computer I have ever owned, I have a very modest budget and have not upgraded the ram or operating (10.28) system since I bought it and it has survived performing every day tasks (internet, movies, music, personal finance, office.) I finally was able to get some money together to start upgrading. My brother and I are going into business together and he has a HP laptop computer. We bought a linksys wireless router, linksys wireless modem for his notebook, and an airport card for my g5. I was hesitant to install the airport card myself because I never bought the apple care for my computer but I opened the side of the case for the first time and located the slot for the card quickly. I also noticed how dusty the inside of the computer was. It was pretty bad so I decided while I was in there I would take a dry cloth and try to carefully remove some of the dust from the metal surfaces of the computer. I installed the airport card, connected the little wire to the back of the card, and put the clear plastic and side panel back on. I started the computer and immediately set up the airport card. Then I set up the wireless router and immediately the airport card recognized the linksys connection. I hooked up my brother's wireless modem card on his laptop and we were both able to be on the network using the internet siuleteneously. I know all of this sounds very simple and elementary to those of you actually reading this, but to a simple Kansan like myself, I felt good about saving the money of having someone else install it or show me how. Now to the bad news. It worked flawlessly like this for about 4 days and then one fateful night I shut down my computer. I normally always leave it in sleep mode for a month or so at a time, but I shut it down. Since that night when I turn it on I hear the start-up sound and the fan starts up quietly, the screen stays black and after awhile the fan starts to make the increasingly louder noise I have grown to expect. I have read the directions from other posts and believe I have successfully reset the PMU button, nothing has changed. I have disconnected everything from the computer other than the monitor keyboard and mouse. I am planning to take it to the Apple Store in Kansas City tomorrow but I am afraid of what I will hear. I have read some similar posts but none have quite answered the question. Anyone who has read this sorry for the long winded explanation on my first post, but my mac is too important to me and I need someone to level with me on this.<deep breath>

Thanks

discotronic · Feb 16, 2006, 07:12 PM

Did you re-seat the video card?

gev003 · Feb 16, 2006, 07:16 PM

not to my knowledge, I did not touch anything in the computer other than taking out the fan and replacing it, I also installed the airport card and then took it back out. Do I need to re-seat the video card and if so, does than mean just taking it out and putting it back in?

Thanks

discotronic · Feb 16, 2006, 08:00 PM

You got it. Take it out and put it back in. See what happens at that point. Post back when you do. Hopefully this will be all that is needed since it sounds like the system is actually booting up. Have you tried a different monitor?

gev003 · Feb 16, 2006, 08:09 PM

where do I find the video card? sorry

gev003 · Feb 16, 2006, 08:51 PM

thank you very much for your help, if the video card is at the top of the computer toward the rear, I re-seated that, if not then I re-seated something else I have no idea about. I then looked at the 2 memory cards and 1 had the lock unlocked so I took it out and reseated it. I almost cried when I saw the grey apple screen and then my Emo Phillips background. What a feeling. Thanks for your help. I'll get back on my mac now.

discotronic · Feb 16, 2006, 09:47 PM

Great

Beats taking it all the way to the Apple Store and having them charge you.

Jerk_circus · Feb 16, 2006, 11:56 PM

Nice work Discotronic. Really glad to hear things worked out for you gev003

BurpetheadX · Feb 17, 2006, 12:11 AM

Also, go to staples or your local drug store and buy a can of air. That's the proper way to clean out a computer. Dust can get in the motors of the fans and wear them down over time.