iFixit - Answers With Device "iMac G5"

iMac G5 20" Model A1145: error message "Restart computer' is repeating

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:57:11 -0700

After installing a new hard drive, great step by step explanation on ifixit, I installed the OS version 10.4.7 which the computer came with.

Than I installed the OS X Leopard and connected with the time machine to restore the backup files.

This took multiple hours and this morning I got the message restore complete please reboot. which I did but now after rebooting the gray screen turns to a dark gray screen and the message in a black box appears "Restart computer by holding down the button..." Unfortunately everytime I do this I end up with the same screen.

I run disk utilities and repair disk, but can't detect any problems.

⟐ Commented March 11, 2026 at 12:57 MST

iMac G5 A1173: Speakers sound blown out.

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0700

Speakers work but sound blown out, any guides on how to fix/replace this?

⟐ Answer edited January 08, 2026 at 21:00 MST

iMac G5 17" Model A1058: Turning an iMac display panel into an external monitor

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:36:24 -0700

I have the PowerPC iMac G5 without the iSight camera that I have gutted except for the display panel. I think I have the A1058 system. I’m going to use it as a HDMI Monitor/Display. The display panel does work and has no problems.

What would be the part # for the display
Would anyone know what converter board to use.

Any help you can give me I would love.

I would be connecting it to my 2012/2013 Mac Mini

⟐ Commented January 07, 2026 at 11:36 MST

iMac G5: I cant get past the blue screen on start up.

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:31:32 -0700

I have seen similar questions on here, but I want to make sure I know whats wrong with my computer before tearing into it. For the last couple days using it it started to freeze pretty frequently, usually if I was on youtube. I would have to restart it and every time it would freeze and id restart it I wouldnt go as far. 1st time id log in, then freeze, the next time I couldnt quite get to the desktop, then I couldnt get past the log in screen, and now it just goes to the blue screen before the log in screen and gets the rainbow wheel. I have heard it could be the ram, GPU or is it CPU, or the HDD. Id like to fix it as I have alot of stuff on it, just like anyone else does...It has one ram card in it that showed little over half a gig when it was given to me she thought it was one gig, so maybe its the ram?

Thanks

⟐ Commented December 06, 2025 at 0:31 MST

iMac G5: How can I clean a RAM slot?

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:25:34 -0700

Got a donated G5 20" iMac with several problems. After replacing power supply, it began to work. Then tried to add RAM (matching chips), but top (2nd) slot doesn't work. With RAM in 2nd slot, iMac experiences constant kernel panics.

Original suggestion from multiple sources said it was likely logic board problem, but this Mac is too old to put money into that. Since it's 6 years old, and the 2nd RAM slot was never used, IS IT POSSIBLE that the RAM slot merely needs cleaning? (One tech guy suggested cleaning connectors on the RAM itself with an eraser, but since it was new and clean, I wondered about the slot itself.)

Can the RAM slot be cleaned safely? If so, what should I use? (Alcohol or other cleaner? How to apply if any cleaner can be used? Or is there something like a pencil eraser that could go into the inside of the slot?)

⟐ Commented May 15, 2025 at 0:25 MST

iMac G5: How can I fix the Medium Write Error?

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:22:52 -0700

When burning a CD from iTunes or GarageBand it say's Failed Medium Write Error

⟐ Commented January 01, 2025 at 14:22 MST

iMac G5 20" Model A1145: Can not display or boot

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:22:24 -0700

iMac 2009 can not display or boot

⟐ Commented November 11, 2024 at 12:22 MST

iMac G5 20'' Model A1224: How to replace speaker

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 14:16:01 -0700

how to replace speaker

⟐ Answer edited October 12, 2024 at 14:16 MST

iMac G5: Is this Universal Voltage?

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:24:29 -0700

We use 220v, but this product is 110v is this universal voltage?

⟐ Answer accepted July 27, 2024 at 21:24 MST

iMac G5 17" Model A1058: Why only two LEDs on my computer are lighted

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 21:48:53 -0700

I acciently pluged 220V, and the power supply bombed... and I replaced it with a good-working one. But only LED1 and LED2 are lighted, fans aren't worked, and only harddisk is still working. I tried three different RAMs and I'm sure Ram is OK. What's the problem???

⟐ Commented March 02, 2024 at 21:48 MST

iMac G5 20'' Model A1224: What type of hard drive?

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 15:50:07 -0700

Is there a specific type of hard drive that needs to be used for replacement?

⟐ Answer edited November 05, 2023 at 15:50 MST

iMac G5 17" Model A1058: My iMac G5 chime and shut down immediately

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 20:06:33 -0700

when i turn on the imac it chime and immediately turns off and if you turn on after that just the light glowing then it turns off

and the 4 led is red

⟐ Edited by author March 08, 2023 at 20:06 MST

iMac G5 17" Model A1058: Won't boot, but fans and front panel light is on

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 10:47:05 -0700

I picked up this G5 a few months ago that had been sitting unplugged and unused for a year or more. It booted fine when I got it home, but the previous owner had not wiped the hard drive so I only got to the sign in page. I set it aside for a couple of months intending to wipe the hard drive and reinstall an OS.

Currently, when I power up the Mac the fans run at full speed immediately and the light on the lower right front panel is solid. The screen is black.

The power button is on the left rear and the I/O access is on the right and horizontal, if that makes any difference.

Open to suggestions on next steps.

⟐ Answered February 18, 2023 at 10:47 MST

iMac G5 20" Model A1076: Need a better DAW, suggestions?

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 03:20:17 -0700

I am a fruit-loops user but I do require a more advanced Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

I want to use GarageBand on my Windows PC as my friends have told me it’s way better and doesn't crash at all.

Any suggestions?

⟐ Commented June 30, 2022 at 3:20 MST

iMac G5 17" Model A1144: iMac screen turns funny colors and computer itself freezes.

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 13:13:25 -0700

The iMac switches on and boots without any problems, then after about 15-20 minutes the computer screen goes lots of funny colors and anything the computer is doing stops working.

for instance, if the computer is playing music the song will get stuck on the second it switched to the purple green screen.

I thought it may be a heating problem because once the computer has been switched off after the problem it does not start again properly.

I cleaned out all the dust stuck in the fans and the rest of the computer to no luck.

anyone have any ideas?

⟐ Commented June 05, 2022 at 13:13 MST

iMac G5 20" Model A1076: Where does this little piece go and is it crucial that I put it back?

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 09:17:59 -0700

After working on my 20” iMac, having lifted the logic board and reassembled, I found this little piece leftover. Can anyone tell me where it goes and if it’s important that I put it back, as I don’t really want to take the whole thing apart again…

⟐ Answer edited December 27, 2021 at 9:17 MST

iMac G5 20" Model A1145: I’ve forgotten my password :( is there anyway back into the system?

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 19:07:20 -0700

Looking for a way to get back into my old iMac - I think it’s this model…

I have managed to get to a point where it shows my drive but no backup as shown in other videos?

Alternative I would like to completely reset so I can get rid. Any help would be awesome!

⟐ Commented November 20, 2021 at 19:07 MST

iMac G5 20'' Model A1224: My Apple iMac G5 won't start, acts dead no sign of life

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:46:06 -0700

No sign of life when I tried to boot it up.

⟐ Commented November 03, 2021 at 13:46 MST

iMac G5 20" Model A1076: How to use a multimeter to test Power supply?

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 06:47:45 -0700

My iMac does not start up. I followed the light test to see if the problem is a bad logicboard. But I´m not sure, since the second light shows quickly and goes when I press the power button in the logicboard. So to be sure I want to test the power supply. I have a multimeter taht I´ve been using only to measure batteries and now want to try with the power supply. The problem is that I don´t know how to set it and use it. Sorry for my english

Thank you

⟐ Answer accepted September 11, 2021 at 6:47 MST