[G4] Re: G4 Digest, Vol 32, Issue 5

[Eric Buczynski]

The reason for the non-working mouse and keyboard might be due to bad  
USB ports.  I have a Digital Audio that has the same problem.  When  
using an Apple keyboard and optical mouse, the machine would boot up,  
sometimes making the startup chime and sometimes no chime, but the  
machine would seem to power up halfway without any progress.  When  
the keyboard and mouse were removed (both with the mouse plugged into  
the keyboard and the mouse plugged into the only "good" USB port on  
the Mac itself), the machine would make the startup chime and boot  
normally.

The way to overcome this is a 4-port USB card that fit's in one of  
the PCI slots.  I have one that works a little flaky, but it works.   
Wal Mart sells a Mac-compatible 4-port (maybe 5-port if there's one  
for an internal component) USB card for around $20-$25.  Check their  
return policy if you don't plan on keeping it or using it with a PC.   
You'll have at least two extra ports if it works.  What model of  
studio display do you have?  Does it have USB ports on the back with  
the connector being ADC (Apple Display Connector - looks like DVI  
with rounded ends)?

Keep us updated.

Eric


On Apr 6, 2007, at 3:39 PM, g4-request at listserver.themacintoshguy.com  
wrote:

>> I found one of those dusty old g4 gems lying in
>> someones basement. it's a family number M5183 g4
>> sawtooth. it is quite the beefy system already with
>> all the ram slots full, two hard drives, a dvd writer
>> and what appears to potentially be a third party G4
>> upgrade. (maybe 1ghz) I wish i knew more but my issue
>> is that it is not giving signal to the monitor!!
>>
>> The machine starts up with a green light in front(not
>> sure if this is the average color) it makes the start
>> up tone and it sounds as it it's running perfectly.
>> But for some reason the video is not making it to the
>> monitor (which stinks because a massive 21' studio
>> display came with this thing.) I have also noticed
>> there is no power making it to the keyboard and mouse
>> either until sometimes after startup which means i
>> can't zap the pram or do any other keyboard combos to
>> mess with it.
>>
>> What i've done so far was to repace the video card
>> with a newer model ati agp but no help. I've hit the
>> internal NVram button and also no change still cannot
>> power the mouse and keyboard ut strangely the power
>> button does start it up but after the tone everything
>> goes lame.