Question Can't boot into macOS

[Muhamad-j1234]

Hi all,
I have a PowerMac G5, and the HDD has a copy of macos leopard installed. However, it doesn't detect it and I just see the blink question mark. It was working fine, but after I reset it it doesn't detect. I know the hard drive is working as I've tested it in other mac's Also, it won't boot from a Leopard and Tiger bootable USB.
Thanks

 

[Macsaviour]

This usually indicates the system can't find a startup disk. Since you've tested the hard drive on other Macs and it works fine, the issue likely lies within the G5's configuration. First, ensure the startup disk is correctly set. Afterward, try booting from a Leopard DVD, as the G5 often prefers optical media over USB for bootable drives.

You could also reset the PRAM by holding Command + Option + P + R at startup until you hear the chime twice. Verify that the HDD’s connection to the motherboard is secure, as older machines sometimes suffer from loose or degraded connectors. Another option is to use the boot picker by holding the Option key during startup to see if the bootable drives are recognized. If your drive still doesn’t show up, the issue could be with the partition map or the need to reinstall macOS.

Lastly, keep in mind that the G5 doesn’t natively support USB booting, so trying a FireWire drive for bootable media might yield better results. If all else fails, there may be a hardware issue, such as a failing SATA controller or logic board. Let me know how it goes.