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Help needed: Cold start a 8550 with Crescendo G4
Hi everyone

I recently bought a Crescendo G4 upgrade for my Workgroup Server 8550. Since I don‘t have a battery inside it, it looses all NVRAM when powered off. I have the PRAM restore disk, but since the computer freezes before booting, it doesn‘t help.

It boot until a grey screen with frozen cursor.

There is a SATA card and a Radeon 7000 installed.

What can I do, except swapping the CPU card back again? I didn‘t have these issues with the MAXpower G3…


Posted by: robin-fo on 2025-12-19 11:42:33
It should just boot regardless of it being a G4 or having the Crescendo software installed. Check the RAM is up to spec, the CPU daughter card is cleaned and check if the card sags in the slot - I've a similar card which needs to be placed just right from years of gravity affecting either the CPU connector or the card itself.

Why no PRAM battery?


Posted by: Byrd on 2025-12-19 15:56:07
It now boots with the SATA card removed 😳

Posted by: robin-fo on 2025-12-20 05:17:57
Hi robin,

That's one good thing - there is noted compatibility issues with some G4 upgrades and SATA PCI cards.


Posted by: Byrd on 2025-12-20 14:57:06