eMac won't power up! DOA???

Paul,

Hopefully this may help you. We run our family business on a 5 yr old EMac.

I am experiencing startup problem to yours. Today it was a dark monitor and no

life to the usb keyboard or mouse.

In trying to save the data from it I used our Laptop and connected a Firewire and was able to start the DOA EMAC using the "Target Disk Mode" This is allowing me to copy the data before I take it to the shop. The shop tells me to replace the Hard Drive is about $200. but to replace the motherboard - forget about it - $700.



Below I have pasted the instructions from the Mac Help concerning using the "Target Disk Mode". I hope it helps you

To transfer files using FireWire:

1 Shut down the first computer and leave the second computer on.

2 Connect the two computers using a 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable. (If both computers have higher-speed FireWire 800 ports in addition to the standard FireWire 400 ports, you can use a 9-pin to 9-pin cable with the FireWire 800 ports to transfer data at higher speeds.)

3 Start up the first computer while holding down the T key.



A disk icon for the first computer appears on the desktop on the second computer. Drag files to and from the disk to transfer them.

4 When you finish, eject the first computer's disk by dragging its icon to the Trash.

5 Push the power button on the first computer to shut it down and disconnect the FireWire cable.

Hello, if you open up the access door on the bottom of the eMac (where you put the PRAM battery in) do you see capacitors that are leaking similar to this:

http://lowendmac.com/imacs/emac/leaky-capacitors.jpg

? If you do, that may be the reason. Is your kids eMac within this serial number:

G8412 -G8520 or
YM412 -YM520 or
VM414 -VM518

? One of the symptoms is no power. So this maybe it.

Have you read any of the posts regarding capacitors and mother boards? It appears to me that the emac has had this problem in the past, and so far apple is ignoring the continuing problem. I've just been told by Apple Store that it'll cost me $400 plus to fix my 4 and a half year old emac. I replaced my switch, the power cord and checked the fuses prior to taking it in. The Genius at the store said my capacitors were "oozing goo" Good luck!