have 2004 eMac...screen goes black without notice. Getting a reconditioned 2005 eMac. Can I have the HD swapped from old eMac to reconditioned one without problems??? Black screen is called "collapse to black" and occurs 4-5 daily

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have 2004 eMac...screen goes black without notice. Getting a reconditioned 2005 eMac. Can I have the HD swapped from old eMac to reconditioned one without problems??? Black screen is called "collapse to black" and occurs 4-5 daily

Have 2004 eMac...screen goes black without notice. Black screen is called "collapse to black" and occurs 4-5 daily. From what I understand, this is due to bad capicators????? Found a reconditioned 2005 eMac on line. Can I have the HD swapped from old eMac to reconditioned eMac without problems???...with regards to software applications. Old eMac is running 10.4.11 and reconditioned on runs 10.5. Suggestions, tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

eMac-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 7:29 AM

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Answer 1

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,704 points

Mar 2, 2012 8:40 AM in response to joseph l.

Might want to make sure both units are not affected. This is the range of serial number from the now-defunct Apple Repair Extention Program for USB 2.0 eMacs:

G8412xxxxxx- G8520xxxxxx
YM412xxxxxx - YM520xxxxxx
VM440xxxxxx - VM516xxxxxx

A "collapse" is more indicative of a video cabling issue, but the bad caps produced such a wide range of problems that it's hard to sort through them.

If the old eMac is a USB 2.0, which a 2004 unit should be, the HD should exchange with the new one. As the last of the eMacs shipped with Tiger, the new computer should have no probelms with a 10.4 boot volume on the old drive. You can upgrade to Leopard one you have hte new disk in place.

NOTE: Takeapart and reassembly on the USB 2.0 must be done "just so" or you can permanently damage the power switch. Instructions for the USB 1.1 takeapart are slightly different , and the power swtich damage is usually caused by people using the older instructions on a newer eMac.

If you are not up to the takepart nor can you find a local computer tech who knows these. consider taking the drive out of the dead computer(won't make much difference if you damage that one as it's dead), buy an external Firewire enclosure, and put the old drive on it and use it to move data to the new computer. Then you can leave the external attached as a backup drive.

Is the new one a 1.42Ghz model? They have been practically trouble-free around here. We have one and it's been rock solid since we bought it as a refurb in Jan 2006. The 1.42G has the advantage of a Core Image-enabled video chipset, the ATI 9600.

And all USB 2.0 eMacs can, with modern memory modules, support up to 2G of RAM.

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Answer 2

joseph l. Author

Level 1

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Mar 2, 2012 9:12 AM in response to Allan Jones

Thank you for your information Allan.

I am not versed enough in doing my own repairs to even attempt the "switch"...was just curious. The nearest facility that might be able to do this is about 2 hours away. (Baton Rouge, LA) The only local repair place in this small town only works on PC's and not a Mac.

The replacement eMac has a processer speed of 1.42 GHz which means it may be better for me to transfer and install whatever software applications that I can do...a long and tedious process for sure.

I believe that I may be able to transfer some files via FireWire connections between the two machines (or copy to external HD and then to the replacement eMac).

I also plan to test out the replacement reconditioned eMac when it arrives in a few days and see how it runs before attempting to move my applications to it.

Originally when I first started having the "collapse to center effect" about six months ago, I had put a notice here on the forum and it was believed that my computer was indeed suffering from a video cable issue. My serial number falls into the "affected" list of earlier eMac models. I had then contacted Apple support (tech support) and they could not assist me.

I put the message up earlier today basically to see if the transfer of HD's would be a fairly simple matter and would be a viable solution. The replacement eMac comes with Mac OS 10.5 Leopard installed. Will not know more until I exam it and test it out. According to info from the seller it is a May 2005 model. I do not know if 10.5 supports the older "Classic" mode (I have a few older Classic applications) that is supported by my current 10.4.11 system.

Again, thank you for your information.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 2, 2012 11:35 AM in response to joseph l.

If the old eMac is still up & running when the screen goes black, boot the old one into FireWire target disk mode...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

Use Migration Assistant on the new eMac to transfer all your data, apps, & settings over.

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Answer 4

joseph l. Author

Level 1

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Mar 2, 2012 11:57 AM in response to BDAqua

Thank you...I will check out the article in detail and see if I can get it to work out. Appreciate the suggestion.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 2, 2012 12:32 PM in response to joseph l.

In fact, if the new one comes with no User on it and wants you to set it up like the 1st time, avail yourself of Migration Assistant right after the 1st step where you put in your info... that way the new one will be almost identical too your old one, except running 10.5 🙂

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Answer 6

joseph l. Author

Level 1

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Mar 2, 2012 12:42 PM in response to BDAqua

OK...sounds great. So, I guess that when using Migration Assistant, that the older 10.4.11 operating system will NOT overwrite the newer 10.5.... operating system. Will be printing out the information on Migrating Assistant and the responses to guide me through the changeover. Also will need to check out the machine when it arrives to see if there are any instructions, etc on the new software package that was installed when the eMac was referbished. Hopefully all will go well. Thank you for taking the time to asist me! 🙂

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 2, 2012 1:00 PM in response to joseph l.

Correct Joseph, MA will not overwrite the OS & later Apps on the later OS. They did a great job with it, & Target mode just will make your old eMac look like a big, heavy Firewire drive. 🙂

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Answer 8

joseph l. Author

Level 1

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Mar 2, 2012 1:27 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you! Will be giving it a try as soon as the replacement eMac arrives. Really do appreciate the help!

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 2, 2012 1:33 PM in response to joseph l.

Great news Joseph, do keep us posted of the outcome or any more questions once it arrives! 🙂

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Answer 10

joseph l. Author

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Mar 2, 2012 2:03 PM in response to BDAqua

will do...thank you again! 🙂

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Answer 11

joseph l. Author

Level 1

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Mar 6, 2012 6:21 AM in response to joseph l.

I do have one follow up question.

Looking at the firewire instructions in the eMac user guide, I wanted to see if when I have connected both eMacs, that I will be COPYING the files OR TRANSFERRING them?

My concerns are applications on my existing HD that I will be putting onto the HD of the replacement eMac.

The notation in the eMac user guide states:

• Connect an external FireWire hard disk drive and use it to BACK UP DATA or TRANSFER FILES.

A FireWire hard disk icon appears on your desktop after you connect the drive to your eMac.

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Answer 12

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 6, 2012 10:19 AM in response to joseph l.

With the old Mac in Target Mode, it'll be just as a big Firewire drive.

You won't be doing any copying or transferring yourself, just let Setup Assistant/Migration Assistant do that after you point it to that Firewire Drive.

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Answer 13

joseph l. Author

Level 1

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Mar 6, 2012 10:28 AM in response to BDAqua

...I guess what I am trying to find out is this: in the process, will the original files on the OLD eMac be removed or will they still be on that HD in the event that something goes wrong in the transfer process? I know it sounds dumb...but I have had a Mac since my first computer and have never used this tool.

As a general rule of thumb I have virtually ALL of my working files/images saved on an external HD.

Am a bit apprenhesive at possibly losing my files/apps on my old eMac. Dumb, I know...but the short instructions in the eMac User Guide do not go into detail.

Thanks! for all of your help.

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