iMac G3 CRT Black Screen Issue

You know it could be the screens gone or the video card is gone - was it working fine before your friend (?) gave it too you?

I haven't seen a black screen yet - only a shuddering screen, a blue screen and a green tint screen. One solution was reseting the PRAM which meant holding down the Option, Command (the apple icon one), the P and the R a simulatneoulsy when you start up from scratch and wait till you hear two clear sets of chimings before you let go. Now the screen could be quite dead - but the hard drive and memory might be OK if you've got , or are getting, another G3 imac. Look, when they work they are just marvellous!

Gregg 🙂 or - 😟 is the screen is actually dead! If you were in Perth Australia I'd be rushing to take it off your hands. Alas -

HI...
Do you know if you can use that same idea with a iMac OS X 10.3?? I haven't found anyone else with this same problem with my type of computer.

I went to turn my computer on and I hear it starting up but my flat screen is totally dark. Once in awhile there is a slight twing in the color when its shutting down..but other then that...Nothing.

I'm really stupid when it comes to computers.
Florida Mom

iMac OS X 10.3 Mac OS X (10.3.3)

hi! for best results here you need to tell us, as much as you can, what model of computer it is ( even list the colour - that can be a pointer) - how much memory (under the 'Apple Profile' info) - event how big your hard drive is.

Also I'd like to ask was the computer working OK one day and then black screen the next - and - have you recently (very recently) enhanced it in anyway ; added or rearanged the memory sticks/cards, tried new software, - and have you just upgraded the OS to 10.3 - if so do you know what 'firmware version'(boot ROM) is on your computer (also under the info on the Apple Profiler page that says System Profile).and any other recent 'history'. Lets just start with this - and pick it up from there.

Normally you would list this as a new topic - but seeing as there wasn't that much response to the original post, maybe you can leave it here and see what response you get.

see ya

Gregg 🙂

hi i was trying to update my imac os9.0.0 to os X but I when i was done with the install disc 1 it restarted and the screen was tinted blue so i restarted again and the screen whent dead. well,, i tried to reset the PRAM but it did not work,keep in mind i could not see wut was going on so the computer was reading the screen to me, anway then i restared it agsin after reseting the PRAM and it turned on 20 sec later it turned itself off, i turned it on again and i did not hear the computer make the start up noise or no sound indicating it was on and the light on the power button was on with a few twitches in the light. and that is were i am at i really reall need your help. please reply.

- iMac Crashed

Hi! Same info is required about type of computer you have as I listed in the post you replied to.

At first, your problem sounds like the firmware was not updated to 'iMac Firmware Update 4.1.9' before you upgraded from OS9 to OS10 - and there is one possible solution I've read of that worked with an imac 233 MHz - in that you've got to take out the logic board and use a different computer and/or screen 'set-up' to install the firmware update on that logic board,and then put it back into the original machine it came from and start it up while you cross your fingers!!! - and hope the screen comes alive again. tricky stuff that may not work.

However that may not be your specific problem - it may be the hard drive gone or something else (we hope).

When you reset the PRAM did you allow for the 2 separate chimes to sound before restarting your machine? That's really academic if the firmware is the problem - but I thought I'd ask.

So tell us what sort of iMac it is - place it upside down on a soft cloth and on it's neat little bottom it should have a description - like say,
- IMAC 600/GR/256/40/CDRW/ULTRA/56K/FW/VGA -

or just tell us if it's slot loading or tray loading, what colour, and anything else about it's model that you already knew - speed e.g. 400MHz - does it burn Cd's or jsut read them - stuff like that.

thanks

Gregg 🙂

here is all the ifo on the little sticker, 1st there was a blue list of things:100-240v, 2.5-1.25A/120W max. 50-60Hz,
then the serial number: SG951HF9HQS, then ethernet id: 00 0A 27 D9 CA, then family #: M5521 last a small writting at the bottom:400MHz/521k L2/128MB/13GB/DVD/56K.
it is gray in color & slot loading and i dont want to take any thing out of it cause i dont really know how, so I will take it to this store near me call iProducts. i did not update the firm ware before b/c it said itr was on the install disk 1(which is now stuck in the mac) and this mac o my knowledge has lost it internet capablites due to some malfunction. please reply with any other advice thank you
p.s. the chimes never happened the first program in the PRAM was rest the the others did not happen.

Ok - now we know that you have a 400MhZ imac DV, which plays DVDs as well as Cds, with a 13 GB hard drive - it's got 128 MBs of RAM - and a 56K modem. ( NO FirwWire ?????)
This came from the info you gave me that said "a small writing at the bottom:400MHz/521k L2/128MB/13GB/DVD/56K."
teh other bits were to do with power supply and specific model/product number.

#1 - if the firmware update was on a CD as well as the operating system CD then that's a common practice, at least here in Australia - if I go to upgrade, the dealer will usually give me a copy of the latest firmware that I would need to install before I loaded in the new Operating System.

#2 - if the loss of internet capacity happened prior to the upgrade if could have been a bung modem, or a host of little things that you have to get just right to connect to the internet itself.

#3 - taking to iProducts sounds a good idea - but if it is the formware probelm taht we've discussed they might just say it's dead or something like that -and you would need to find a retail used and/or new mac dealer, unless iproducts is such a dealer.

So we'll wait to here how you go with iProducts first!!!

ciao

Gregg 🙂

whoops - sorry, your computer is obviously the iMac "DV" SE that was only available in graphite and had a 13 GB hd with 128 MB as standard- so you can now tell the iProducts people exactly what you've got

ciao

Gregg 🙂

oh and you are saying that if it is the firmware then
my mac is gone forever?if tet is the case why can
something that simple kill my whole
computer.

Mac OS
9.0.x

Devin, don't throw it out just yet -the memory and hard drive, etc.

Now back to the original idea - that is if your DVE is really screen-dead and the screen part is unrevivable - of looking around for another one - but inexpensive - like eBay or local magazines that advertise second hand white goods, TV's, mobile phones, computers, furniture - etc - Go looking - nay, go hunting!

In your search you WILL come across some cheap computers that may work - even talk to people who advertise and ask them where you can pick up a cheaper one if their advertised machine is too rich for you - and don't forget the firmware's got to be updated before any OS update.
Just get back onto this discussion sote and someone will show you where the firmware patch is - I'm too busy jsut at moment

ciao

Gregg 🙂

I lost a phrase in that post - and had meant to say that there are valuable parts in your computer that you may be able to use in another machine or sell - like the memory stick and the hard drive and the CD/DVD ROM drive

gregg 🙂

ok thank you i will tell you how it goes with iProducts and i am sure it has built in FireWire.

Talk to you then
-Devin

Mac OS 9.0.x

oh and you are saying that if it is the firmware then my mac is gone forever?if tet is the case why can something that simple kill my whole computer.

Mac OS 9.0.x