LukeLindblom

Q: Power Macintosh G3 No Post

I recently acquired a Power Macintosh gG3 desktop (the one that a monitor sits on top of), and i plugged it in and pressed the power button, and I heard the Mac Chime. I ordered a DB-15 to VGA adapter so I could try it with a monitor, and there was nothing. No chime. There are lights and the fans are spinning. Ive tried removing PCI cards, swapping RAM, resetting the Motherboard, and everything else I can think of. Right now, all it does is spin the power supply fan when I press the power button. The hard drive was spinning before, but it doesn't now. From What I can find, it was made in 1998.

 

Any help would be appreciated. I included a picture of the computer, so you can see the model. (The RAM and PCI cards are removed for the Logic Board picture)IMG_5537.jpgIMG_5536.jpg

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), 16GB RAM, 15", 512GB SSD.

Posted on Jan 4, 2016 9:05 AM

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Q: Power Macintosh G3 No Post

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jan 4, 2016 10:04 AM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    Jan 4, 2016 10:04 AM in response to LukeLindblom

    Is that a fresh PRAM Battery?

  • by LukeLindblom,Helpful

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 10:58 AM in response to BDAqua
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    Jan 4, 2016 10:58 AM in response to BDAqua

    Its probably an old PRAM battery, but from my PC experience, that won't cause it not to POST, will it? It should just reset the date/time. I don't have much experience with old macs...

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jan 4, 2016 10:35 AM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    Jan 4, 2016 10:35 AM in response to LukeLindblom

    Macs are funny that way, & the older PowerMacs especially, I think... as I recall... that Beige G3s will not boot with a dead PRAM Battery, hopefully some of the G3 experts will pipe in here.

  • by LukeLindblom,Helpful

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 10:58 AM in response to BDAqua
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    Jan 4, 2016 10:58 AM in response to BDAqua

    I hope so because I have no idea where to get such a strange battery. I'm sure eBay, but that takes a week...

  • by LukeLindblom,

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 10:58 AM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 1 (32 points)
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    Jan 4, 2016 10:58 AM in response to LukeLindblom

    The CD ROM light turns on and stays on. So does the power button light. But the hard drive doesn't spin (it used to, last week.)

     

    For specs, it has a 40GB Hard Drive and 768MB of RAM (its maximum). I have tried different RAM configurations.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jan 4, 2016 12:12 PM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    Jan 4, 2016 12:12 PM in response to LukeLindblom
  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jan 4, 2016 12:20 PM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 4, 2016 12:20 PM in response to LukeLindblom

    There's been issues with the ASC site today where most recent posts fail to appear.

     

    If the battery is old, it could be replaced as part of the general troubleshooting path.

     

    The 3.6volt, 1/2AA Lithium battery should be available at most electronic shops. It

    may vary in price from as much as near $15. to as little as $5. I used to buy them in

    bulk when repairing dozens of older Macs, for as little as 50¢ each -- by the sackful.

     

    And if the hard disk drive fails to spin up after a PMU reset (given battery replacement)

    then it may be due to the drive itself or power supply to it from that segment of power

    supply; as they do provide several channels of different voltage to the computer.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by LukeLindblom,

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 12:29 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (32 points)
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    Jan 4, 2016 12:29 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Is this computer vintage or collectible? (basically, is it worth my time?) I have a PowerMac G4 Desktop (AGP Graphics) Does that take the same CMOS (I guess PRAM on macs) battery?

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jan 4, 2016 12:38 PM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 4, 2016 12:38 PM in response to LukeLindblom

    The macsales page showing this battery, above, also shows all mac models this kind of cell

    is used in, by product name, and version numbers. The battery is used by many models.

    CMOS? The battery is used for Clock or PRAM (parameter random access memory.)

     

    Everymac.com and mactracker.ca offer information on hardware software update upgrade

    and version build model; also sites such as powerbookmedic have serial number lookups.

    That can be helpful if the vintage model is in their database; the lookup may be limited.

     

    These computers are usable with the correct vintage software, and if they include the

    proper OS X or MacOS version system install-restore DVD or CD media; they're needed.

    And are great for offline or standalone workstations.

     

    Good luck in any event!

  • by LukeLindblom,

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 12:41 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (32 points)
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    Jan 4, 2016 12:41 PM in response to K Shaffer

    I use OWC, Mactracker, and EveryMac all the time. I work a lot on newer Macs (2002 or so to now,) but I don't know much about these old ones. I got it at an auction for $5. Is see both the broken G3 and my G4 listed in the NewerTech page. I will probably get out the G4, install the old G3's battery, and see if it works. Maybe that will tell me something.

     

    Thank you for your help!

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jan 4, 2016 1:11 PM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 4, 2016 1:11 PM in response to LukeLindblom

    Those batteries do not see any charge when installed with

    the computer plugged in, and so so their life is rather limited.

     

    And computers that sit around not plugged into the grid, will

    see those batteries fail sooner than later. It would be better

    to get spares for use in the better computers you use so as

    to have an extra one on hand. They can be stored up to 5 yrs.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by LukeLindblom,

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 4:09 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (32 points)
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    Jan 4, 2016 4:09 PM in response to K Shaffer

    I replaced the PRAM battery with a known good one (I tested it) and I also replaced the RAM with known-good RAM. Now, the hard drive spins and the CD drive opens and closes. There's just no output to my monitor. I'm using a DB-15 to VGA adapter. This should work, right? Here's the link to what I received this morning: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002J1JAE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_deta ilpage_o05_s01

  • by LukeLindblom,

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 4:16 PM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 1 (32 points)
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    Jan 4, 2016 4:16 PM in response to LukeLindblom

    I also put the hard drive in the G4 desktop, and it booted into OS X version 10.2.6 (I guess that is Jaguar, the latest OS the G3 runs.) So I know the hard drive is good.

  • by LukeLindblom,

    LukeLindblom LukeLindblom Jan 4, 2016 5:18 PM in response to LukeLindblom
    Level 1 (32 points)
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    Jan 4, 2016 5:18 PM in response to LukeLindblom

    What configuration should the white jumper thing be on?

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