icaill

Q: iMac G3 wont turn on

just wondering if anyone could help me out when i plug in my imac i hear a noise like an electrical noise and the power button led flashes for less than a second and when i try to turn the imac on it makes the same noise again and does not boot up.. cd drive does not make noise neither does the crt...  before this happened the crt went really dim for a few minute.. i know its an old computer and its fairly useless in todays world but i want to get it working any advise would be appreciated thanks.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11), null

Posted on Jul 15, 2016 1:18 AM

Close

Q: iMac G3 wont turn on

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Jul 15, 2016 8:56 AM in response to icaill
    Level 8 (34,995 points)
    iPad
    Jul 15, 2016 8:56 AM in response to icaill

    I'm thinking that is a bad omen. Although hard to tell without sitting before the computer, your symptoms are compatible with a failed "PAV" board. "PAV" stands for "power/analog/video" and they tend to get baked in the under-ventilated iMac G3 case. It has no fan, but should have. The PAV board is a common failue point for iMac G3s that have seen a lot of use.

     

    That said, you can check a couple of things. If the computer has been off wall power for a long time the internal backup battery (or "PRAM" battery) is surely dead. This is the battery used:

     

    NewerTech 3.6v Lithium 1/2 AA PRAM Computer Clock Battery

     

    You access it through the RAM door on the bottom of the case. A dead PRAM battery is not alwasy a sure casue of what you see but it is worth trying.

     

    While in the RAM compartment note there is a small button, a PMU reset button. The image in this link shows its appeaance and location:

     

    https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2554/3832183809_3e903f2c20_z.jpg

     

    Press it ONCE and for ONLY about a second. Any longer can create non-recoverable problems.

     

    And, while the RAM door is open, remove and reseat the RAM just because it is easy at this point.

     

    If you have the gray system disks that shipped with the computer, find Disk #1 and try booting from it. Hold the C key during boot and keep holding until you get a usable dektop or the computer appears stuck. Booting from a CD takes longer than normal so don't rush it too much.

     

    If it boots from the CD/DVD then we need to talk more, so let us know what you find.

  • by icaill,

    icaill icaill Jul 15, 2016 11:02 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 15, 2016 11:02 AM in response to Allan Jones

    Tried to reset the pmu a while back i think more than likely its ballsed because its not doing anything now when i plug it in.. shame

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Jul 16, 2016 7:16 AM in response to icaill
    Level 8 (34,995 points)
    iPad
    Jul 16, 2016 7:16 AM in response to icaill

    It is a shame. Had Apple opted for a cooling fan in those old iMacs there would probably be more working ones today. Ours (Summer 2000 400mhz DV) started having trouble after I installed a larger hard drive and upgraded to OSX. After that it ran hot. Today it can still run in OS9 if in an air conditioned environment but not OSX.