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Miniryu · May 29, 2003, 01:30 AM

The problem:My iMac restarts spontaneously, often in the middle of startup.

The story:Yesterday the power was shut off to my room when I was away. I got home from my internship and my roommate (who can barely speak English) told me that my surge protector was smoking so he pulled the plugs. I plugged it into the wall directly, and just my luck we had a citywide powerout. Afterward, my iMac DV 400 will just restart spontaneously. Right now I am typing this from my friend's computer because my computer will not stay running long enough to launch a web-browers.

My thoughts:Is there a problem with my PRAM? What else could it be?

Sander · May 29, 2003, 08:01 AM

That's too bad. I had the same problem with my old iMac. It had to do with the power connector for me. For a while I can only put the iMac to sleep because it would keep rebooting... Play around with plugging and unplugging the power cord. That somehow worked for me.

Of course I may be totally off as I don't really know about PRAM and stuff.

Good luck.

Miniryu · May 29, 2003, 11:02 AM

I should have said Lithium battery instead of PRAM, since the battery is really what is responsible. I am hoping my battery is not dead (if tht is possible).

WJMoore · May 29, 2003, 08:26 PM

I encountered the same problem with an iMac DV 400. Turns out the power button was sticking on when pressed and it would reset spontaneiously sometimes during boot sometimes after it had been running for a while. Once I worked it out I was able to make sure the button didn't remain depressed and all was well.

Wesley

misc · May 31, 2003, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by Miniryu:
My thoughts:Is there a problem with my PRAM? What else could it be?

I highly doubt it's the battery. People's battery have been dead and it doesn't reboot like you describe. I'm thinking somethings funky with the power supply... Vmarks?

Miniryu · Jun 3, 2003, 02:43 AM

Originally posted by misc:
I highly doubt it's the battery. People's battery have been dead and it doesn't reboot like you describe. I'm thinking somethings funky with the power supply... Vmarks?

Interesting... what are Vmarks? I have been able to use my computer for an increasingly longer period of time before it restarts. So whatever the problem is, there has to be a reason why it is getting better with time.

serranot · Jun 3, 2003, 04:01 AM

If you have your preferences set to restart your mac after a power outtage, your problem may be a simple as a poor electrical connection at the wall. Every time your power cable moves slightly, power to the unit is cut and it restarts. Try plugging into a different wall outlet.

Miniryu · Jun 4, 2003, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by serranot:
If you have your preferences set to restart your mac after a power outtage, your problem may be a simple as a poor electrical connection at the wall. Every time your power cable moves slightly, power to the unit is cut and it restarts. Try plugging into a different wall outlet.

Thanks-that's a clever idea but unfortunately my preferences are set to not restart after a power out

That is a good idea if other people have this same problem.

Miniryu · Jun 9, 2003, 09:33 PM

Just one more note- my restart button (the one on the side of the computer, next to the OpenFirmware boot button) will not work anymore. Is it possible that this button is punched in too much? Is there a way I can fix this without taking my iMac apart?

Coach · Jun 10, 2003, 09:42 AM

I am having a similar problem.

I have noticed the apartment builiding has had increased power outages from time to time. Since then my iMac DV 400 will turn off at night or during an extending period of not being in use. To restart my computer I feel like I perform iMac CPR by constantly holding down the power button. At first, it will turn on for a half second, then turn off, after awhile of doing this the boot-up process will get increasinlgy closser and closer to a full boot-up. I noticed I get the long "firmware" beep and then it will go to the normal OS X boot-up screen.

I did purchase more RAM, but after taking it out and replacing the original 128 MB, the problem still occurs.

I haven't noticed it "restart" or turn off while working on it. It only happens at night when I'm sleeping or when i come back home.

Miniryu · Jun 10, 2003, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by Coach:
I am having a similar problem.

I have noticed the apartment builiding has had increased power outages from time to time. Since then my iMac DV 400 will turn off at night or during an extending period of not being in use. To restart my computer I feel like I perform iMac CPR by constantly holding down the power button. At first, it will turn on for a half second, then turn off, after awhile of doing this the boot-up process will get increasinlgy closser and closer to a full boot-up. I noticed I get the long "firmware" beep and then it will go to the normal OS X boot-up screen.

I did purchase more RAM, but after taking it out and replacing the original 128 MB, the problem still occurs.

I haven't noticed it "restart" or turn off while working on it. It only happens at night when I'm sleeping or when i come back home.

Well, my problem is similar and different to yours. It is similiar in that I just purchased new RAM recently (the cheap stuff too). It is dissimilar in that my computer spontaneously restarts not shuts down. I don't have any problems getting it to start up again- it happens automatically. It is as if someone just pushed the restart button in without me knowing it- which has lead me to the belief that all I need to do to fi the problem is to "unstick" the button- if that is at all possible.

Just a note to you- I noticed a number of people with your same problem on the MacFixit boards, you should go check out what their solution was there.