[Desverger]

Hello all. I just purchased two iMacs at auction and both are dead. I was hoping that someone here could help me with some diagnosis.

1 - iMac G3 slot loading CD. - Unit powers up, plays sound from both speakers. No video. Reboots or goes into sleep mode after ~10 secs. Power stays on, drive makes a slow nearly silent clicking noise. You can power the unit off and power it up again but it will just make that slow clicking noise, no sound. If you remove the power cord and allow the caps to discharge and plug it back in and power it up it will play sound and repeat the original cycle.

I did see video on it once when I removed the HD and replaced it with another drive. A bunch of blurry lines showed up on half of the screen. Could never get it to repeat.

2 - iMac tray load CD. Unit will not power up. Caps look good. Where do I start?

Any help that you can provide me with would be most appreciated. I am a tech but have never dealt with Macs before.

Thanks!

[discotronic]

First thing I would try is resetting the PRAM on the slot-load. As soon as you turn the machine on hold down the Apple-Option-P-R keys at the same time. When you hear the chime again let off and see if the systems will boot. IF not try it again and keep them held down for 5 or 6 cycles. On a non-Apple keyboard I think (can't remember exactly) you would use the CTRL-ALT-P-R keys.

Also, you might want to try replacing the clock battery.

[Desverger]

Ok I did try that but maybe I didn't time it right so I will try again tonight. I also swapped the battery but I will test it with the multimeter tonight to make sure it has a charge.

If neither of these things fix it what should I try next?

Thanks.

[galarneau]

Originally posted by Desverger:
[B]iMac G3 slot loading CD. - Unit powers up, plays sound from both speakers. No video. Reboots or goes into sleep mode after ~10 secs. Power stays on, drive makes a slow nearly silent clicking noise. You can power the unit off and power it up again but it will just make that slow clicking noise, no sound. If you remove the power cord and allow the caps to discharge and plug it back in and power it up it will play sound and repeat the original cycle.

I did see video on it once when I removed the HD and replaced it with another drive. A bunch of blurry lines showed up on half of the screen. Could never get it to repeat.

This sounds like someone tried to install OS X without updating the firmware. You'll need to crack open the case and perform the proceedure outlined here:

http://frderi.spymac.net/imacresurrected/

It's not easy if you're not good with tools, but I did it, and can verify that it works.

[Desverger]

Ok the current state of the project is:

1) I reset the CUDA.

2) Reset the PRAM

3) Held down the shift key to disable extensions.

The computer will not power off after a few seconds now. I hear the hard drisk spinning and see the CAPS key flash. I still get no video. I tried the sleep trick and that didn't work. Still no video althought it did go to sleep and wake up ok. Any ideas?

[Desverger]

Ok. Still at the same problem. I removed the top and unplugged the video connector and the annode to the CRT. I noticed that the circular metal shield that is held on to the end of the CRT was loose. I reseated it and tightened it down. I plugged everything back in and powered it up... The screen was white. After it booted and I still got no meaningful video I rebooted. Now the screen is black again. What does it mean!?!?!?!

[macaddict0001]

like someone said somebody didn't upgrade firmware to 4.1.9f before installing osx most likely.

[Desverger]

I have no idea what was done to these, I am just trying to pick up the pieces.

[Greg Urban]

I tried to install OS 10.3 on my slot loading IMAC and I had the same problem. Is this the only solution? I have to boot twice now and the IMAC screen does not work. I have to use an external Monitor (I have been anyway so I thought it was ok). Everything seems to be working fine, but the monitor. I tried to update the firmware, but it will not let me. I was using OS9 and so to update the firmware I needed to be upgraded to 9.1, but I forgot and upadted to 9.2. Then when I tried to update the firmware I turned the CPU on holding the PRAM button on the side and no signal to the external. I figured it was because I had to be in 9.1 so I tried to go back to 9.0 and I did a clean install and now it wont let me update to 9.1. Should I try this procedure? Or is there another way?

[galarneau]

Greg:

You should be able to update the firmware in 9.2. When you run the firmware update program, does it say that your firmware is up to date, or does it power off the machine (after which you start up with the programmers switch held down)?

Desverger:

Follow the instructions on the page I linked to above. It isn't that difficult. The hardest part for me was finding the old floppy cable (finally found a use for that Quadra in my basement!), and then finding 4 wires that were of the proper gauge to fit into the connector holes on the cables. I found that the wires from case cooling fans work pretty well.

The more you zap the pram and reset the power manager, the more goofed up it's going to get. Check out this page for more info:

http://www.capecodgraphics.com/imac_firmware.htm

If you get sick of trying, send me the specs on the slot-load model. I'll buy it from you and fix it myself. I've been wanting another iMac to mess around with as a server.

[Desverger]

The problem is I can't do that since it has no video output port on the back Is there some other way I can get video out of it? Also, how do I find out what processor it has on it? If you want to buy it you are more than welcome to. PM me and we can discuss further.

[galarneau]

If it has no video out port, and it's a slot load, then it's probably a first gen (1999) Blueberry iMac 350Mhz. You can confirm this by checking to see if it has firewire ports or not. Just to make sure, do you know that the external monitor port is hidden behind a oval door on the bottom rear of the case? (it just pops off).

You can still get this machine going even without an external monitor, but it becomes a bit harder. You have 3 options:

1) Get OS 9.1 installed on another machine and put the firmware updater in the Startup folder, so it is run as soon as the machine is turned on, then run it blind (you'll have to practice on another machine to get the key sequences down). Then transfer that hard drive to the broken iMac.

2) Again, get OS 9.1 installed on another machine and install a VNC server on the iMac so you can control it remotely.

3) Get OS 9.1 installed on another machine and install Apple Remote Desktop so you can control it remotely.

Personally, I would go for option #1 as it's the easiest to get setup (no mucking about with network settings etc)