[clomb2002@]

i have an 233 imac green it turns on for a few seconds and than dies what can it be

[seanc]

Did you try to install / were you running os x?
It sounds to me like the 'classic' os x & crt imac problem.

***** If you have never tried to install os x, and are still running and os before it, then you may need either a new crt or analogue board****** Ignore the steps below*******

Before you installed os x (if you did) you should have updated the firmware.
Because of the incompatibility with the current firmware and os x, the imac now things the analogue board is dead, and it shuts off to prevent further damage.
Is your imac a slot loader or tray loader? I think slot loading imac's have a vga port on the back. Plug an external monitor in and power up, you should then be able to work normally on the external monitor. Go onto the internet and download the latest firmware for your mac.
Now the tricky bit is installing it. To install the firmware you MUST be running os 9 although os 8 *might* work. I've never done it myself, but i'd assume you just expand the download (if it needs to be) and then click the installer, on a restart all should be fine.
If you don't have a slot loader, or your imac has no vga port, you have a bigger problem.

If you have no vga port then you somehow have to be able to work on the mac without an external monitor. If you have another mac, put the hdd in and boot. You then need to download the firmware and a vnc program. Install the vnc program but DO NOT do anything with the firmware.
The vnc program is a network remote control program, you will then be able to control and install firmware onto the mac from another computer.

Set up vnc, and then put the hard drive back into the imac. Fire up another computer and install vnc on it (it can be a pc with windows or linux or another mac). Connect a crossover cable between the two computers or just connect over your exisiting network, and start vnc and connect to the imac. Install the firmware remotely, restart and hope for the best.

If it still does not work then it may need aditional steps that I have missed, hopefully somebody can fill you in.

If you have never tried to install os x (just inserting the cd will screw up the analogue board) and you were still using os 9 then you probably have a failed crt, analogue board or flyback transformer and it would not be cost effective to repair the machine. Sell it on ebay and buy a better model, but just remember to install the firmware update before os x, unless the previous owner already did it.
The os x installer is meant to update the firmware or tell you to do it, but in most cases it doesn't -- installers fault not yours.

I hope this helps,

Sean

PS: I think the vga port is on the back underside near the cd rom drive

[clomb2002@]

Sean if ur there my problem is i turn on my computer the orange light goes on but it doesnt turn green my picture is still black iam running 9.0 what else can it be

[clomb2002@]

what is the difference between the crt and the anologboard i had them apart how do i now the difference . the one that has 2 picec attached is what //////////? and the single board is called what

[johnMG]

Have you tried booting from the Hardware diagnosis CD?

Though, it sounds like it may be some weird hardware problem; like something is heating up after a few seconds and then causing the shutdown. If you can't boot and run from the hardware diag cd, it's probably hardware.

Maybe time to upgrade?

[clomb2002@]

my machine turns on the light is orange than it turns green for a second and shuts off

[seanc]

Do you have a slot OR tray loader??

Put a towel on your desk, put the imac gently onto it's screen and look on the back near the bottom for a vga port. I assume you know what one looks like.
If you find one plug an external monitor into it and try to boot up.
You're running os 9, did you ever put an os x cd in? How long have you had the imac?
If you have a tray loader, then you don't have a vga port (i think).

If the machine was only ever running os 9, then it's time to either buy a second hand better crt imac off ebay or do some expensive repairs. Frankly it's not worth repairing, so i'd buy a second hand one and put your hard drive into it.... then you'll be back to the same old system but with everything the way you left it.

I don't know what country you're in but you can occasionally get decent imac's on ebay for £99 or dodgy ones for a bit lesss.

I'd sell your imac for parts and buy a new one, as it sounds like the flyback transformer or the crt or the analogue board.

The crt is the screen, the flyback transformer looks something like a deformed lamp, and the analodue board is connected to the screen and flyback transformer, so just follow the screen and flyback transformers and you should just end up at the analogue board.

You could get a crt, flyback transformer or analogue board off ebay, i'd start with the analogue board.....

If you see a big flash inside the case when switching it on, then it's the flyback transformer.

If you need anymore help just ask or have a look on google.

Sean

Oh, BE CAREFUL WHEN NEAR THE INSIDE OF THE SCREEN AND FLYBACK TRANSFORMER, YOU COULD DO YOURSELF SOME REAL DAMAGE. DON'T DO IT IF YOU'RE NOT CONFIDENT.

Have a look at these links:
http://www.macopz.com/columns/imacrepair/
http://www.capecodgraphics.com/imac_firmware.htm