Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

MEHirn · 03:41 PM

Accidentally posted twice. Sorry

My son has an iMac G3 that he rescued from a dumpster that has a strange noise that eminates from the speakers when the machine is off. The noise starts about 10 minutes after the computer is turned off. It sounds like white noise from a distance at first. When I get close it has a high buzzing hum. After about 30 minutes, it gets very loud and low, not unlike a ground loop fault in a sound system. Thinking that it might be linked to the CD drive, I tried slipping a CD into the drive while it was off. That caused the humming to change pitch every time the disc enters the drive. I tried throwing away the sound preferences folder (suggested in previous threads) with no success. This problem does not occur when the machine is in sleep mode and it goes away immediately when the computer is turned on. Any ideas?

MEHirn · Nov 13, 2005, 10:12 AM

Since it doesn't look like there is a solution to my problem, I would like to know practical ways to work around it. Leaving the computer unplugged when not in use is going to kill the battery. That doesn't seem like a good solution. Is it practical to leave the iMac in sleep mode during all non-use time? I know that iMacs are notorious for cooking drives and I wonder if I will just be creating a new problem with the heat build-up. Also, how much power will it consume if left in sleep mode?

P · Nov 15, 2005, 07:35 AM

A "Me too" here - I have the same problem, and no idea about a fix. Think it might be about not having a grounded plug I just leave mine in sleep mode all the time. I did long before this problem evolved, and it has essentially been on for 6 years, only shut down when I went on vacation and before being set up after a move. I think it's safe.

The iMacs that fry HDs are the G4s, not the G3s, and the power to the HD is off when the iMac is sleeping anyway.

MEHirn · Nov 16, 2005, 12:51 PM

P
Thanks for the reply. I think that I will just leave it in sleep mode. I may take a look at the power cord. The one my son is using was scavenged from a roadside-box of free computer parts (gotta love his resourcefulness).