[Demonic iMac G3] -


Demonic iMac G3

Discuss Demonic iMac G3


Posted by: mac_mogul

Okay, I'm sitting at my mom's newspaper office on the iMac that I adopted (for use only when it's usual operator is absent:)) And my mom exclaims that her iMac G3 has shut itself down while she was typing in InDesign.

I just blew it off as something she had done by accident (my mom is no computer genius) And didn't think of it again. Then it kept happening. And just about three minutes ago, it happened again and now her date and time is all messed up. At first I decided this was a battery problem. But then I remembered that an iMac's only warning of a dead battery is a black screen at start-up. But another sign is the date and time problem.

If anyone can maybe give me an idea of what's goin on, I'd appreciate it.

She's running a Graphite iMac G3 @ 600mhz
--OS 9.2.2
--256 mb RAM


Posted by: g5orbust

Date and time problems are warnings of a dying battery. A dead battery prevents start up.

Suggestion: replace that pesky battery!


Posted by: mac_mogul

Hmm... okay... wanted to make sure....

But it's strange because there are two other iMacs the same age as that one that are chugging along quite nicely... Oh well :D

Thanks G5 :cool:


Posted by: mac_mogul

Okay, I know this is a double post, but this is also an update on the demonic iMac situation

-Mom's iMac is dead in the water! We can turn it on, we can see the Finder of OS 9 for less than a minute, then the monitor flickers (sometimes the left and right sides are squeezed in together) and then it just shuts off... No warning... no nothing... So we've moved my iMac into the office in it's place and I will be without computer for a while :(

But the expert on the telephone told my mom that it was not a battery problem and that it had something to do with a deeper inner hardware device.

I'll update this again as soon as I get more info. This is making me very angry because mom will be putting all sorts of crap onto my computer that I don't want and she'll change all my settings and... argh!!! She's even forcing it to be in OS 9... I hate OS 9!!! :angry:

Oh well....:sigh:


Posted by: g5orbust

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by mac_mogul [/i]
[B]Okay, I know this is a double post, but this is also an update on the demonic iMac situation

-Mom's iMac is dead in the water! We can turn it on, we can see the Finder of OS 9 for less than a minute, then the monitor flickers (sometimes the left and right sides are squeezed in together) and then it just shuts off... No warning... no nothing... So we've moved my iMac into the office in it's place and I will be without computer for a while :(

But the expert on the telephone told my mom that it was not a battery problem and that it had something to do with a deeper inner hardware device.

I'll update this again as soon as I get more info. This is making me very angry because mom will be putting all sorts of crap onto my computer that I don't want and she'll change all my settings and... argh!!! She's even forcing it to be in OS 9... I hate OS 9!!! :angry:

Oh well....:sigh: [/B][/QUOTE]

It could very well be a much more serious hardware problem, but i suggest at least trying the battery replacement (the battery costs like, what? A buck...maybe less?) and see if that gives some life into the machine.


Posted by: RyansTech

[QUOTE]-Mom's iMac is dead in the water! We can turn it on, we can see the Finder of OS 9 for less than a minute, then the monitor flickers (sometimes the left and right sides are squeezed in together) and then it just shuts off... No warning... no nothing... So we've moved my iMac into the office in it's place and I will be without computer for a while
[/QUOTE]

Does this happen the same way every time you turn it on or is it random? For example will it go past this point and then shut off or does it happen the same way everytime?


Posted by: mac_mogul

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by g5orbust [/i]
[B]It could very well be a much more serious hardware problem, but i suggest at least trying the battery replacement (the battery costs like, what? A buck...maybe less?) and see if that gives some life into the machine. [/B][/QUOTE]

We did... I took my iMac's battery and put it in hers to no avail. It still shuts off spontaneously within at most two minutes. :(


Posted by: mac_mogul

Okay... we set up my iMac in her iMac's place and I actually got it to recognize her network :D (so proud of myself you have no idea:p) But her co-worker's computer does [i]not[/i] recognize mine; whereas my iMac does recognize hers. It's not a big deal for now since it's a temporary set-up, but I would like to understand why not.:confused:


Posted by: ATIRAGEPRO

It's the L2 CACHE. It's burned out somehow...:cool:


Posted by: mac_mogul

Hmm, the woman at the tech-center said she new for sure it was the vid-card when we told her about the screen doin tha squeezy thing.

And I managed to get all the necessary files off of the computer by pressing the PMU reset button on the logic board. It let the computer run long enough to burn a couple CD's of data, but then it flickered and shut off again. And everytime I press the PMU reset button, the computer stays on for around 10-15 minutes at a time. Whereas when I didn't press it, it would shut off right after start-up

But we're taking it up to get the video card replaced and the battery replaced and everything checked out tomorrow. That means I'll get my iMac back for the weekend!:D

So hopefully, it IS the vid card and it can be easily replaced and there will never be more troubles with it ever again. :rolleyes: I'll keep everyone posted :)


Posted by: g5orbust

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by mac_mogul [/i]
[B]

So hopefully, it IS the vid card and it can be easily replaced and there will never be more troubles with it ever again. :rolleyes: I'll keep everyone posted :) [/B][/QUOTE]

Hate to burst your bubble but Im pretty sure the iMac's graphics chip is soldered on mobo so it may be a harder replacement than you think... that if if you can even find a replacement ATi Rage Pro for it.


Posted by: RyansTech

mac_mogul is someone replacing the video card for you? G5 is right it is integrated to the board.


Posted by: mac_mogul

Yes... the vid card was replaced (all in one day :eek: ) and now the iMac is working superbly. The monitor looks brighter and sharper now than it ever has. And surprisingly, everything is a bit snappier than it used to be. :confused: Oh well, at least I have my iMac back in my posession. :) And an iBook on the way!!!


Posted by: RyansTech

excellente!!