imac g3 tray loading cd drive wont boot from cd or hdd

[brian at nutthouse.org]

You could try to reset the cuda switch if your comfortable.
Get a soft cloth and flip the unit onto its screen. On the bottom of the 
unit you will see a handle with a screw. It may not be there because some 
sloppy techs forget to put it back. Unscrew this and then grasp the handle 
and pull towards you and up. It will feel like you are going to break it and 
it will make a loud snap when the tabs release. Then you'll see two more 
screws in the same area attached to a metal chassis. Remove the screw and 
pull the chassis straight up. You will find a button by the processor. Hit 
the button on for less than a second, wait 15 seconds and put the unit back 
together. If the unit makes a snap noise when you turn it on it will turn 
out to be a problem with the ananlog board if it is a "tray" not a "slot 
loading" cd drive.
If you still have a problem it would be cheeper to get a used imac than get 
a diag done on it. If it is a simular model this iMac the "chassis" could be 
swapped being it has the HD, CD, processor, memory, etc. Hope this helps. 

Peter van der Heide writes: 

> Steve - 
> 
> It wasn't the first time the iMac had been powered off COLD in the last 
> few months by any chance? There is a problem that pops up in iMacs about 
> that age where one or more of a bunch of capacitors on the power supply 
> die. The funny thing is that the computer continues working as usual, as 
> even once the capacitors go pop, they will continue to function as long as 
> they're kept warm. 
> 
> I work in a research complex with around 50-80 iMacs around 4-6 years old, 
> and every time we have a power interruption, one or two of the iMacs just 
> dies. The users invariably blame it on a power surge, but in reality the 
> machine may have been "broken" for months, as they're rarely if ever 
> powered down completely. 
> 
> If this is what's happened to your iMac, and you have a techy buddy 
> (electronics, not computers) who's willing to spend a couple of hours 
> poking around the analog board, you may be able to fix it for a few 
> dollars worth of capacitors. To do it in reasonable time, he'll need an 
> in-circuit capacitance meter - not an overly common device (though not 
> expensive). 
> 
> If this isn't the problem, then as Derick points out, you can get an iMac 
> chassis from eBay for less than minimum service charge at most apple 
> dealers. Unless you need an upgrade, just
> get the one with the least RAM and HD and swap your old ones in. If you're 
> truly strapped for cash, you can try and flog off all the left over bits 
> and pieces too. 
> 
> Best of luck! -pete 
> 
> On 27/08/2005, at 9:35 PM, Derick Centeno wrote: 
> 
> 
>> Depending upon what happened on the power side ( power surge, lightning 
>> strike, power shortage, blown fuse, demonic possession) the monitor may 
>> have blown.  You might have to lug it to a technician for testing and 
>> verification of exactly what occurred and a determination of what, if 
>> anything can be done.  Depending upon what your personal economic 
>> situation is, as this particular model is selling for about $40 -- it 
>> might be cheaper to just buy another imac g3 and this time pitch some 
>> cash for an APC UPS; ie. and Uninterruptible Power Supply from American 
>> Power Company.  Of course, the purpose is for the UPS to be in-between 
>> any and all power connections, phone lines (and any other device) 
>> electrically connected to your computer in any way -- this includes 
>> printers, routers, etc.  By the way, a USB connection IS a power 
>> connection; so if the USB is not running through the UPS first it remains 
>> possible for a surge to run from that device and ruin your computer. 
>> 
>> A lot of things are not supposed to happen but do; I keep hearing about 
>> something called "common sense", however I merely keep discovering how 
>> common, nonsense really is instead. 
>> 
>> I know it sounds ridiculous, but when you consider what you are paying a 
>> tech for.  In NYC it's about $100 just to get a tech to look at anything 
>> plus another 50 (not including time) to test the thing if the computer is 
>> NOT under warranty.  Under those prices or when it is necessary that 
>> other expenditures are more important -- like rent or food -- ridiculous 
>> choices become common sense.  I remember one story where someone lost 
>> everything but kept a web presence by running his laptop from solar power 
>> from a beach until collection agents tracked him down.  Yep, they took 
>> the laptop.  So hopefully, you prioritize better than that fellow. 
>> 
>> Best wishes.... 
>> 
>> On Aug 27, 2005, at 3:12 AM, steve s wrote: 
>> 
>>> Hello 
>>> 
>>> I was installing YDL 4 on a an imac and lost power to the machine while 
>>> it was installing packages. Now when I try to start the install again 
>>> the machine starts up with the sound but the monitor doesn't show 
>>> anything and holding the C button down doesnt make it boot from the CD 
>>> drive. It just starts and shuts down. Any ideas? 
>>> 
>>> Thanks. 
>>> 
>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>> Your opinion counts..for your chance to win a Mini Cooper click here 
>>> http://www.qualifiedopinions.com/joinup.php?source=hotmail 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> yellowdog-newbie mailing list
>>> yellowdog-newbie at lists.terrasoftsolutions.com
>>> http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog-newbie 
>>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> yellowdog-newbie mailing list
>> yellowdog-newbie at lists.terrasoftsolutions.com
>> http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog-newbie
>  
> 
> _______________________________________________
> yellowdog-newbie mailing list
> yellowdog-newbie at lists.terrasoftsolutions.com
> http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/yellowdog-newbie