iMac G3 found in a trash pile. Need help! :D

[MrCynical]

Tomorrow the garbage men are coming by to pick up anything that people put out. Naturally people had a ton of crap that normally wouldn't be picked up. Well, I spotted an iMac G3 (I think from 1998-2000 -- it's one of the first G3s) with a keyboard and mouse along with some other electronic equipment as I was driving down the street and immediately hit the breaks.

As I expected, something is wrong with it. It has problems booting up. Basically when I press the power button I hear that startup sound. The light turns from orange to green as the screen tries to come on, and then the machine immediately shuts down.

I'm afraid to say that I'm not a Mac guy. I generally use PCs running Windows or some Unix variant. I have built numerous PCs, so I am quite comfortable opening it up and messing around with the insides, but I could use some guidance and insight from you crazy Mac people.

Thanks.

 

[CanadaRAM]

First step in a case like this is to replace the PRAM battery on the logic board.
I beleive it is a 1/2AA 3.6V Lithium Should be about $ 7 - 12 at RadioCircuitSourceCityShack

 

[Johnny Rico]

I'm going to bet this imac has a bad PAV board.

but of course try replacing the pram battery. And reset the pmu.

 

[disconap]

Do what CanadaRAM and Rico have suggested first, then try swapping in different RAM and a HD you KNOW to be functioning. Or bring it to a friend's and do that.

 

[California]

I put 384mb of ram and an 80gig 7200rpm hard drive in an iMac G3 233mhz a few years ago. It runs Panther great.

 

[dpaanlka]

Sounds like that common display problem with older G3 iMacs.

 

[macEfan]

Sounds like that common display problem with older G3 iMacs.

yep.. I had an imac with the exact same problems, and I gave up fixing it..

The Analog board is toast, and its $150 to fix through apple. You could snatch a replacement board on ebay, but installations is a huge pain..