I've got a Powermac G3 B&W, and its not turning on, I'm assuming its the power supply, but it could be something else, anyways to check or anything? thanks!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Powermac G3 dead
- Thread starter kingcrowing
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Well, wee need WAY more information to be able to guve you an informed reply, but there is one thing you can try - replace the PRAM battery. It is a 3.6 V 1/2AA Lithium battery, available for about $10 from Radio Shack or your Mac store locally. They last 3 - 6 years depending on how much time your machine spends being turned off.
1) Check that the plug is securely plugged into the outlet and the Mac.
2) Check that the outlet is working by plugging something else into it.
3) Try turing the power on from the keyboard and then the tower/desktop.
4) Prepare a eulogy for your steadfast companion and then see if there are any parts worth salvaging for your own use, sale or donation.
2) Check that the outlet is working by plugging something else into it.
3) Try turing the power on from the keyboard and then the tower/desktop.
4) Prepare a eulogy for your steadfast companion and then see if there are any parts worth salvaging for your own use, sale or donation.
yeah, I'm pretty sure they still boot up w/o PRAM batteries...
I checked all the plugs and power cords etc, and its not that. when I press and hold down the power button the fan will spin like half a CM then stop and go back, and it'll do this like ever 2-3 seconds while I hold down the power button, so I'm assuming its just the power supply. I cant just toss this out cause I need to get my music off the HD, I've got over 15GB... so I need to salvage it. but I'm getting a MBP this summer for college so worst case scenario I just take out the HD and transfer the music to that once I get it...
Its a Rev. B 450MHz G3, 1GB/2x40GB/64MB ATI 7000/DVD/USB 2.0 card
I checked all the plugs and power cords etc, and its not that. when I press and hold down the power button the fan will spin like half a CM then stop and go back, and it'll do this like ever 2-3 seconds while I hold down the power button, so I'm assuming its just the power supply. I cant just toss this out cause I need to get my music off the HD, I've got over 15GB... so I need to salvage it. but I'm getting a MBP this summer for college so worst case scenario I just take out the HD and transfer the music to that once I get it...
Its a Rev. B 450MHz G3, 1GB/2x40GB/64MB ATI 7000/DVD/USB 2.0 card
kingcrowing said:
Here's something that may not even apply but would be good to try if it does. On my old 8500 there was a button on the motherboard called a cuda switch that needed to be pressed and held for a few seconds to clear up certain hardware problems. Maybe your G3 has a cuda switch too.
http://cubeowner.com/kbase_2/?page=index_v2&id=39&c=31
Also, though it isn't mentioned on that page, I used to hear that you need to hold the button down for 30 seconds, not just press it and let go.
picture:
http://www.cubeowner.com/gallery/parts/Mainboard01
Official Apple info:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=95037
If the battery is completely shot, there isn't enough juice for the soft power-on circuit to engage. You can sometimes get it to start by turning it on, off , then onagain very quickly.motulist said:
I dont think the G3s have a cuda switch, I looked on that site and its links and couldnt find anythign about it for G3s.
I tried powering it on and off real quick, but nothing happened at all
I tried powering it on and off real quick, but nothing happened at all
Here's some good info depending on how courageous you are.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58561
Also, they changed the name "cuda switch" to "PMU" at some point, so try searching around using that term instead.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58561
Also, they changed the name "cuda switch" to "PMU" at some point, so try searching around using that term instead.
CanadaRAM said:
I have a beige G3 and the battery is completely missing, yet it still works, so long as I don't unplug it and reset the clock etc.
Googling around seems to show plenty of people who claim to have hit the pmu on their b&w g3:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=28726
But then some people claim that the g3's have no pmu:
http://lists.debian.org/debian-powerpc/2003/08/msg00657.html
Weird. I'm so procrastinating. I really have to get back to work. Good luck.
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=28726
But then some people claim that the g3's have no pmu:
http://lists.debian.org/debian-powerpc/2003/08/msg00657.html
Weird. I'm so procrastinating. I really have to get back to work. Good luck.
well I found what I'm pretty sure is the cuda/pmu switch and it didnt do anything, at this point I'm pretty much set that its a dead power supply, I just dont know where to get a cheap G3 PSU...