DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!

[CR]

Hey Group...
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

My home computer just died this past weekend....It's a Mac G3 Desktop 266mHz
upgraded with a MAXpowr Newertechnology 400mHz G4 card.
It's running OS 9.2.2 and has a maximum of 192 MB RAM.
I've added a USB card, an IXMicro video card and everything has been working
great with this setup for over a year...

Then in just the past week it started freezing up for no reason...doing very
mundane tasks, even on startups...Saturday morning I ran Norton's and
TechTool Pro and both found only very minor problems that were fixed (bundle
bits, mod. dates, etc.). All media and surface scans came up ok...I even ran
a lot of the expert tests on Tech Tool. And the drive was completely
optimized and defragged. All things that I do on a relatively regular basis.

I restarted and it froze minutes after being up and running...then upon
restarting it froze a mere seconds upon use. After that it started freezing
while it started up and then nothing.....she died (sniff-sniff).

I hit the power button and the fan would come on but no hardrive activity
noises and the green light on the front of the computer wouldn't come on.
I tried continually to do force restarts and occasionally I would get the
green light to come on but the startup would never progress passed the
initial gray screen. I disconnected all devices that were unnecessary I
opened the case and checked over all connections and cleaned all dust out
with air. Still nothing... now all I get is the fan spinning upon powering
up and the "no sync input" message on my blank monitor. No light and no
hardrive noise.

I plan on getting a new system soon, but I need to retrieve a bunch of files
from the old machine...I NEED HELP... even a quick fix so I can copy files
over to an external USB HD... The machine has been a workhorse for me for
many years now and I know it's probably passed it's time, but I need just
enough to retrieve my files and let it rest.

Email me or post replys:
brombones (at) paonline (dot) com

Thanks in advance,
Chris

[CR]

No Happy Mac at all....just the initial gray screen before any of that comes
up...Actually now I get nothing but the fan motor running...no hardrive
noise and no greenish powerlight on the front of the mac and there is no
signal whatsoever going to the monitor. I have not tried a new PRAM
battery...I have zapped the PRAM but it's the original battery. Could that
be causing the issues? If so where could I purchase one for that model?

Thanks,
Chris

> From: King Neptune <hopestarrr@hotmail.com>
> Organization: Posted via Supernews, [url]http://www.supernews.com[/url]
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted,comp.sys.m ac.hardware
> Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:28:50 -0500
> Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
>
> Hi There.. if you're not even getting the "Happy Mac"
> (smiling icon of an old Mac 128K upon booting) on the screen
> then you have problems well before the hard drive etc.,.etc.
>
> ** Did you try a brand new *PRAM Battery* ..???
>
> Ciao,
> w
> K
>

>> CR posted on 7/7/03 11:17 AM:

>

>> Hey Group...
>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
>>
>> My home computer just died this past weekend....It's a Mac G3 Desktop 266mHz
>> upgraded with a MAXpowr Newertechnology 400mHz G4 card.
>> It's running OS 9.2.2 and has a maximum of 192 MB RAM.
>> I've added a USB card, an IXMicro video card and everything has been working
>> great with this setup for over a year...
>>
>> Then in just the past week it started freezing up for no reason...doing very
>> mundane tasks, even on startups...Saturday morning I ran Norton's and
>> TechTool Pro and both found only very minor problems that were fixed (bundle
>> bits, mod. dates, etc.). All media and surface scans came up ok...I even ran
>> a lot of the expert tests on Tech Tool. And the drive was completely
>> optimized and defragged. All things that I do on a relatively regular basis.
>>
>> I restarted and it froze minutes after being up and running...then upon
>> restarting it froze a mere seconds upon use. After that it started freezing
>> while it started up and then nothing.....she died (sniff-sniff).
>>
>> I hit the power button and the fan would come on but no hardrive activity
>> noises and the green light on the front of the computer wouldn't come on.
>> I tried continually to do force restarts and occasionally I would get the
>> green light to come on but the startup would never progress passed the
>> initial gray screen. I disconnected all devices that were unnecessary I
>> opened the case and checked over all connections and cleaned all dust out
>> with air. Still nothing... now all I get is the fan spinning upon powering
>> up and the "no sync input" message on my blank monitor. No light and no
>> hardrive noise.
>>
>> I plan on getting a new system soon, but I need to retrieve a bunch of files
>> from the old machine...I NEED HELP... even a quick fix so I can copy files
>> over to an external USB HD... The machine has been a workhorse for me for
>> many years now and I know it's probably passed it's time, but I need just
>> enough to retrieve my files and let it rest.
>>
>> Email me or post replys:
>> brombones (at) paonline (dot) com
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Chris
>>
>>

>

[geech]

"CR" <CR@+NOSPAM+.com> wrote in message
news:BB2F2758.21920%CR@+NOSPAM+.com...

> No Happy Mac at all....just the initial gray screen before any of that

comes

> up...Actually now I get nothing but the fan motor running...no hardrive
> noise and no greenish powerlight on the front of the mac and there is no
> signal whatsoever going to the monitor. I have not tried a new PRAM
> battery...I have zapped the PRAM but it's the original battery. Could that
> be causing the issues? If so where could I purchase one for that model?
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>

Bring the original into your local Radio Shack. Should run you around
$10-11.

-geech-

[Jim McGhee]

If worst comes to worst, you should be able to remove the hard drive and
temporally hook it up to the new mac as a second drive and copy over
what you need.

Jim

CR wrote:

> Hey Group...
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
>
> My home computer just died this past weekend....It's a Mac G3 Desktop 266mHz
> upgraded with a MAXpowr Newertechnology 400mHz G4 card.
> It's running OS 9.2.2 and has a maximum of 192 MB RAM.
> I've added a USB card, an IXMicro video card and everything has been working
> great with this setup for over a year...
>
> Then in just the past week it started freezing up for no reason...doing very
> mundane tasks, even on startups...Saturday morning I ran Norton's and
> TechTool Pro and both found only very minor problems that were fixed (bundle
> bits, mod. dates, etc.). All media and surface scans came up ok...I even ran
> a lot of the expert tests on Tech Tool. And the drive was completely
> optimized and defragged. All things that I do on a relatively regular basis.
>
> I restarted and it froze minutes after being up and running...then upon
> restarting it froze a mere seconds upon use. After that it started freezing
> while it started up and then nothing.....she died (sniff-sniff).
>
> I hit the power button and the fan would come on but no hardrive activity
> noises and the green light on the front of the computer wouldn't come on.
> I tried continually to do force restarts and occasionally I would get the
> green light to come on but the startup would never progress passed the
> initial gray screen. I disconnected all devices that were unnecessary I
> opened the case and checked over all connections and cleaned all dust out
> with air. Still nothing... now all I get is the fan spinning upon powering
> up and the "no sync input" message on my blank monitor. No light and no
> hardrive noise.
>
> I plan on getting a new system soon, but I need to retrieve a bunch of files
> from the old machine...I NEED HELP... even a quick fix so I can copy files
> over to an external USB HD... The machine has been a workhorse for me for
> many years now and I know it's probably passed it's time, but I need just
> enough to retrieve my files and let it rest.
>
> Email me or post replys:
> brombones (at) paonline (dot) com
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Chris
>
>

--
Give your problems to God.
Might as well... He's going to be up all night anyway.

[CR]

Thanks...I'll keep it safe until I can transfer it....
-CR

> From: Jim McGhee <jim@jmcghee.com>
> Organization: Comcast Online
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted,comp.sys.m ac.hardware
> Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2003 18:58:50 GMT
> Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
>
> If worst comes to worst, you should be able to remove the hard drive and
> temporally hook it up to the new mac as a second drive and copy over
> what you need.
>
> Jim
>
> CR wrote:

>> Hey Group...
>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
>>
>> My home computer just died this past weekend....It's a Mac G3 Desktop 266mHz
>> upgraded with a MAXpowr Newertechnology 400mHz G4 card.
>> It's running OS 9.2.2 and has a maximum of 192 MB RAM.
>> I've added a USB card, an IXMicro video card and everything has been working
>> great with this setup for over a year...
>>
>> Then in just the past week it started freezing up for no reason...doing very
>> mundane tasks, even on startups...Saturday morning I ran Norton's and
>> TechTool Pro and both found only very minor problems that were fixed (bundle
>> bits, mod. dates, etc.). All media and surface scans came up ok...I even ran
>> a lot of the expert tests on Tech Tool. And the drive was completely
>> optimized and defragged. All things that I do on a relatively regular basis.
>>
>> I restarted and it froze minutes after being up and running...then upon
>> restarting it froze a mere seconds upon use. After that it started freezing
>> while it started up and then nothing.....she died (sniff-sniff).
>>
>> I hit the power button and the fan would come on but no hardrive activity
>> noises and the green light on the front of the computer wouldn't come on.
>> I tried continually to do force restarts and occasionally I would get the
>> green light to come on but the startup would never progress passed the
>> initial gray screen. I disconnected all devices that were unnecessary I
>> opened the case and checked over all connections and cleaned all dust out
>> with air. Still nothing... now all I get is the fan spinning upon powering
>> up and the "no sync input" message on my blank monitor. No light and no
>> hardrive noise.
>>
>> I plan on getting a new system soon, but I need to retrieve a bunch of files
>> from the old machine...I NEED HELP... even a quick fix so I can copy files
>> over to an external USB HD... The machine has been a workhorse for me for
>> many years now and I know it's probably passed it's time, but I need just
>> enough to retrieve my files and let it rest.
>>
>> Email me or post replys:
>> brombones (at) paonline (dot) com
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Chris
>>
>>

>
>
> --
> Give your problems to God.
> Might as well... He's going to be up all night anyway.
>

[morenuf]

As others have suggested 1,2, & 4:

1) do check all connections, removing & reseating all RAM, cable
connectors,etc. and temporarily at least all external devices removed
except mouse & keyboard.
2) check/replace PRAM battery, 3.6 v on most model Mac G4s and I assume
same on G3. About $10 at Radio Shack cheaper on net. Also check battery
contacts on motherboard for corrosion. I had some slight corrosion on my
G4 once.

3) press the CUDA switch (PMU button on later G4s). Located near
battery, press it ONCE (an accidental more than one press will drain
PRAM battery in about 24 hours instead of 3 years) for about 3-5
seconds, release.
4) rest PRAM. above step 3 probably already does this but do it anyway.

The CUDA or PMU button has revived many "dead" G3s & G4s. It is quite
sensitive to static charges and voltage transients.

I just this week had a G4 933 model which was off during a thunderstorm
(and surge protector off too) fail to boot, not drive spin up, no power
supply fan, nothing but blue power switch light. PMU button pressed and
it was back in business.

All this brought my Jan 2000 G4 back to life a year ago when this
puzzling failure happened to me.

Good luck.
Morenuf

[Don Bruder]

In article <BB2F3FFC.21FC5%CR@+NOSPAM+.com>, CR <CR@+NOSPAM+.com>
wrote:

> great...is it possible for that battery to keep it from starting up?
>
> Chris

Yes, it's entirely possible for that to be the case. Not a certainty,
but a very real possibility. Failed/failing PRAM batteries can manifest
as a HUGE variety of totally bizzare, often unexplainable, seemingly
unrelated, and frequently downright maddening problems that can seem
like a trip through hell to track down. Failing to start up is only one
of literally hundreds of possible "failure modes" for them, and is
actually one of the tamest (though quite possibly scariest, as I'm sure
you're figuring out) ways for them to signal their belly-up status.

--
Don Bruder - [email]dakidd@sonic.net[/email] <--- Preferred Email - unmunged, SpamAssassinated
Hate SPAM? See <http://www.spamassassin.org> for some seriously great info.
I will choose a path that's clear: I will choose Free Will! - N. Peart
Fly trap info pages: <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/Horses/FlyTrap/index.html>

[CR]

Thanks soo much for your input! I'm stopping on the way home at Radio Shack
and getting a new one! Keep all your fingers crossed!
Chris

> From: Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net>
> Organization: Chaotic Creations Unlimited
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted
> Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2003 20:11:51 GMT
> Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
>
> In article <BB2F3FFC.21FC5%CR@+NOSPAM+.com>, CR <CR@+NOSPAM+.com>
> wrote:
>

>> great...is it possible for that battery to keep it from starting up?
>>
>> Chris

>
> Yes, it's entirely possible for that to be the case. Not a certainty,
> but a very real possibility. Failed/failing PRAM batteries can manifest
> as a HUGE variety of totally bizzare, often unexplainable, seemingly
> unrelated, and frequently downright maddening problems that can seem
> like a trip through hell to track down. Failing to start up is only one
> of literally hundreds of possible "failure modes" for them, and is
> actually one of the tamest (though quite possibly scariest, as I'm sure
> you're figuring out) ways for them to signal their belly-up status.
>
> --
> Don Bruder - [email]dakidd@sonic.net[/email] <--- Preferred Email - unmunged,
> SpamAssassinated
> Hate SPAM? See <http://www.spamassassin.org> for some seriously great info.
> I will choose a path that's clear: I will choose Free Will! - N. Peart
> Fly trap info pages: <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/Horses/FlyTrap/index.html>

[Joe Heimann]

In comp.sys.mac.wanted CR <CR@+nospam+.com> wrote:

> great...is it possible for that battery to keep it from starting up?

> Chris

Yes, I have a 266 MT G3, and anytime the battery has been dead or weak
I would get that same grey screen. Cured by replacing the battery.

Joe Heimann

> From: "geech" <chdorrCR@Pattbi.com>

>> Organization: [url]http://extra.newsguy.com[/url]
>> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted
>> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 11:39:13 -0700
>> Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
>>
>> "CR" <CR@+NOSPAM+.com> wrote in message
>> news:BB2F2758.21920%CR@+NOSPAM+.com...

>>> No Happy Mac at all....just the initial gray screen before any of that

>> comes

>>> up...Actually now I get nothing but the fan motor running...no hardrive
>>> noise and no greenish powerlight on the front of the mac and there is no
>>> signal whatsoever going to the monitor. I have not tried a new PRAM
>>> battery...I have zapped the PRAM but it's the original battery. Could that
>>> be causing the issues? If so where could I purchase one for that model?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Chris
>>>

>>
>> Bring the original into your local Radio Shack. Should run you around
>> $10-11.
>>
>> -geech-
>>
>>

[CR]

WOOHOO! Seems the battery may have done the trick...for now
Thanks everyone!
Chris

> From: "Joe Heimann" <heimann@ecs.umass.edu>
> Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted
> Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 04:24:37 GMT
> Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
>
> In comp.sys.mac.wanted CR <CR@+nospam+.com> wrote:

>> great...is it possible for that battery to keep it from starting up?

>

>> Chris

>
> Yes, I have a 266 MT G3, and anytime the battery has been dead or weak
> I would get that same grey screen. Cured by replacing the battery.
>
> Joe Heimann
>

>> From: "geech" <chdorrCR@Pattbi.com>

>>> Organization: [url]http://extra.newsguy.com[/url]
>>> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted
>>> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 11:39:13 -0700
>>> Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
>>>
>>> "CR" <CR@+NOSPAM+.com> wrote in message
>>> news:BB2F2758.21920%CR@+NOSPAM+.com...
>>>> No Happy Mac at all....just the initial gray screen before any of that
>>> comes
>>>> up...Actually now I get nothing but the fan motor running...no hardrive
>>>> noise and no greenish powerlight on the front of the mac and there is no
>>>> signal whatsoever going to the monitor. I have not tried a new PRAM
>>>> battery...I have zapped the PRAM but it's the original battery. Could that
>>>> be causing the issues? If so where could I purchase one for that model?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Chris
>>>>
>>>
>>> Bring the original into your local Radio Shack. Should run you around
>>> $10-11.
>>>
>>> -geech-
>>>
>>>

>

[CR]

Or heaven forbid, we just have to reset our clock if power fails or is
unplugged....

> From: [email]dennmac@InfoAveExtraneous.Net[/email] (Dennis McGee)
> Organization: InfoAve.Net INTERNET Access
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted
> Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 09:00:15 -0500
> Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
>
> In article <BB303DBA.22044%CR@+NOSPAM+.com>, CR <CR@+NOSPAM+.com> wrote:
>

>> WOOHOO! Seems the battery may have done the trick...for now
>> Thanks everyone!
>> Chris

>
> I wonder why we don't have a solar-powered or kinetic solution to the
> age-old PRAM battery problem by now. ;)

[Jim McGhee]

Dennis McGee wrote:

> In article <BB303DBA.22044%CR@+NOSPAM+.com>, CR <CR@+NOSPAM+.com> wrote:
>
>

>>WOOHOO! Seems the battery may have done the trick...for now
>>Thanks everyone!
>>Chris

>
>
> I wonder why we don't have a solar-powered or kinetic solution to the
> age-old PRAM battery problem by now. ;)

Do you REALLY want to use your mac in the sun everyday or occasionally
pump a handle to keep the pram battery charged?

Jim

--
Give your problems to God.
Might as well... He's going to be up all night anyway.

[Francois Leduc]

Yes a hamster wheel is a genius idea !
But don't forget an oil can to drop a tear once in a while.

CR wrote:

> I'm thinking hamster wheel.......
>

> > From: Jim McGhee <jim@jmcghee.com>
> > Organization: Comcast Online
> > Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.mac.wanted
> > Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 20:13:40 GMT
> > Subject: Re: DEAD MAC! - HELP!!!
> >
> >
> > Dennis McGee wrote:

> >> In article <BB303DBA.22044%CR@+NOSPAM+.com>, CR <CR@+NOSPAM+.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> WOOHOO! Seems the battery may have done the trick...for now
> >>> Thanks everyone!
> >>> Chris
> >>
> >>
> >> I wonder why we don't have a solar-powered or kinetic solution to the
> >> age-old PRAM battery problem by now. ;)

> >
> > Do you REALLY want to use your mac in the sun everyday or occasionally
> > pump a handle to keep the pram battery charged?
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > --
> > Give your problems to God.
> > Might as well... He's going to be up all night anyway.
> >