Re: Strange iMac Problems
On 02/02/2004, at 1:06 PM, Shay Telfer wrote: Ok, so now I'm concerned. I'd suggest that in all likelihood Antony doesn't need to resolder the machine, get a new motherboard, or even wave rubber chickens around. First, try booting the machine with an external monitor. If that works, boot it into 9 and install the firmware patch. Problem is the computer will not boot. At all. Alternatively, if you feel comfortable with it, disassemble the machine so that you can access the reset switch on the logic board, and press it. It's a small circular rubber button inside o square housing. A picture of a similar reset button on a different model of machine is located at Believe me, it has no effect at all on this problem. BTW - Anthony tells me that the worst thing you can do is to reset the PRAM. Of course, this is what many of us do first... -- Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer ServicesFileMaker Pro Solutions Developer Perth, Western Australia Phone (618) 9332 6482Fax (618) 9332 0913 Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to.
Re: Strange iMac Problems
On 31/01/2004, at 3:57 PM, Antony N. Lord wrote: Machine : 400Mhz iMac DV (Graphite) Machine was working fine with OS 9, decide to do a fresh install [with no OS 9], erase HD, partition, install 10.2 (with view to install 10.3) OS X works fine but machine hangs a few hours later. Restart it and it does this : Chimes, powers up (green power switch visible), sound of screen energizing, HD spins up then about 5-6 seconds in (before anything visible appears on screen) the machine partially powers down. Sounds as though you are the victim of a really, really nasty bug in these iMacs. It has already bitten me twice (the second time was really embarrassing because I should have remembered from the first time, but didn't until it was too late). Typically, you would have set about installing OS X on the iMac. The machine would have started just fine from the CD, then stopped at some point, showing a message indicating that the Firmware needed to be upgraded. Innocently (and BTW, by now it's already too late) you would restart the computer, expecting to have a second chance to update the firtmware. By-bye computer. Logic board replacement indicated. In your case, your machine was one where this little nasty lulls you into a false sense of security by not showing up until a few hours later. In either case, I'm reliably informed that it's a result of MacOS X trying to force a display setting with which the un-updated display controller chip cannot cope. The firmware update fixes this, but by the time you find there's a problem it's too late. The damage has already been done. There is a note in the MacOS X Read Me that points all of this out. Apple's official line is that you should always read the Read Me. The guy I spoke to at Tech Support was not even aware of the problem. His best advice was to take to my nearest Apple Centre. One thing is sure. Your computer is dead. You logic board needs to be replaced. Not a word to any Windows users you know! -- Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer ServicesFileMaker Pro Solutions Developer Perth, Western Australia Phone (618) 9332 6482Fax (618) 9332 0913 Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to.
Re: Strange iMac Problems
From: Peter Hinchliffe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 08:30:43 +0800 To: WAMUG Mailing List wamug@wamug.org.au Subject: Re: Strange iMac Problems On 31/01/2004, at 3:57 PM, Antony N. Lord wrote: Machine : 400Mhz iMac DV (Graphite) Machine was working fine with OS 9, decide to do a fresh install [with no OS 9], erase HD, partition, install 10.2 (with view to install 10.3) OS X works fine but machine hangs a few hours later. Restart it and it does this : Chimes, powers up (green power switch visible), sound of screen energizing, HD spins up then about 5-6 seconds in (before anything visible appears on screen) the machine partially powers down. Sounds as though you are the victim of a really, really nasty bug in these iMacs. It has already bitten me twice (the second time was really embarrassing because I should have remembered from the first time, but didn't until it was too late). Typically, you would have set about installing OS X on the iMac. The machine would have started just fine from the CD, then stopped at some point, showing a message indicating that the Firmware needed to be upgraded. Innocently (and BTW, by now it's already too late) you would restart the computer, expecting to have a second chance to update the firtmware. By-bye computer. Logic board replacement indicated. In your case, your machine was one where this little nasty lulls you into a false sense of security by not showing up until a few hours later. In either case, I'm reliably informed that it's a result of MacOS X trying to force a display setting with which the un-updated display controller chip cannot cope. The firmware update fixes this, but by the time you find there's a problem it's too late. The damage has already been done. There is a note in the MacOS X Read Me that points all of this out. Apple's official line is that you should always read the Read Me. The guy I spoke to at Tech Support was not even aware of the problem. His best advice was to take to my nearest Apple Centre. One thing is sure. Your computer is dead. You logic board needs to be replaced. Not a word to any Windows users you know! I just thought I should point out that Anthony at Computer Trade Centre can fix this problem without replacing the logic board. Don¹t ask me how he won't tell me!
Re: Strange iMac Problems
On 2/2/04 10:27 AM, Rob Findlay [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Chop One thing is sure. Your computer is dead. You logic board needs to be replaced. Not a word to any Windows users you know! I just thought I should point out that Anthony at Computer Trade Centre can fix this problem without replacing the logic board. Don¹t ask me how he won't tell me! It involves having the mac apart, so I guess he may be less inclined to divulge to the masses :-) (And I know how to do it too, when I was a tech) Seeya Rod!
Re: Strange iMac Problems
On Monday, February 2, 2004, at 12:27 PM, Rod Lavington wrote: On 2/2/04 10:27 AM, Rob Findlay [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Chop One thing is sure. Your computer is dead. You logic board needs to be replaced. Not a word to any Windows users you know! I just thought I should point out that Anthony at Computer Trade Centre can fix this problem without replacing the logic board. Don¹t ask me how he won't tell me! It involves having the mac apart, so I guess he may be less inclined to divulge to the masses :-) (And I know how to do it too, when I was a tech) It's not hard to find the Manual which describes that action. ( Take the iMac apart ) I found it on Saturday ! But dealing with the logic board will require both knowledge and the facility to use the correct solder techniques. It's not like the old days. Bob
Re: Strange iMac Problems
But dealing with the logic board will require both knowledge and the facility to use the correct solder techniques. It's not like the old days. Ok, so now I'm concerned. I'd suggest that in all likelihood Antony doesn't need to resolder the machine, get a new motherboard, or even wave rubber chickens around. First, try booting the machine with an external monitor. If that works, boot it into 9 and install the firmware patch. Alternatively, if you feel comfortable with it, disassemble the machine so that you can access the reset switch on the logic board, and press it. It's a small circular rubber button inside o square housing. A picture of a similar reset button on a different model of machine is located at http://www.zone6400.com/manual/files/CUDA.html If not, do whatever else you want to it :) Good luck, Shay -- === Shay Telfer Perth, Western Australia TechnomancerJoin WA's annual Opinions for hire [POQ] Speculative Fiction festival [EMAIL PROTECTED] fnord http://chronopolis.sf.org.au/
Re: Strange iMac Problems
First, try booting the machine with an external monitor. If that works, boot it into 9 and install the firmware patch. No, sadly that fails. Monitor comes up, turns grey then power fails. Alternatively, if you feel comfortable with it, disassemble the machine so that you can access the reset switch on the logic board, and press it. Already done that. If one is crafty you can do this with a pencil etc reaching through the memory access panel... If not, do whatever else you want to it :) Lets get the soldering iron out... Cheers, Antony. -- == == = = Antony N. Lord = http://antonylord.com = = [EMAIL PROTECTED] = Perth, Western Australia = == = ==
Re: Strange iMac Problems
Quoting Shay Telfer [EMAIL PROTECTED]: But dealing with the logic board will require both knowledge and the facility to use the correct solder techniques. It's not like the old days. Ok, so now I'm concerned. I'd suggest that in all likelihood Antony doesn't need to resolder the machine, get a new motherboard, or even wave rubber chickens around. First, try booting the machine with an external monitor. If that works, boot it into 9 and install the firmware patch. Alternatively, if you feel comfortable with it, disassemble the machine so that you can access the reset switch on the logic board, and press it. It's a small circular rubber button inside o square housing. A picture of a similar reset button on a different model of machine is located at http://www.zone6400.com/manual/files/CUDA.html If not, do whatever else you want to it :) Good luck, Shay It is possible to get out of this firmware problem if that is infact what it is. Booting from and OS9 CD won't work, the firmware updater won't run in that environment. You need a HD with OS 9 installed on it only, no hint of an OSX bootloader. An external monitor as suggested previously. Install the HD on the iMac ide chain. Start the mac and apply the the firmware update from the OSX cd. Install your HD with OSX installed on it. Get out rubber chickens if desired. Gordo
Re: Strange iMac Problems
You need a HD with OS 9 installed on it only, no hint of an OSX bootloader. An external monitor as suggested previously. If this was the case couldn't you just disconnect the HD and boot from an OS 9 CD? -- == == = = Antony N. Lord = http://antonylord.com = = [EMAIL PROTECTED] = Perth, Western Australia = == = ==
Re: Strange iMac Problems
Hi Anthony, Don't you just hate computers sometimes. You probably do not have a doorstop. Try the following; Temporarily disconnect all peripherals. Restart with either the OS9, Disk Warrior, or OS 10 CD by holding down the 'c' Key during re-start. If you can re-install OS9 it will prove that your problem is with the OS 10.2 software install. Did you check for firmware updates before installing OS 10? Use another computer to check with Apple if you can. If a firmware update was needed but not done, someone with more experience than I will need to help. On 31/01/2004, at 3:57 PM, Antony N. Lord wrote: Machine : 400Mhz iMac DV (Graphite) Machine was working fine with OS 9, decide to do a fresh install [with no OS 9], erase HD, partition, install 10.2 (with view to install 10.3) OS X works fine but machine hangs a few hours later. Restart it and it does this : Chimes, powers up (green power switch visible), sound of screen energizing, HD spins up then about 5-6 seconds in (before anything visible appears on screen) the machine partially powers down. Thanks to the service manual I have checked the power supply flow - the right voltages on the right pins (of the down converter board) are present in the few seconds before it all seems to sag. The machine doesn't actually go off, the power light remains on but the power being supplied is less than the specification. Flaky PSU or something else? Have tried resetting PRAM, checking PRAM battery, reseating components, resetting PMU. Any ideas here or do I have a nice pretty door stop all of a sudden? Cheers, Antony. -- == == = = Antony N. Lord = http://antonylord.com = = [EMAIL PROTECTED] = Perth, Western Australia = == = == -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] WAMUG is powered by Stalker CommuniGatePro Regards, Greg Manzie 08 9383 3929 Macintosh G4 400 MHz (PCI graphics), 640 Meg RAM, OS10.3.2, 10 Gig 20 Gig internal HD's, SCSI card, Netgear RP 614 Router, Alcatel Speed Touch ADSL Modem through built in Ethernet.
Re: Strange iMac Problems
Did you update the Firmware on your iMac before installing OS X? I was under the impression the machine [not my machine] had at one stage contained an X install before being taken back to 9. So in all honesty there is a possibility that the firmware WAS out of date if X hadn't been there before. Then again - 10.2 worked fine for the good part of a day before going belly up... Is there uber-technical solution for redoing the firmware externally if this is the problem? Cheers, Antony. -- == == = = Antony N. Lord = http://antonylord.com = = [EMAIL PROTECTED] = Perth, Western Australia = == = ==
Re: Strange iMac Problems
From: Antony N. Lord [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 22:05:20 +0800 To: WAMUG Mailing List wamug@wamug.org.au Subject: Re: Strange iMac Problems Did you update the Firmware on your iMac before installing OS X? I was under the impression the machine [not my machine] had at one stage contained an X install before being taken back to 9. So in all honesty there is a possibility that the firmware WAS out of date if X hadn't been there before. Then again - 10.2 worked fine for the good part of a day before going belly up... Is there uber-technical solution for redoing the firmware externally if this is the problem? There is however I am not certain whether it's the firmware problem, it sounds more like your analogue board has failed. If it was the firmware problem then it wouldn't have booted at all. The analogue boards go all the time it seems. I would suggest you call Anthony at Computer Trade Centre to confirm this (he's the man in my opinion for hardware faults) and get a repair estimate. If you do a google search for imac and analogue board failure you will get hundreds of hits and you will probably be able to decide for yourself after doing a bit of reading what to do next. Rob
