Thanks for the info. I just had to replace the PRAM battery as I was getting
messages from the computer (startup extension "pram checker" that someone
advised me about). That caused no startup at all until I pressed the CUDA
switch. Now I have power again but just the black screen. That leaves the
fact that there is no ide drive attached and a possible ram problem. However
I didn't touch the ram and it was fine before I had to replace the battery.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Wulkowicz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "StarMax List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: Reviving a Starmax
> The startup sequence as I understand it is the chimes, which are a memory
and
> system check, then the screen coming up with the appearance of the arrow
in the
> upper-left corner. At that point, the machine searches for boot-up
devices; if
> it finds none you get a blinking question mark instead of the happy mac.
Since
> you don't even have a video screen, it should mean the problem is truly
basic,
> not the problem of the IDE drive.
>
> Generally, the PRAM battery is the culprit. It's located in the upper
right
> corner of the mother board hidden behind the floppy drive rack and held in
> place by velcro. If it's low in voltage, apparently the pram gets
corrupted or
> inoperative in the sequence.
>
> To access the battery, remove the motherboard connectors top and front,
making
> a diagram about what goes where. Some have little locks so don't get
violent.
> Then loosen the screws holding the back plate in place and draw the mother
> board out of the frame until the battery appears. Pull the battery off the
> velcro and unplug its connector. Check the voltage; it should be 4.5 v.
The
> battery is a 4.5v Mallory 840, as I remember it (not too readily
available).
>
> If you're skeptical and if that's too much right now, just plug in the
Starmax
> and leave it on for a few days--perhaps serendipity will bring the battery
up a
> bit or perk up the pram. If you do get a screen, that confirms the pram
battery
> problem and you'll have to replace it following the same routine above.
>
> Any ABD mouse should work and many Starmax original IDE drives are
available on
> Ebay, but I don't think you'll need one
>
> Good luck,
>
>
> Bob Wulkowicz
>
> _______________
>
> Bill Barber wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I have the same problem. I don't have a ide drive installed and have a
black
> > screen on startup. I remember vaguely that this is the symptom of no ide
> > hard drive.
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