Imac won't boot


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Hey guys. Bare with me, as I am a PC guy :)

I have my friends' Imac (Imac DV SE I think) and the machine doesn't boot.

When I hit the power button, the button doesn't light up at all, no drives spin, nothing on-screen. However, the screen does make a fizzles sound, as if it is recieving power (this is the same sound my PC monitor makes when I turn it on, so I believe that this sound is normal)

I think I have it narrowed down to the on-board battery being dead. My friend said that his PC started to turn itself off by itself over the course of a couple days. Each time it was harder to boot it back up. Finally it just failed totally. From what I have researched, it seems like this might be the culprit. :huh:

Do you "mac-heads" have any ideas? ;)

Thanks in advance! :)

Chris

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Changing the battery would be a quick and easy first step. If you have never changed the battery before then it is within reason that it might need to be changed (based on the approximate age of a iMac DV SE),

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Changing the battery would be a quick and easy first step.  If you have never changed the battery before then it is within reason that it might need to be changed (based on the approximate age of a iMac DV SE),

I plan on doing that today. Would a dead battery cause this? I know a PC would still boot even without a battery, but it seems like Macs work differently.

Thx

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I plan on doing that today. Would a dead battery cause this? I know a PC would still boot even without a battery, but it seems like Macs work differently.

Yes, it can. Unless the logic board just needs to be reset.

Even just taking out the old battery (for about 30 minutes) will reset the logic board and this may allow you to boot. Sometimes it appears that changing a battery fixes the problem when a logic reset was all that was required.

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Yes, it can. Unless the logic board just needs to be reset.

Even just taking out the old battery (for about 30 minutes) will reset the logic board and this may allow you to boot. Sometimes it appears that changing a battery fixes the problem when a logic reset was all that was required.

Cool, thanks! I'll post about how I make out :)

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Changing the internal battery won't be too hard. It's a half-height AA battery, rated at 3.2 volt. Hard to get so don't bother. Take an AA battery to a camera shop and ask for a Duracell (or similar) 3.0 volt camera battery(LR2, I think). I've had one in my iMac DV450 for 3 years, and still going strong. If you fancy having a go at installing it here's how. You need a posidrive screwdriver (#8 I think) and a small posidrive ( prefereably with a long handle and magnetized or a magnet) tea, plenty of time and a bucket full of swear words

Place the iMac screen down on a soft cloth and firm surface. note that the screws to be remove are of different lengths and ideally should be put in marked envelopes. If you do that you need 4 envelopes MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE THE SCREWS COME FROM

Remove the two screws the hold the flip-foot and remove the flip-foot. prise of the cover off that hides the monitor out socket. remove two screws. remove the remaining screws from the imac's base and pull the base backwards and upwards, being careful to clear the sockets. using the magnetic screwdriver, remove the small recessed screws that holds the mesh with covers the electronics. pull it up and remove it being mindful not to damage anything. ( You'll know now why the screwdriver should be magnetic) The circuit board is now exposed. Don't touch it until you earth yourself. Flip the battery out with a toothpick or something plastic. you can't miss where the battery is!! Replace it with the new one, being mindful of the polarity (the + end goes towards the front of the iMac. Put the iMac back. Before you put the base screws in, check that the two foam strips behind that CD slot are seated correctly, otherwise it will prevent you inserting a CD. If you can get a CD about a third of the way in its OK. Hope this helps

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Changing the internal battery won't be too hard. It's a half-height AA battery, rated at 3.2 volt. Hard to get so don't bother. Take an AA battery to a camera shop and ask for a Duracell (or similar) 3.0 volt camera battery(LR2, I think). I've had one in my iMac DV450 for 3 years, and still going strong. If you fancy having a go at installing it here's how. You need a posidrive screwdriver (#8 I think) and a small posidrive ( prefereably with a long handle and magnetized or a magnet) tea, plenty of time and a bucket full of swear words

Place the iMac screen down on a soft cloth and firm surface. note that the screws to be remove are of different lengths and ideally should be put in marked envelopes. If you do that you need 4 envelopes MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE THE SCREWS COME FROM

Remove the two screws the hold the flip-foot and remove the flip-foot. prise of the cover off that hides the monitor out socket. remove two screws. remove the remaining screws from the imac's base and pull the base backwards and upwards, being careful to clear the sockets. using the magnetic screwdriver, remove the small recessed screws that holds the mesh with covers the electronics. pull it up and remove it being mindful not to damage anything. ( You'll know now why the screwdriver should be magnetic) The circuit board is now exposed. Don't touch it until you earth yourself. Flip the battery out with a toothpick or something plastic. you can't miss where the battery is!! Replace it with the new one, being mindful of the polarity (the + end goes towards the front of the iMac. Put the iMac back. Before you put the base screws in, check that the two foam strips behind that CD slot are seated correctly, otherwise it will prevent you inserting a CD. If you can get a CD about a third of the way in its OK. Hope this helps

That's awesome, thanks for that. I already have the machine open and have the battery with me. Hopefully, that will fix it!

Chris

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Well, I bought a new battery ($20 - yeouch), but still no go. :no:

I am stumped... any ideas guys???

Any reason why the screen would get power, but the rest wouldn't???

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Well, I got it to work. Turns out the hard drive data cable wasn't seated right, or something. I unplugged the HDD, powered on and it booted. Plugged it in again, it still booted!

It now works perfectly! :D

Thx for your help guys!

Chris

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