Computers This sucks. Any help appreciated. - Page 2

beach tribe · 03-25-2009, 06:34 AM

I came home yesterday, and my computer seems to have taken a shit on me. Not really surprising though. What's surprising is that it lasted this long. I bought a portable HD already, and backed up all my files about a month ago.

The computer is a 2003 Powermac G4 with mirror doors, and a superdrive. When I push the power button, the light comes on only while I have my finger on it.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what might be wrong?

How about any suggestions about a new CPU. How about building my own? Can I build one cheaply? I have the know how, but don't know much about available products.

Any info, about any avenue will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

BTW. I'm geting a new CPU either way, but would like to fix this one to keep as an extra if possible. I think I'm gonna start with the power supply. No?

MIAdragon · 03-25-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Really? Very interested. I would like another Mac(new), but for the first time in along time, I'm in tight spot. I broke my ankle, AND had hernia surgery, missed a bunch of work, paid a lot of Doc bills, and am pretty tight on cash. So a new mac is out, but I would reall like to check out this apple store.
Sounds very promising in getting this one fixed. Thanks bro. Let me know where it's at, and maybe a referral.

PM me your # and Ill call you later on today.

beach tribe · 03-25-2009, 07:28 AM

I don't know why people have a problem with Macs. I work strictly on PCs. Play around on them too. Macs just seem to be able to do more with less. The G4 powerbook in question has something like 386mb of ram, and I swear it runs faster than the Dells at work with two gigs. Not to mention I've had it for almost 7 years, I've never had a problem, or virus. Kind of hard to compete with that, and that's why I want to fix it.

But MY PC at work has 8gigs. Not to mention 2 32" monitors. I want to run much bigger programs at home now, and I'm gonna need at lest 4 gigs to do it. That's why I want to build one.

beach tribe · 03-25-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crush

In my experience, Acer is the biggest pile crap ever in the crappy history of crap. Do not buy that Acer. They tend to break down very easily.

That's what I thought. Thanks.

beach tribe · 03-25-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

PM me your # and Ill call you later on today.

Will do. Thanks again.

wutamess · 03-25-2009, 08:04 AM

They're great for the point and clicker... but working with networks or tweaking them they're not that easy to get a long with as compared to PC's.

Jethopper · 03-25-2009, 08:28 AM

Im typing on a 4 year old acer laptop right now. Acer is not the same brand it was 8 years ago.

Jethopper · 03-25-2009, 08:29 AM

Acer sucks even more now

Fish · 03-25-2009, 08:59 AM

This could be several different things. First things first, turn it off and remove the power cord. Open up the G4, and find a little button on the logic board that looks like this:

Hold that button down for 10 seconds. Plug the power cord back in. Then start the machine up while holding down the Command(Apple key) + Option + P + R keys. It's a bit of a pain to hold all 4 buttons down at once. Keep holding that key combination down until you hear the startup chime twice, then let go and see if it starts up.

If that doesn't fix it, it's likely a power supply or logic board issue. If it's just a power supply, I've got some extras laying around that I'd be happy to donate to you. If it's the logic board, you're better off getting a new machine.

Let me know if you have any luck......

Groves · 03-25-2009, 09:10 AM

You should be able to find virtually free power supplies. And it's already been mentioned, I think, that machines this old can be had for a song. Don't spend any (or much) money on a power supply when you can just get a used machine for the same price.

03-25-2009, 06:34 AM
beach tribe Keep doubting J MFing Houston Join Date: May 2007 Location: ft.lauderdale Casino cash: $3898036	This sucks. Any help appreciated. I came home yesterday, and my computer seems to have taken a shit on me. Not really surprising though. What's surprising is that it lasted this long. I bought a portable HD already, and backed up all my files about a month ago. The computer is a 2003 Powermac G4 with mirror doors, and a superdrive. When I push the power button, the light comes on only while I have my finger on it. Does anyone have any suggestions about what might be wrong? How about any suggestions about a new CPU. How about building my own? Can I build one cheaply? I have the know how, but don't know much about available products. Any info, about any avenue will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. BTW. I'm geting a new CPU either way, but would like to fix this one to keep as an extra if possible. I think I'm gonna start with the power supply. No?
Posts: 21,429

03-25-2009, 07:28 AM	#17
beach tribe Keep doubting J MFing Houston Join Date: May 2007 Location: ft.lauderdale Casino cash: $3898036	I don't know why people have a problem with Macs. I work strictly on PCs. Play around on them too. Macs just seem to be able to do more with less. The G4 powerbook in question has something like 386mb of ram, and I swear it runs faster than the Dells at work with two gigs. Not to mention I've had it for almost 7 years, I've never had a problem, or virus. Kind of hard to compete with that, and that's why I want to fix it. But MY PC at work has 8gigs. Not to mention 2 32" monitors. I want to run much bigger programs at home now, and I'm gonna need at lest 4 gigs to do it. That's why I want to build one.
Posts: 21,429

03-25-2009, 08:04 AM	#20
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $4711637	They're great for the point and clicker... but working with networks or tweaking them they're not that easy to get a long with as compared to PC's.
Posts: 8,290

03-25-2009, 08:28 AM	#21
Jethopper A Great Pick Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $9686008	Im typing on a 4 year old acer laptop right now. Acer is not the same brand it was 8 years ago.
Posts: 1,761

03-25-2009, 08:29 AM	#22
Jethopper A Great Pick Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $9686008	Acer sucks even more now
Posts: 1,761

03-25-2009, 08:59 AM	#23
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $-1451081	This could be several different things. First things first, turn it off and remove the power cord. Open up the G4, and find a little button on the logic board that looks like this: Hold that button down for 10 seconds. Plug the power cord back in. Then start the machine up while holding down the Command(Apple key) + Option + P + R keys. It's a bit of a pain to hold all 4 buttons down at once. Keep holding that key combination down until you hear the startup chime twice, then let go and see if it starts up. If that doesn't fix it, it's likely a power supply or logic board issue. If it's just a power supply, I've got some extras laying around that I'd be happy to donate to you. If it's the logic board, you're better off getting a new machine. Let me know if you have any luck...... __________________
Posts: 48,875

03-25-2009, 09:10 AM	#24
Groves Turning the Corner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, Missouri Casino cash: $-941459	You should be able to find virtually free power supplies. And it's already been mentioned, I think, that machines this old can be had for a song. Don't spend any (or much) money on a power supply when you can just get a used machine for the same price.
Posts: 2,391