Mini G4 to fix or strip

[Bunsen]

Hey all,

Picked up a G4 Mac Mini fixer-upper recently for AU$120 (approx US$80) delivered. I figured I could get back most of that by stripping it for parts if I can't revive it - and besides, it came with original machine-specific install disks for 10.4, a PS, original box and papers, and the DVI-VGA adapter.

So far I've tested it on a known-good power supply and tested the power supply on a known-good Mini. It's not the power supply.

Symptoms: on power-up, the front light comes on, there's no startup bong, and nothing else happens except that every ten seconds approximately, the front light pulses brighter, twice.

It's connected to a known-good external Firewire drive with a known-good for Mac Mini install of 10.4.11 on it.

There also appears to be a disk stuck in the optical drive - at least it feels that way when I try to insert another disk. Starting up with the mouse key held down doesn't result in anything ejecting from the drive.

EDIT: I also tried to start it up into Open Firmware - no dice.

 

[Bunsen]

I'm looking at the Apple Support article Mac mini displays no video. I'm not at home right now, but I'll try the following steps next:

5 Reset the computer's parameter RAM. (Click the link for instructions.)6 Reset the computer's PMU. (Click the link for instructions.)

 

[tmtomh]

I would try disassembling it and removing that optical drive. An optical drive with a stuck disc (esp. after a crash) can produce very ugly symptoms. I've seen a couple of Powerbook and iBook G4s that seemed dead until I took them apart, disassembled the optical drive, and removed a stuck disc.

Happily, not only did they work when everything was put together, but the optical drive's mechanism reset itself too, making the drive usable again.

But even if this doesn't work, and even if your mini is dead, I agree with you - it's a great conquest and you can make your investment back on parts (some dude who wants to put a nano-ITX board in there would probably we willing to pay at least $50US for just the case).

M

 

[netfreak]

I'd say try different ram and unplug the cd drive (if this can be done... been a while since I opened my Mini).

 

[Christopher]

The blinking light has to do with a ram issue if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Strimkind]

If that is true, that was a nice score. If that does not work, then you have parts for another machine.

 

[joshc]

I think that's definitely RAM. The wrong RAM (or faulty RAM) in an iMac does the same thing.

 

[register]

Be sure to follow the instructions exactly. For the reset button on the motherboard it is recommended to depress it only once at a time. I am not quite sure why, but the manual says to do else might affect (probably damage?) the mainboard.

 

[Byrd]

How'd you go Mr. B, did you have luck in firing this little beauty up? Haven't heard much about resurrecting "faulty" Mac Minis so am very interested to see how you fare.

You might have to strip out the Superdrive in order to get to the stuck CD, if the usual software/business card tricks don't work.

JB

 

[Bunsen]

Business card tricks? This is some kind of pokery, right? I need details.

If by software tricks you mean eject-cd from OF, it won't boot to OF, and the disk won't eject when starting up with the mouse key down, either.