Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[BimmyLee]

Hi all,
My G4 MDD's power button on the tower itself practically never works (maybe once or twice it worked out of many hundreds of tries, extremely rare). This is even after replacing the PSU with a verified working refurb from eBay. However, the power button on my connected 15" ADC Studio Display works every time. Graphics card is the stock Radeon 9000 Pro. Resetting the PMU did not help.

What would cause this behavior? Maybe a graphics card problem? Asking because I would like to connect a DVI monitor of some kind and not rely on the ADC display (which has a broken stand, as so many of them do) but that is currently not an option if it won't boot using the tower's power button.

Thanks in advance!

[aBc]

Sounds much like a failed power button / board. Does the button itself remain illuminated when you boot from your ADC monitor?

Check all connections (even that main connector from the PSU) to the motherboard and also the condition (no scrapes or broken wires) of the black ribbon cable —  its entire length and especially near the hinge.

           

If no scrapes, broken wires or evident poor cable plug-in connections… may be time for a new button / board.

Looks like DV Warehouse has the power button (922-5276) listed for $99.00 - but they’re out of stock!
And Mac Part Store has ‘em (also 922-5276) for $50.15. Kinda pricey, ehh? I’d hope you can find one less expensive.

But if you’re in the U.S. and the button boards did not change between the MDD FW400 and FW800 models, I may have quite a few available if you need one. If so, then a minimal cost for me to actually remove one and package it + mailing costs. Again, provided that you’re in the U.S. and I don’t need to fill out a customs form. And I’ll check here for any possible differences between the two types of MDDs (FW 800 vs. 400) should you actually require a button board.

Another thought… even though the button won’t boot your MDD, does it light up at all when pressed? It’s only an intermittent switch, but if its not lighting up, well… maybe time for a replacement.

[indibil]

I think aBc is right, the tower button is failing.

Do you have a G3 iMac keyboard with a Power button? I can turn on many G4s with that button, most recently a QS. If that button works for you, I'd try checking the connections aBc mentioned. If it still doesn't work, and you know how to solder, maybe you could replace the small switch button on the front board, see the attached photo.

[BimmyLee]

@aBc and @indibil, thanks very much for your thoughtful replies. The power button does not light up at any point, whether it is being pressed directly or whether using the ADC monitor to boot instead. The ribbon cable looks to be intact as far as I can tell. Unfortunately my keyboard is an Apple Pro M783 model with no power button but my brother has a G3 iMac keyboard that I might try using, just out of curiosity. But ultimately I do think it is the board that is failing.

@aBc I will gladly Venmo you to cover shipping, it would be the least I could do for you if I can take you up on your generous offer to send me a replacement board.