Problem booting PowerMac 6500

CacheSafari · #1 December 8th, 2005, 04:32 PM

Someone gave me a used PowerMac 6500/300 (with a huge 19' AppleVision monitor) a few months ago. Been using PCs for about 20 years, so the Mac thing is an effort to expand my horizons...heh. When I first got it, I powered it on without any problems, just to make sure it worked ok. After buying another computer desk for this one, I connected everything back up and experienced a problem. I can hear the "symphony" startup sound on the monitor's speakers, but the monitor light stays yellow. (Usually indicating it's not receiving a video signal, I know.) The PowerMac is humming as normal, but I can't really tell by sound if it is booting completely. Reconnected all the cables with no change in results. I believe it's currently running OS 9 or 9.1. I'm hoping it's just a hookup problem. Seems pretty similar to PC layout, though. Any ideas? Thanks!

nixgeek · #2 December 8th, 2005, 07:31 PM

Try zapping the PRAM to see if that will revert everything back to normal. To do so, hold down Apple-Option-P-R right after the Macintosh startup chime. Hold it down until you hear it chime about 3 times more, then let go. Hopefully, you should see some signs of life from the Mac.

You might want to check out the following site considering you have a Power Mac 6500. It specializes in Macs of the type that you have.

http://www.zone6400.com/index.html

Good luck!

CacheSafari · #3 December 8th, 2005, 08:52 PM

Ok, tried that and no change in results. Yellow light remains and no additional beeps. Thanks for the site recommendation. I had already posted on that forum today.

sinclair_tm · #4 December 8th, 2005, 11:24 PM

what happen when you plug in a different monitor? oh wait, thats right, it has the old bd-15 connector. it could be the monitor died. i went through 3 old 17 applevision monitors in less then a month like that. thats why i bought this new lcd screen, but now it has a stuck pixel. argh.

CacheSafari · #5 December 11th, 2005, 10:06 AM

Yeah, I had considered the monitor going bad. I hope it's not that. This is a really nice 19-inch one. The onky thing that's happened since I last booted up successfully is moving the whole setup to a new PC desk. Confirmed the cables are hooked up right. I guess I can't try my PC's VGA monitor on this one, huh? Haven't compared the plugs yet. Considering the age of this PowerMac, not sure it would be worthwhile to have a tech look at it. (I'm a PC tech, but have very little exposure to Macs...heh)

bobw · #6 December 11th, 2005, 11:28 AM

Change the clock battery on the logic board before doing anything else. This could cause your problem.

You'll see two tabs on the back of the machine. One small phillips screw close to each, take out, then pull the tabs to pull the logic board out. Pull straight, could be very tight.

CacheSafari · #7 December 11th, 2005, 07:54 PM

I think you're probably right. I just purchased a new battery off eBay. $8.99 is probably worth the attempt. Thanks.

CacheSafari · #8 January 1st, 2006, 09:35 PM

Received the PRAM battery and plugged it in. Bingo! Thanks!