I have a MacTV in my "Closet of old computers" (long, slow deep voice). It does nothing when you switch the switch.

I suspected power supply, so I found a Performa 575 on CL for $10 figuring I would swap out a power supply and be back in business.

Well, this form factor uses a power supply that is on a board and requires complete removal of everything, including built in montor to change. This may be a little more than I wanted to tackle.

Does anyone have any experience with this mac form factor? Should attemp the swap, being carefull not to electrocute myself.

Thoughts, ideas?

JPK

As I recall, the 575 had a slide-out logic board. Is the MacTV different?

My first thought is check the PRAM battery.

Remove it if it is bad and try rebooting without it. If you have a good replacement install it.


Sometimes having a DEAD PRAM battery prevents the machine from booting, whereas having NO battery actually works... though of course the clock needs to be reset each time it is unplugged.

Good luck!

Quote
mediumcool
As I recall, the 575 had a slide-out logic board. Is the MacTV different?

No, but he's not talking about the logic board.

If it needs a battery you can fashion a cheaper one by getting a 3-AA battery holder (and 3AA batteries, duh) and some Velcro and splice into the harness from the dead battery.

The same thing happened to my MacTV after a power surge (around 1998 or 1999). Like you, I picked up an old power supply on the cheap, but I let someone else do the labor on it since I was afraid to do any further damage to it myself.

CompUSA didn't want to touch it since they had never seen the model before, and there were no Apple Stores at the time, so I went with Micro Center. The labor ran about $100, and it's been working fine ever since. It sits on my desk to this day.

Yup it's a dead PRAM. Order one from unca Larry's store and your back in biddnesss!

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Aloha, Ken


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I would suspect bad (oxidized) connections, too. Try removing/inserting the motherboard a few times, cleaning contacts if dirty.

like an iPod video, but bigger.

Well, of course I did not have the right kind of battery for the motherboard. I will order one right now. Of course I will have to buy more than just a $5 battery from OWC!

I pulled the battery and plugged it in. When I switched it on, it made that surge noise (you know the one when you fire up a tube monitor), but nothing else. No spinning drive, no fans.

I will try a battery first. If I have to replace the analog board, this looks like it may be a little tougher than adding ram to my MB Pro.

Thanks for the ideas!

JPK

it takes the 4.5v alkaline, which you can get for $10 shipped here
[resale.headgap.com]

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