Color Classic Not Booting

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Dotux's picture
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Color Classic Not Booting

Yes, I know a similar topic has been discussed before. But most of these included macs that atleast started up, or had hard disk problems.

My Macintosh Color Classic has been sitting around untouched for close to 6 months (I think?) I decided one day to turn back up again when I was bored. I was astonished that it did not turn on at all. Before, it booted up fine, all it needed was an OS. It also had no RAM cards (it had built-in RAM)

I have researched my problem for many weeks now, none finding any joy to my mac. I even bought a new PRAM battery, no magic. I couldn't find a CUDA switch either. There is also no bong or startup sound. And yes, I am starting it from the keyboard. It turns on without the motherboard, though without a bong startup sound. (I have tried to, but no matter how fast I put the board back in I can't jumpstart it.)

Are the capicitors the problems? Do I need to recap them?

If requested, I can post a picture of the motherboard.

Thanks,
Dotux

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

Does absolutely nothing happen when you press the keyboard power key, or does the fan spin up (but no chime)?

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

No, the fan does not turn on; the computer has no response toward the activity of pressing the power button on the keyboard. There is, however, a faint whir of the power supply when I plug it in.

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

Same symptoms I was having a few weeks back with mine.

Quite sure with mine it's a capacitor issue on the logic board, since some of them were visibly leaking. I washed the board with a bit of dish soap, used some isopropyl alcohol for a couple spots where the leakage wouldn't wash off, and once dry it started right up.

I will need to replace the caps at some point, but for now it's working.

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

Thank you for replying.

However, on my logic board, there are no signs of leakage. Does this mean that I should replace the capicitors before they do leak?

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

Yes, caps can still fail without visible symptoms. Considering the parts are inexpensive (you could probably recap a motherboard with good-quality parts, like those from Nichicon, for less than $20) if there's any doubt you might as well do it. I'll probably be recapping my own Color Classic sometime in the next few months.

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

Try removing the pram battery and let the computer sit overnight. If the original pram battery was low and the pram memory was corrupt, installing a new battery will maintain that corrupt state. I've fixed many machines of that vintage with this trick.

Good Luck,
Dick Stachowiak

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

Thank you for the advice, stachowiak

Sorry if I sound stupid, but while I let the computer sit, should the computer be powered with the power cable plugged?

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Re: Color Classic Not Booting

No power, you want the board to discharge and clear the pram memory. After it sits overnight you can install the new pram battery and try to start it up. This may not solve your problem, but it's simple to try and free.

Dick Stachowiak

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