similar to Booklaw's recent problem, but this time it's a G5 iMac, 2.1 Ghz. it won't start up, I tried the reset procedure(http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1767}, different power cord, different keyboard plugged, no cables at all plugged in. nada.

here's how it died: we had a power outage, and the battery backup on the power strip had expired by the time we got home, so it didn't shut down properly.

we returned from a several day trip today in which I left it unplugged with hope that a few days might be better than 10 seconds, but no luck.

any help will be greatly appreciated, and if all else fails I'll take it to SmallDog after work.

thanks!

Odds are the PRAM (a.k.a. backup) battery has expired and will have to be replaced before you will be able to reboot. That happened with some regularity on PPC Macs. The battery generally runs around $15 to $20

Hopefully, you're right. A friend wasn't so lucky. Not being technologically savvy in how to do a forced shutdown, he pulled the plug a few times on his (formerly my) Gigabit Ethernet G4. He reset PMU and replaced the battery to no avail. My best guess is that the power supply failed but I'll never know because he replaced it with (horrors!) a Windows box, which he hates, by the way.

thanks, Joe (and Jon!). is that something I can do myself, or will it need to go in for repair? I know the back of this one just doesn't pop off like the previous model, sadly.

Pram batteries are generally considered a user replaceable part. Illustrated instructions can be found in the User Manual.

thanks, Joe.

but if THIS is what they consider user-replaceable, I'll pass...

looks like a trip to SmallDog.

According to page 57 of your user manual (<<-PDF), The battery in your iMac G5 is not user-replaceable.

thanks, dk. my fixit self-esteem was feeling a bit beatup after seeing that how-to. I feel much better now.

So do I: I've got one of those iMacs too. Its battery shouldn't be that far behind yours, charge-wise...

the batteries in the white isight imacs are easy to replace, but are a huge hassle to access

That link you provided clearly shows the battery UNDER the logic board (on the side where the ports are) So not only do you have to take the front off AND the LCD panel off, but you also have to remove the logic board itself.

I don't think it'd be worth the trouble. Batteries in desktop computers, that are always left plugged in, are both very long lasting and very unimportant.

iirc, the intel variations moved the battery to the TOP side of the logic board, and placed it BELOW the LCD panel, so all you have to do is remove the front. (which can still be a pain)

thought I would give an update. turns out it was a damaged power supply, not the battery. and while $230 (diagnostic, part, labor) seems a bit much for a 5 year-old computer, it's got some things on it that aren't (unfortunately) backed up(I know, I know), and it works great anyway. so, it's at SmallDog now, having the work done.

thanks, all!