This sounds like the same problem I had with my rev.B iMac about a year ago.
The cracking noise in my case produced a momentary horizontal line across
the middle of the monitor before the monitor died and took the rest of the
computer with it.
Initially, I too thought it was the power supply board but I did take the
thing apart to do some fault finding (and got a severe bollocking from the
Apple service centre when I did take it in for the repair). It turned out
that the fault was on the monitor power board and somehow the problem caused
the whole machine to shut down.
To get the board replaced you will have send the computer to an Apple
authorised service centre as they are the only people who can get the
replacement boards from Apple (I couldn't even find a source for the
specific component that had died). I think the repair cost about a hundred
quid and turnaround was about a week.
There should be no damage to the HD or any part of the actual computer. I
did actually have my iMac running from an external monitor for a while
before I took it in for repair but this did require me to take the thing
apart.
Feel free to mail me off list if you want any more details.
Ali
> > I have an iMac - don't quite remember which model off hand, but it's the
> > 2nd series, following the blueberry original, 0S 8.5.1, 32mb
> >
> > Basically what happened was that while I was using it it made a few
> > crackling-type noises and went dead on me. It didn't freeze, but simply
> > switched off, as if someone had pulled the plug. Leaving it alone for
half
> > an hour or so and it starts to boot up, before, after about 10 seconds,
the
> > same crackling noises are heard and it powers down again. This has
> > happened several times, and I've now decided to leave it alone.
> >
> > Technicians here suggest that it might be the power pack, maybe a dry
> > connection or something, but I know no more than that. They haven't
> > attempted to take it apart or anything.
> >
> > If you could come up with anyone who can help or advise, I'd be really
> > grateful - its got some pretty important work on there which I need
access
> > to fairly soon - assuming it hasn't suffered any damage to the HD.
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