Hi Monika, I wasn't sure of how technical you are or if you want to learn how to work on the PC150 at all. Fixing it is your best option and adding a CD-R to burn the data to CD's. The PowerCenters are a little finicky but my PowerCenter 150 still works and actually runs OS X Jaguar fairly well.
My old PowerTower Pro had the CD-ROM die first also but I have since got it running again after buying newer Macs to replace it. One thing to do is to take the cover off and pull all the RAM and the CPU card, then reseat it all. It may just boot for you if you're lucky. It was only a few years ago I was afraid to open it up to do anything. I bought another Mac because the CD-ROM died and I thought I had to buy a new $150 Apple CD-ROM. Turns out I could have fixed it with a $5.00 used Apple CD-ROM and saved myself $200 that I paid for a used beige G3. Another thing you can try is to replace the logicboard battery (3.6v) with a new one from Radio Shack or Ebay. But since you are getting a blinking ? the hardware is ok most likely. You just need to do a clean install of the OS. Do you have the OS install CD ? That will fix the System and keep all the files in place if the drive is not dead or broken beyond repair. HardDisk Toolkit may be able to fix the drive as well as DiskWarrior and TechTool but those cost $$ and may not work. You can download TechTool lite for free and may help though. The problem with the IBM drive (mine died long ago) is that it is not "exactly" compatible with Macs. Meaning you would need a third party drive set-up program like FWB that came with the clones to get an Apple to mount and recognize the drive. There are other utilities that may work for you also. Let me know if you can't get it booted. It's not as hard as you may think and the parts like floppy drives are dirt cheap. You best option may be to add another 1GB Apple drive and install an OS on that so the Mac can boot. Then you can try to retrieve the data from the original drive. Zip drives die and are hardly worth replacing. I have gone though several zip drives and lost too much data using Zip disks to store files so I gave up on Zip technology. I have learned the hard way about backing up files also and a friend once asked me is there anything that is really that important I need after a couple of years ? My answer was no. I have a lot of digital art but that can be printed and saved permanently. No electronic data is permanent or even close unfortunately. Let me know if you need anything. I have some spare parts if you need them. Ron On 5/6/05, Monika Stattner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thank you for your offer Ron, i keep it my mind, as i am just not ready > to give up on my friend. This computer had a problem of, internal > drives giving up one by one. 1st. CD player(phillips), then 2nd. > Zip(Iomega)-"click of death" then 3rd. Floppy. Then 1 year after these, > i got the blinking "?"...., > At this point i am a lack of time to search, and buy and figure out > the problem and fix it. Probably it needs to be build up from scretch. > Which will be fun... For me, it does take time, since i have to drive > for computer parts atleast 2 hours. I would LOVE to see my friend happy > mac face again but right now i just need my data from the HD. At one > point in the future i hope i will be able to play with it. > > As for me i live in Central CA and right now i am leaning to the > solution of buying another similar, working computer when its > available in driving radius,(SF-Sacramento-Modesto) to install the HD > on it. Since i am familiar with that procedure. > > And here is my next question: I have an IBM hard drive on my PC150. Is > that comp with Apple's, or i need another Power Computing Machine? > > The material is personal, and i rather not put it into a third hand. I > have to be in present. (Yes, i did back-ups, but my zip disks/drive > died on me too...) > > And for everyone, thank you for ALL for your helping posts! Keep them > coming :o) > > M > -- Power Computing is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... 123Inkjets.com <http://lowendmac.com/ad/123inkjets.html> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Power Computing list info: <http://lowendmac.com/power/list.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/powercomputing%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
