[DEMUG] A dead iMac: n o start-up

[Michael Weinberg]

  I have a 1.6GHz PowerPC G5 iMac. For the past several weeks it has  
behaved very erratically when I attempt to start up. At such times  
the power button on the back of the panel is ineffective. Usually,  
after a frustrating series of useless "fixes" I somehow manage to get  
it started. Most typically, I must manually disconnect everything  
except the power cord and the keyboard (I have a bunch of "stuff"  
like a spare hard drive, zip drive, floppy drive. DSL modem, USB hub,  
a laser printer with an ethernet connector, an inkjet printer with a   
USB connection, a stereo radio, and a fluorescent light etc., etc.,  
attached to the iMac or one of several power surge protectors plugged  
into two separate wall sockets), unplug the iMac itself for a period  
of time ranging from 30 seconds to forty-five minutes), and try a  
bunch of key combinations (Command, Control, Power Button) (Command,  
shift, Power Button) (Power Button alone, either pressed and held for  
five or ten seconds, or just pressed) before the machine starts up --  
no one technique seems to work every time.  Very occasionally, when  
the power light on the front of the panel goes on, a loud chiming  
sound emerges from the reluctant beast, and then a normal start-up  
sequence begins. I get no messages from it. And it behaves like  
nothing has happened until the next time it refuses to start.
This seems to happen whatever I do to turn off the machine; ie:  
choose Shut Down from the Apple Menu, or Log Out.

We live in Belfast, Must I drive to Augusta to have any work done on  
it. What may be up? I suspect some fault in the Power Button or the  
Power Module itself. Or, in myself, perhaps.

I"m 78 years old and I told my wife of 52 years that this was the  
last computer I would buy. Am I destined to disappoint her once again?