iFixit - Answers With Device "iMac G3 Model M5521"

iMac G3 Model M5521: Why did my iMac g3's speakers die out of nowhere?

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:09:36 -0700

Hey dudes, when I had my 1999 graphite iMac g3 playing Dankpod's iBook video (yes, I did put some YouTube videos on my imac) the sound just disappeared. Before the video the sound was fine, I listened to itunes, watched videos, and had no problems. If you guys have any solutions please comment below. Thanks again!

⟐ Commented March 17, 2026 at 14:09 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: iMac g3 handle replacement

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:14:08 -0700

Hi guys, when I bought my iMac g3 in graphite the handle came snapped (as seen in the photo). It has stayed like this for about 2 years now (how long I have owned the iMac) but it will not stop bothering me. I would love for the handle to look nice at something like vcf (vintage computer fest). If you guys have any good recommendations of where to buy a replacement handle, please comment bellow.

with thanks,

Power Pc user

⟐ Commented January 28, 2026 at 16:14 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: iMac G3 not powering on

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:06:28 -0700

I have and old iMac G3 from late 1999, don’t really know anything about the models but i know it’s from that year. When I first bought it everything was working just fine. But just as of a couple of weeks ago, it wouldn’t power on, nothing worked, I tried plugging it in other outlets, I reset the PRAM and replaced the battery, I tested the J7 Connecter and J9 pins, and even checked if there was continuity on the fuse and there was, there was also no light coming from the power button either. But one test that didn’t come back positive was the C4 capacitor, I read that when the iMac is plugged in but not powered on I should get a reading of -1.2 V and when powered on it should jump to +21 V, but I’m getting a reading of barely 0.01 V when powered off and a reading of 6V when powered on, I read that the ground should be this screw

. But even with any other screw on the board it still has the same readings. What does it mean when i’m not getting the correct readings on the C4 capacitor. Another thing I noticed is that when I power on the iMac I can hear what sounds like the the CRT turn on but then flicker off. I don’t know what this means and if it has something to do with the CRT. I tried everything I could and read as much as I could understand, if anyone has any tips to help me out on the problem I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You

⟐ Answered January 22, 2026 at 23:06 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Why is there no startup chime on my iMac g3?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:51:00 -0700

I have had my 1999 graphite iMac g3 for a while now, but I noticed a recurring issue. When I boot up my iMac, there is no start up chime. I first replaced the p-ram battery, still no startup chime. Checked the speakers on itunes, the speakers were fine. Is there a setting I do not know about?

⟐ Answer accepted January 16, 2026 at 10:51 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Power on light showing but there's no display

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:33:44 -0700

My Mac display is not working please help

⟐ Answered January 15, 2026 at 16:33 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: It is possible use iMac screen as a monitor, using a VGA input?

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 21:28:53 -0700

Is there any way to use the iMac as just a monitor? To connect any device with a VGA cable, even if i have to make some modifications ?

⟐ Answer unaccepted July 23, 2025 at 21:28 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: On start up I get the tone then immediate shut off

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 10:39:09 -0700

I push the power button, get the start chime and the power is immediately turned off. Pushing the power button again will do nothing.

If I unplug the device and plug it back in I can again get the start up chime but same result with immediate shut off. I have had the machine for a few years and it has worked well until this occurred, which may have been triggered by a power outage.

⟐ Commented February 09, 2025 at 10:39 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: How to clean the hard drive before selling? Forgot password to login

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 12:02:11 -0700

We have an old iMac from the early 2000s (like the one pictured below). We staked it away all these years and now decided to sell it. The problem is, that we do not recall the two passwords for the two users (my husband and I). We would like to delete the data that is stored and all history and reset it to factory settings before selling it. We have yet to figure out a way to do this. Any input?

iMac G3 Model M5521: My iMac G3 DV SE is not powering on after trying to force CD eject

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 16:42:13 -0700

A friend gifted me this iMac a couple of days. It had MacOS 9 and I wanted to update to 10 and also erase the data, but when I tried to boot from a USB the Mac didn’t recognise it, so I got a DVD to burn and put it in the Mac but it wasn’t appearing, so I tried to eject it but it said it couldn’t eject the drive. I search and I saw in an Apple forum that you could shutdown the computer while pressing left button of the mouse and turn it on while holding but it didn’t work, so I continued searching and I found that the hole next to the CD reader you could put the tool you use to eject the SIM at the iPhone, so I tried but it didn’t work. I wanted to try out another time to force eject from the OS but when I turned on the button turned on orange, in an Apple forum said that I should reset the PMU by pressing a button on the motherboard I did and now it powers on and shutdown immediately.

Also I read that it could be the battery but I don’t think this could be it has to be related with the disc.

Is there a solution without doing a hardware repair?

Do you think it could be the battery?

How could the iMac not turn on trying to eject the drive ?

Does that hole used for other things than ejecting the drive?

Thanks for your time and your answers!

⟐ Answered June 27, 2023 at 16:42 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: another iMac G3 not starting up.

Mon, 29 May 2023 09:35:52 -0700

So, how it happened was that it just went to sleep and just never woke up.

Just like that. Nothing popped, nothing was touched. Just dead.

When attempting to turn on it signals a split second of life but it's just the sound and flash of a LED.

Maybe I haven't looked clearly across the internet. But I have replaced the PRAM battery.

Also this is my first time posting.

⟐ Answer accepted May 29, 2023 at 9:35 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: My iMac has power but shuts itself off during boot. Now what?

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 07:27:02 -0700

I purchased an iMac G3 (M5521 from 2000) that was tested and working, and then after transport home in my car I plugged it in and it does not boot. The most that happens after I press the power button is a faint popping noise from the left speaker, followed 1 second later by a faint beep and crackling sound from the back (like a CRT after shutting off). No power button LED light, no chime, no POST beeps, nothing on the monitor. I can repeatedly press the button and the same thing happens.

Following the iMac G3 service manual, I tested the logic board, down converter, and the PAV board fuse, and everything is working! Voltages present and fuse not blown. Now what do I do?

iMac G3 Model M5521: My iMac is dead

Sun, 08 May 2022 06:25:11 -0700

How can I retrieve data from the hard drive if the iMac is dead

⟐ Commented May 08, 2022 at 6:25 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Putting an LCD inside this?

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 09:33:37 -0700

Hello,

I just tore apart my iMac G3. The case is in excellent condition. I want to get a MacBook or iBook logic board and put it in the case, along with a LCD. But, I don't know where to get a monitor that's 14.5 diagonal, 11.5 across, and 8 7/8 inches in height. Does anyone know where to get a monitor like this?

⟐ Commented July 21, 2021 at 9:33 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: iMac G3 (Slot Loading) screen or motherboard problem.

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 05:42:33 -0700

Hi.

Me and my dad bought an imac g3 but it came shattered in cargo. I tried to run it in broken state, it worked and it was ok, then we completely removed the inside of it, repaired the CRT bezel and cleaned the boards. This process took 2 weeks and when we try to operate it today, the power light is on. The CRT tube is warming up, an electric field occurs, but there is no starting sound and the screen is not coming. I'm sure all cables are plugged in but it doesn't work

is resisting.

(Sorry for the bad English i translated it from my language)

⟐ Commented February 04, 2021 at 5:42 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: I cant get the computer to turn on

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 10:17:09 -0700

Me and my brother were going through our grandmas storage building and found her old iMac. I pulled it out and I have been trying to get it to start but it won’t turn on. Any ideas would be helpful because I’ve always wanted to look around on an old computer and now I have the chance. I have it plugged in and the original keyboard and mouse that they got. Thank y’all for any help you can give.

⟐ Answered June 20, 2020 at 10:17 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Why won't the computer power on?

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 05:07:13 -0700

When I press the power button the computer makes a noise (I think it is coming from the CRT). No other signs of life. I tried using a external monitor with no success.

⟐ Answer accepted October 30, 2019 at 5:07 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Connect to the internet.

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 04:29:30 -0700

I want to connect my I mac to the internet. I have comcast cable internet. We have a PCconnected to the internet by modem and we have a wireless router.

⟐ Answer deleted September 20, 2019 at 4:29 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Can a dying PRAM battery cause display and clock issues?

Mon, 06 May 2019 01:51:20 -0700

I purchased an iMac G3 a few days ago (for nostalgia reasons) and all seemed fine with it until last night when I booted it up again and the display was offset to the bottom of the frame, making it cut off. It also had these thin, shaking horizontal lines all the way down the display and when it completed booting up, the date and time was reset to 1902, I believe.

I first attempted resetting the PRAM to no success and then booted the iMac command line prompt to reset the NVRAM and the screen seemed fine in that mode. After it restarted, the screen seemed perfect again for a few minutes until the screen went offset again and the lines return. (The clock did not reset this time)

What could possibly have caused this and how can I fix it?

My theory so far is that it’s a result of the iMac being left unplugged for an extended period of time and has affected the PRAM battery somehow as that would explain the reset on the time and date. Would that also affect the display though?

Picture attached to show the horizontal lines and display alignment.

UPDATE: I left it on for half an hour this morning and the display keeps alternating between working normally and the offset resolution with the shaking lines again. Each switch lasting a couple minutes before going back to the other. Could this still be the PRAM still or would it be more graphics related?

⟐ Answer accepted May 06, 2019 at 1:51 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Computer can't find startup drive

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 11:52:32 -0700

My father has an iMac G3 Indigo, indigo color, the model that is newer than the iMac DV's, that recently on startup shows the flashing file/iMac icon--it can't locate a startup drive and the HD is clicking during its attempted startup. I've bailed out systems like this in the past by reloading software. Luckily I was able to locate the computer's original software CD collection. I ran its Apple Hardware Test CD which indicates that everything is OK and the HD is at the address ATA Bus 2; ID 0. I then booted the computer with its; (1) Mac Software Restore CD, (2) Mac OS 9 Install CD, and (3) Mac OS X Install CD--none of them can find the hard drive, so there is no place to restore or install system software. Methinks the HD isn't functioning correctly and may be effectively dead. Any ideas? Maybe I am missing something...it's been years since I had to deal with this problem on one of these machines. Thanks!

⟐ Answer accepted November 04, 2018 at 11:52 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Were can I buy a new hard drive an iMac g3

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:17:35 -0700

So the iMac I have gotten it hard disk drive is dead. I’m wondering if I can fix it or if I haft just buy a new used hard drive. If I can’t repair it we’re can I possibly buy a new hard drive. Thanks for any answers or advice for the question

⟐ Answer edited October 02, 2018 at 16:17 MST