iFixit - Answers With Device "iMac G3 Model M5521"

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 do I open the computer to remove the hard drive?

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:24:08 -0700

I just want to take out the hard drive before I recycle the computer. I can't figure out how to open up the case to access the hard drive. I can't find instructions that work because I can't id the specific device. The EMC no. is 1821, which I don't see on the device id list. I removed the only two screws (phillips) I can find on the bottom. I tried unsuccessfully to pull the bottom of the case off, using the handle on the bottom.

⟐ Answer deleted November 25, 2011 at 15:24 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: Repair guide for this iMac to replace the optical drive.

Fri, 24 Apr 2015 23:54:58 -0700

Need the repair guide for replacing the optical drive on the above mentioned iMac.

⟐ Answer accepted April 24, 2015 at 23:54 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: How can instal a OS X disc from an external drive

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 11:47:59 -0700

So I have an iMac g3 and I got an external disc drive but every time I try to instal the disc nothing happens. The iMac I have is a 350 mgz model so I have no fire wire. And I don’t know what to do. Any answers would be great.

⟐ Answer accepted September 14, 2018 at 11:47 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: How do I add ram and how much ram can I add?

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:56:52 -0700

want to speed up my imac g3 m5521 and how well will it operate if maxxed out?

⟐ Answered April 14, 2015 at 7:56 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: Trying to install operating system but it keeps spitting out disk.

Fri, 25 May 2018 07:21:22 -0700

I have the iMac M5521 with a slot loading optical drive and after 3-5 seconds after I insert an operating system disk, it ejects it. I tried holding down the option key to select a disk to boot off of but noting shows up. If i let it power up on it's own, it will show a finder icon on a blue folder. I'm assuming that means their is no operating system. I tried several disks. I got the operating systems off of pirate bay (a torrent sight). One of the disks is 10.4 tiger.

⟐ Commented May 25, 2018 at 7:21 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: How to I change the voltage from USA specs to UK specs?

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 03:59:08 -0700

I need to change it from 120 to 230 so it does't blow up when I plug it in.

On the G4 tower, the switch is right at the back. Unable to locate switch on the iMac.

Please help.

⟐ Edited July 10, 2015 at 3:59 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

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: 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: My iMac g3 disc drive won’t work at all

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 18:55:53 -0700

So I have recently got an iMac for pretty much nothing. Everything seems to work but the disc drive the disk is not being read a just seems to make a loud noise. And quit so if you people can’t give an answer we’re could I get a new one?

⟐ Commented August 30, 2018 at 18:55 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: How do I install an airport card g3

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 15:04:59 -0700

How do I install an airport card on a g3

⟐ Answered October 09, 2017 at 15:04 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: iMac G3 not powering up

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 05:58:23 -0700

i recently bought an imac g3 model m5521

it worked fine when i recieved it

i shut it off and placed it on my desk

it worked fine there until i powered it off

i pushed the power button and i here a pop and the imac didnt power on

and now whenever i try to power iy on i hear a soft pop from the speakers

does anyone know the problem or know a solution

i am by no means a mac expert or user so please explain clearly

thank to everyone who submits help

⟐ Commented January 20, 2017 at 5:58 MST

iMac G3 Model M5521: My power button is stuck and is at a slight angle.

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 10:35:18 -0700

Do I need to open the unit for adjustment, cleaning, or something else?

⟐ Answered September 01, 2016 at 10:35 MST

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: 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: 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