Anything more to try with (apparently) dead ZIF?

[PeterB]

I've already asked OWC Larry about this, but would be grateful for any other ideas.

I've got a G3/1Ghz Powerlogix ZIF, which I bought used from someone locally awhile back. (So it being bought used, it's not under warranty, though I do have the original bill-of-sale.) It seemed to be working fine in my B&W G3 Rev 2, until just recently I was doing some RAM swapping around to see whether some particular RAM sticks were compatible with the B&W (and if they were, to run Rember on them). After a few swappings, which seemed to go fine, I noticed afterward that the B&W would no longer boot. Thinking it was the RAM, I tried swapping things around again. Finally after a fair amount of trial-and-error, I figured out that the problem was the ZIF-- swapping in a known-good ZIF allows the machine to boot; swapping in the Powerlogix ZIF doesn't. (The Powerlogix allows the machine to get power-- the lights and fans come on, etc. but no chime and no video.) If it matters, I have the jumpers on the mobo set for 500 mhz.

I've tried CUDA resets, PRAM resets, NVRAM resets, but all with no luck. I'm presuming it's dead, but maybe someone here knows better?

[Jimmypoo]

I'm surprised you aren't at least getting that melodious
start-up sound of disapproval.

Is this the PL legacy??

[PeterB]

jimmy, and what sound would that be?

(It's not making ANY sound on startup, but as I say, it is passing the power.)

Oh, and as for PL -- I've had enough bad luck with their stuff, that I will never buy again, even used as in this case.

[New.Dad]

well, if I remember correctly, ZIF stands for Zero Insertion Force. So, I would plug it in and turn it upside down to see if it falls out. if not, then it's not quite ZERO Insertion Force. Just a crazy experiment. Other than that, I don't know. It seems you reset everything, but have you checked the pins to make sure none is bent?

[PeterB]

New.Dad, not a bad thought-- but I just looked at it, and the pins are fine (not a surprise, since the ZIF falls into place no problem).

Unfortunately, I don't really have another machine to test the ZIF with.

[Jimmypoo]

I once had the CPU in before SOMETHING.

Could have been needing ROM upgrade
or the MHz was wrong for the ZIF.

The tone I got was a pained donkey sort of bray.
I think it was 2 tones right at powerup. I did
one of the two above, washed my undies and everything
was ok.

I think it was the night I moved everything from
Beige to Smurf, including OWC G4

[Racer X]

pull the PRAM battery, unplug the A/C, hit the power on button (drains any power from the PS and mobo), and let it sit overnight. Then put the battery back in, plug the A/C back in, and see if it boots.

[foto]

Shot in the dark. But did you do the firmware update with this B&W?

[Racer X]

the firmware lock you may be alluding to as a possible cause only effected G4 zifs, not the G3s.

[PeterB]

Yup, I did do the firmware update... but I wonder if I should do that again... corrupted firmware perhaps?

In the meantime, I will try Racer X's idea. Can't hurt at this point...