Trying to Revive a Older iMac G4 Flat ... Having startup issues .. Help ??

Hello all
I received a Imac G4 ( 800 ?? one mem slot ) , put a harddrive I had laying around into it that I know worked - Put a dvd drive into it I had laying around and with some happiness started up . At first , I had no chimes , just would boot to the Question mark /Folder icon . There is NO Operating system on this ... I tried booting into cd/dvd with no luck it just goes to folder/? , I tried booting from my Leopard/Tiger and OS9 cd's ... No luck .... After researching some forums and google'd for a night or 2 I found out how to reset my PRAM and NVRAM , After I did this I got chimes VERY COOL or so I thought .....I tried all the basics again ( held C , Tried selective startup ) same results.
When I choose to do a selective startup ( option key held ) It shows the OSX disc but when I choose it the CD spins then it just stays at the menu , After a minute or so I can then refresh and try to click the arrow again .... Just stays in a loop I guess
I then booted the Imac into target disk mode and used my macmini Intel to install leopard to the drive on the Imac and I could install and even Booted my macmini from it ...
Sooo aggravating ... I guess i'm starting to think its something major , Iv been a PC tech for about 8 years , i'm a novice to mac id say prob about a year ( Comp Tech / Contractor ) ....
Since The day I purchased my Mac This forum has been incredibly helpful , I didn't want to waste time but I really have run out of ideas and have looked everywhere I myself can think of ....Any help would be Greatly Appreciated ,Thanks again

Hey Jwile,
This is from the service manual:
"Screen is dark, fan is running and the hard drive is spinning. You may hear the startup chime as well.
1. Reset parameter RAM. Press Command-Option-P-R during startup before “Welcome to Macintosh” appears.
2. The system software could be damaged. Start up from the system CD that came with the computer.
3. Remove the user access panel. With the unit powered on, check if a red LED (shown below) is visible in the access door. If the red LED is on, power is on. If you don’t see the LED glowing red, follow the steps under the symptom “No Power”.
4. Disconnect the A/C power cord. Place the unit in the service stand and remove the user access plate.
Press the PMU reset button on the logic board. Refer to “Resetting the PMU on the Logic Board” mentioned earlier in this chapter.
5. Check for external video. Connect an external monitor to the mini-VGA port. If you don’t have external video, replace the main logic board. If you do have external video, go on to the next step.
6. Open the bottom housing and verify that all the cables are securely attached. Pay special attention to the video cable (located near the modem). If the cables are securely attached, go on to the next step.
Warning: Whenever the bottom housing is opened for service, you must do two things:
• You must clean the original thermal film from the surfaces joining the thermal interface layer and reapply thermal paste to the thermal pipe.
• The bottom housing has four torx screws that must be tightened to at least 17 in.-lbs. If you do not have a torque driver, you will have to make sure these screws are tightened by hand FIRMLY, BUT NOT FORCIBLY. Or, purchase the service tool (076-0899) in order to ensure the thermal pipe is firmly mated with the top base. If the bottom housing is not securely attached to the base in this
fashion, the CPU may overheat and become damaged.
7. Check the connection of the video cable to the LCD flat panel display (under black tape).
iMac (17-inch Flat Panel) Troubleshooting - 19 No Video Symptom Charts
8. Replace the inverter board.
9. Replace the LCD display. Important: If you are replacing the display, be sure to install the new display
shield and EMI gaskets that come with the new LCD panel. Installation instructions are included with the
new display panel. Additional display shields/gasket kits are also available separately as a kit, part #076-0958.
10. Replace the neck assembly
11. Replace the logic board.
12. Replace the power supply board."
So since you've had it apart I'd definitely check those connectors.
There is definitely only one Ram slot on this board though , Thats the one thing im confused about .
There's one slot on the logic board and another one under the user access panel in the bottom. It takes a laptop type memory. That's why that LEM profile lists two slots of different types.
I am going right out and buying new HD and Memory ( well as new as I can find ... Kinda old ) haha
Well I use salvaged HDs (anything PATA/IDE will work) and PC-133 from old PCs the DIMM is the difficult one to find.
Do you see a lot of that stuff?
I also have voltage supply pinouts. Email me for those.
Richard
Message was edited by: spudnuty

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