Broken iMac G3 power button.

[Cloud121]

I just got my iMac yesterday, and after testing everything worked, I swapped HDDs, for a newer, faster 80GB.

After getting it all put back together, I plug it all in, and press the power button. Nothing, and the button seems jammed. No big deal I thought, I'll just take it apart real quick and fix it. Lifting the iMac up, I hear a bit of rattling inside. I'm thinking "Oh, it must be that loose screw I lost. I'll probably need that". I open up my iMac, and see thousands of tiny pieces of plastic everywhere. Turns out, the plastic plunger that goes with the spring to press the power switch, was completely destroyed.

Any idea what I can do?

And no, I don't have a keyboard that will power the computer on and off.

Here's a picture of the plunger I need.

[dgordon86]

I'm sure you know Apple probably wouldn't cover it..

I would think the best thing to do is locate a power button on the web and reinstall.

Mac repair sucks, I know. I had a g4 shipped to HI and it broke. A tech told me it would cost "500.00" to repair, which in actuality meant $250.00ish.
Bullshit.

[DogP]

I think you know your options... either you can try to find the piece you need (may be hard to find and may be expensive)... or you could rig up a button that makes the same connection that the original one did (looks crappy and hacked, but works)... or you can get a keyboard with a power button (works and looks good). I don't know for sure, but a regular USB PC keyboard with the power buttons may work and they're cheap/easy to find locally.

DogP

[MonoTekETeA]

Put back in the old hard-drive, take it back in and get it fixed. Working tech, it is all something that you have to put up with.

[aaron7]

Happened to mine. I use a paperclip to hit the button lol