RAM on an iMac G4

I just bought an iMac on eBay, the 17-inch model for which the technical specifications are at http://support.apple.com/specs/imac/iMac_Flat_Panel.html. It doesn't start up at all. I opened it up, just the first layer, and where at http://www.info.apple.com/usen/cip/html/imac/imacfp-memory-cip.mov.html it shows the RAM, there is none on my iMac. Is there supposed to be RAM installed at that position with a non-custom build? Thanks.

IIRC the 128/256Mb standard RAM was on the board (internal) and not accessable to the user. It should boot with whatever is already there, so I'd say something else may be going on. Does the machine even start when you hit the power button?

baggss said:

Does the machine even start when you hit the power button?

Click to expand...

No it doesn't boot. I tried resetting the PMU, but that didn't do anything either. Is this a motherboard problem then?

Some new information: when I put the iMac down, about to reset the PMU again, it started making a strange tone. It did it once for about five seconds and then about five seconds later again for about three seconds. I'm not sure what this means, good or bad, but it's given me some hope.

THIS may help figuring those beeps out....

If you have the time try going to an Apple Store maybe.

I opened up the Mac and it doesn't have any memory installed, not in the more accessible slot nor in the less accessible one. Now I just have to figure out what memory to buy.

So now I have another question: Is it possible to run an iMac G4 from memory installed in the user slot alone or do I need the memory installed in the 168 pin slot as well? (I asked a technician at an Apple Store, and he basically said he didn't know ["It's never been done before."].)