68kMLA Classic Interface
This is a version of the 68kMLA forums for viewing on your favorite old mac. Visitors on modern platforms may prefer the main site.
| Click here to select a new forum. | | iBook G4 repair | Posted by: Forrest on 2023-03-27 09:36:04
My recently acquired iBook G4 12 inch 1.33 GHz usually boots OK, but sometimes fails. Apple Hardware Test reports built-in memory test failed - both the quick test and extended test. There are 8 memory chips on this board - 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom. The memory chips are in stock at Digikey MT 46V32M16 at $6.47 each. These as 66 TSOP packages. Is there anyone who can fix this computer? | Posted by: Romko23 on 2023-04-01 06:19:37
Hi Forrest,
Do a search for retro-mac repair or retro-vintage macintosh repair companies, and you may find one who can still work on them. You may have to provide parts though, as these machines are long obsolete(at least in Apple's eyes). | Posted by: Forrest on 2023-04-01 19:25:52
I performed additional testing and exercised the computer extensively over a couple of days, and it largely performed fine. I ran Rember https://www.kelleycomputing.net/rember/using for 2 hours, with no memory errors reported and ran Xbench a few times with no problems. Once in a while I would see an error message after quitting a program, but never had a program quit on me. I’m pretty happy with the way the computer performed, reported this to the eBay seller who gave me a 33% refund on the computer and I decided to keep it. | Posted by: MacUp72 on 2023-04-04 23:00:24
I sometimes had a random RAM error on a powerbook on bootup , when I did a fresh reinstall of the original image/ OS that never appeared again..though I know the iBooks a PITA to disassemble. | Posted by: Forrest on 2023-04-04 23:10:10
Yes, iBooks are generally a pain to upgrade, except for the memory or Airport card. I’m spent more time on the computer and amazed how quick this iBook is with the 1.33 GHz G4 and Radeon 9550 graphics. | Posted by: Lucretius on 2023-04-09 18:26:12
I've replaced the original hard drives with mSATA, 60GB cards on three iBook G4's, and have found that for this Amateur, they are not at all difficult to work on. I use the black spudgers ( fiber reinforced ), and the cases have all snapped apart with no damage...just take your time, and see what needs to be done to gently get the case to come apart.
The one area that DOES present a chance for disaster is near the end of the disassembly, when all that's left before gaining access to the HDD is the aluminum sheet: I saw one video where the commentator mentioned how 'easy' it was to ruin the motherboard when a few, small white plastic connectors were pulled apart so as to allow the aluminum sheet to be removed...
...so: DON'T PULL THE CONNECTORS! Leave them alone, and just cut the sheet so as to allow it to be lifted away. I forget at this moment where I made the cuts, but I simply used a sharp blade to make a few slits between the wires and the nearest edge of the sheet, and as the sheet was lifted away, the wires were undisturbed. Reassembly was also very easy, and a piece of tape can be applied over the cut areas if you're so inclined.
Michael. | Posted by: Forrest on 2023-04-09 20:02:51
Thanks for the advice on replacing the hard drive. | | 1 |
|