Powerbook G4 (400 MHz) won't start
 

Hi

After a gig about 6 months ago we've dropped an old G4 Powerbook (400 MHz). There was a crack in the casing and the CD drive was dead, but the laptop kept working.

Last week the hard disk didn't start up anymore. (Disk-icon with question mark and funny sound of repetitive whine, like it tries to spin up and can't then keeps trying.)

We ordered a replacement from an authorised Apple Dealer (original was a 10GB disk, new is 60GB disk Fujitsu).

After installing the disk following Apples guide (from their site) the laptop doesn't boot up at all!

I tried zapping P-RAM, nothing happens. No sound, no noise.

I have Firewire CD drive and Hard disk with all backups, which I intended to use to restore the system.

I also have a 2nd Powerbook G4 (same spec), but with working CD drive. I could install the new harddisk there for configuration and system install and then put it into the "broken" one. But I think at the moment, my problem is not the new drive.

I am trying to find some resources that tell me what I can do to diagnose the problems. Didn't find anything on Apples site. Can anybody point me towards some documentation, please? I have been told, what I should be looking for is the "Service Manual" for my laptop, but I can't find it anywhere. I searched Apple's site and tried using Google, but no success.

Any help appreciated!

Marc

hmmm, this is interesting. For one thing, and I don't want to sound like a jerk, but do you have lots of experience taking apart laptops? I for one find apple laptops quite a chore to take apart and replace parts in. One thing you can try is to reset the power management. Now there are two ways this can be done, depending on your model. I cannot remember which way it will work with your powerbook. There will either be a small button on the backside of your laptop, with a triangle (i think its a triangle) above it. Use a paperclip to hold the button in for a few seconds (also take out the battery first). Then let the laptop set for 10 min or so, then put the battery back in and plug it back and and fire it up. The second way is a keyboard command. Use ctrl+shift+Fn+power and that should reset the power management. Click on this for an article that goes more in depth about resetting power management. Hope that may help your situation. If this does not I would recomend talking to an apple technician about possible repairs.

does it power on at all? i mean, can you get into firmware? can you get to the boot selection screen by holding down the OPTION key? or are we talkin' not even a startup chime??

*edit*
the only reason i ask is that since you mention that the CD drive is not functional, you won't be able to boot from there. i suppose you could try to start up in firewire target disk mode T during boot and hook it up to another computer via a firewire cable. otherwise, i'm not too sure how you'd actually _install_ X on it.
*edit*

Re: Powerbook G4 (400 MHz) won't start
 

Only AASP (apple authorized service providers) can access service manuals and other internal documentation. So your best bet would be to go have a chat with an apple certified tech. They would have access to all those online resources.

Yes, although this is my first attempt with a G4 PowerBook. I earned a living some time ago doing these things on a daily basis. So I am confortable fiddling with hardware.

I tried the Power Management things and did find the document on Apple's site. The issue with my Apple dealer is that he's asking me for £150 and 2 weeks wait to look at my laptop, which is why I decided to do it myself.

So, if I get the service manual, I think I can save the money. But then, it seems like I am not entitled to see the sacred document.

Cheers

Marc

No.

Precisly. No sound, no noise. Nothing is happening.

There are several things I planned to try:
- use a firwire CD drive (and hard disk containing the backups)
- connect the laptop to a working mac in target-mode
- worst case: install the new disk in a powerbook G4 with working CD drive (I have a second one) and install software there.

What I'd like to figure out is, why it isn't starting up. I can image of a few things to try, but really I would prefer to have a service manual, so I'm not completly in the dark.

Cheers

Marc

Sorry to hear that. I understand your situation, since I work for an AASP and have many users come in with the same issue. Apple restricts their information. What is the exact status of your machine? Does it power? Do you hear anything spin up? One thing you could try (and I honestly have never attempted this, but I have read about it) is network your laptop to another working machine, boot into target mode and try to boot off the other mac. Then try installing the OS from the other working machine.

If there is a reset swtich (PMU button) on your laptop. pull out the battery and unplug it. Reset the PMU and let it sit for a while(like 30 minutes). This sometimes does fix power management issues.

If you leave a better description of what the machine actually does I can better help you out.

If you are not getting a chime (POST) its more than likely hardware related, but I would still help you out if you give me a bit more info.

If its not chiming that is not a good sign. The chime sound is related to a process called POST, which stands for power on self test. Its a small test each computer (both macs and PCs) run right when its first powered on. If there is a hardware problem it will not POST.

I would recomend to retrace your steps you took to install the HD. Make sure no cable is loose, no card or board unseated. There have been several times I will put a laptop back together completely and forget to plug the IDE cable into the drive, and have to take it all the way back apart again. That would be my first guess if before I installed something it was POST'ing and after the install it was not.