Changeing HD in iBook - Has any one done it?

[Fastmac]

My iBook is getting slower, it only came with 30Gb HD and I've been booting from an external 80Gb HD to improve it. However that makes portability more of a problem. So is there a way to change it, I put the airport Extreme and more ram in but couldn't see where the HD was. Is there perchance some details (graphical?) that any one knows of?

Jim.

[trevor]

Which iBook?

Do a search on your favorite search engine for "iBook take apart guide" and you should be able to find a few hits. I'll warn you, the iBook is probably the worst computer to take apart ever.

Trevor

[Fastmac]

Thanks Trevor,
I'll try Googling it, I'll come back with either more problems or a guide on how to do it :-)


Jim.

[voldenuit]

I've done that recently and will second Trevors opinion:

Over 60 seperate bits and pieces, thereof more than three dozen screws.

Good luck to you, should you have trouble to come up with documentation, I have a 5MB Apple pdf with take-apart-instructions for the dual-USB-iBook.

[Fastmac]

Hi Voldenuit,

Well I Googled and got a detailed guide to replacing HD in 12" G4 iBook 800
which is the model that I have but it's all in French - here's the link:
http://aberco.free.fr/ibook/demontage1.html

I would be interested to see that pdf though, maybe you could email it to me?
I will proceed with the job as soon as I have discovered what the highest capacity small size HD I can use, as I would like a HD greater than 100Gb.

Jim.

<EDIT>

Looks like 80GB hits the glass ceiling for small HD's.

[Craig R. Arko]

Quote: Originally Posted by trevor I'll warn you, the iBook is probably the worst computer to take apart ever. Trevor

I think some of the PowerBook Duos claimed that honor, but I personally would not attempt the iBook without having first observed someone who'd done it before very closely in the act.

[trevor]

I've never had the pleasure of taking apart a Duo, so I'll concede to your experience. However, the iBook is more unpleasant to open and fix than a Pismo, a Titanium PB, an Aluminum PB, and even the dreaded PowerMac 8100.

Trevor

[Fastmac]

Well as I said, it won't happen untill I have sourced the new HD. But it is now a challenge and I like a challenge, I am working in a field where physics and chemistry play a big part and I have a background of electronic engineering so I am not phased by this project and I will post after the event to let you know if it's alive or dead.

Thank you all for your replys.

Jim.

[Arif]

Interesting... I'd love to chuck in a bigger hard drive when I get my Powerbook (yes, i'm waiting for dual-core)

[voldenuit]

Actually, there are two 100 GB 2,5" HDs available:

Toshiba MK-1031GAS

and

Fujitsu MHU2100AT

European mailorder price is around 220 euro plus shipping.

The article you googled is "extrêment bien fait" and with the qualifications you mentioned, it should work out.

A way to keep screws in order (Apple loves to use slightly different lenghts, resulting in slight bulges on the far end once you're -well- screwed) is to use double-sided sticky tape on paper sheets you legends saying where all these screws came from.

[Fastmac]

Thanks a lot Voldenuit,
I'll get the Fujitsu drive. It's going to be a few weeks before I can proceed with this so I'll let this thread die and post back when the job is done.

Many thanks.

Jim.

[Fastmac]

Hi again Voldenuit,

I got the drive sooner than expected, it's in the ibook but i think I could really use that pdf of yours. I need to know specificaly about the trackpad and airport has lost three bars of signal. it's coming apart again today to try and fault find. I tried to look for that pdf at Apple but had no luck. When it boots I get a small folder with a ? in it briefly, then the apple and a normal boot, I''m guessing that it's trying to tell me about the trackpad that doesn't work.

Regards
Jim.

[gary.rowlands]

I reckon its just indicating 'boot folder not found' while the drive gets up to speed and then it gets on with it, I'd be interested in the pdf as I've got to change the 15Gb drive in my 12" iBook it's making awful clicking sounds and won't boot without a fan blowing on the case, I'm a bit miffed actually as I thought iBooks were quite rugged and this one has only been off my desk a couple of times in the two years I've had it.

Gary

[vancenase]

speaking of hard drives, as mine is apparently going south ...

i noticed on newegg a Seagate 100GB 5400RPM notebook drive ... anyone know anything about it?

[Fastmac]

Quote: Originally Posted by gary.rowlands I reckon its just indicating 'boot folder not found' while the drive gets up to speed and then it gets on with it, I'd be interested in the pdf as I've got to change the 15Gb drive in my 12" iBook it's making awful clicking sounds and won't boot without a fan blowing on the case, I'm a bit miffed actually as I thought iBooks were quite rugged and this one has only been off my desk a couple of times in the two years I've had it. Gary

Hi Gary, I just can't find this alleged PDF, (just found it thanks to Pink - here's the link, but act fast because these links die quick - http://tinyurl.com/66lbq ) but there is the link above to the take apart guide for iBook BUT it is in French, the saving grace is that it is smothered with photo's. Mine didn't die it was just too small. The startup icon could more than likely be cured by a fresh installation, but I don't want to do that just yet.
My iBook is working perfectly except for one thing, that is, the Airport antenna seems to be broke, I can only get one or two bars with an access point just 5 feet away.

Jim.

[Fastmac]

Quote: Originally Posted by vancenase speaking of hard drives, as mine is apparently going south ... i noticed on newegg a Seagate 100GB 5400RPM notebook drive ... anyone know anything about it?

I don't know what seagate drive reputation is in the states but in the uk they are the pits. I would go with fujitsu (EX-IBM )

Jim.

[pink]

Quote: Originally Posted by gary.rowlands I'd be interested in the pdf as I've got to change the 15Gb drive in my 12" iBook

Have a look at this [xlr8yourmac.com] and links therein. They also have a nice database on hardware compatibility.
If you want the apple manual, you can google for "ibk_dusb".

cheers, pink

[ash_mishra]

Hi,

I did this in February with a iBook G4/800. Basically I ordered a brand new iBook with a 60gb drive for my sister, so that I could swap it out into my TiBook with a 40gb drive. (she didn't need the space as much as I do)

I recall this being very difficult -- as difficult to do as taking apart my old PB 2400. There are alot of screws (40+?), and you really need to be careful when prying the case open - it's very easy to scratch and bend along the edges. In comparision, the TiBook was incredibly easy.

Unfortunately to get to the HD, you must almost take apart the whole motherboard.

The biggest thing I can recommend, is make sure you label all the screws as you take them out, otherwise it's very likely you'll have 2 or 3 left over after the surgery is complete.

Rgds.

[gary.rowlands]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fastmac Hi Gary, I just can't find this alleged PDF, (just found it thanks to Pink - here's the link, but act fast because these links die quick - http://tinyurl.com/66lbq ) but there is the link above to the take apart guide for iBook BUT it is in French, the saving grace is that it is smothered with photo's. Mine didn't die it was just too small. The startup icon could more than likely be cured by a fresh installation, but I don't want to do that just yet. My iBook is working perfectly except for one thing, that is, the Airport antenna seems to be broke, I can only get one or two bars with an access point just 5 feet away. Jim.

Cheers Jim, all safely gathered in, Gary