tibook repair nightmare - lcd broke

poultryfarm · 10-18-2002, 09:49 AM

hello all,

forgive the long mesage, but hopefully you can help me!

i recently dropped my 3-week old 800 tibook on some stone stairs and cracked the lcd screen.
besides the screen there is some cosmetic damage (paint chipping and dents - none of which affect the functionality of the machine) but otherwise all is functioning well (i tested and used the computer after the accident using an external monitor). you can see pictures and get more info here:
www.seeingandwriting.com/russianteacakes/

called apple. not under warrenty because i droped it and it will cost $1290 dollars to get a new screen. ok so be it. i am in switzerland so last week the powerbook went to the netherlands to the apple care center to get fixed. i was supposed get a fax from them yesterday to confirm the repair cost. didn't get anything from them so i called this morning and i was told that the computer is 'beyond economical repair' because not only is the display cracked but the 'MLB will not connect to the ethernet' and the 'HDD crashes in the finder' and it is on it's way back to me. this seems strange as everything besides the screen was working fine before it left my hands.
I received the computer 20 minutes later.
left in the computer was a cd from one of the install guys (burned copy of a os 9.2.2 insall cd).
i checked the computer again with an external display and as far as i can tell everything is working fine.
- ran fsck -y three times and everytime it says all is absolutely fine
- am able to connect to my network, mount servers, ping, get email, search the web, etc all through my ethernet cable.
- ran disk utility and all is ok
- nothing is crashing and my hardrive works and sounds great
-i am not able to run the hardisk repair utility disk as i can't use an external monitor with it and thus can not see the screen!

so what gives?! I have tried to get a more detailed description of what exactly the 'problems' are and i have been told that they don't have any more detailed information and i am not allowed to speak with the apple repair people directly.
now apple is telling me that that is what there 'technical' people analyzed and found and i am not a technical apple person. and most importantly that they will not repair or give me a new screen (remember that i am willing to pay the $1290 for the repair!).

i called apple back saying that there clearly must be a mistake as i can use the computer fine and see no problems other than the display. and now suddenly they are telling me that the problem is intermitant so i might not see it for a couple of days. honestly i think this is bs.
i do not want to pay for an estimate that doesn't match the problems of my computer.

Am i missing something here. have any of you ever had such problems with apple repair? is there anyway i can fix my powerbook screen? with an external monitor i can never boot from a cd because i can not see the screen! so in the future i can't reinstall the system, or do such types of things.

is there anything i can do to remedy this situation? or am i destined to use it as a server or email server or mp3 storage... etc.? anybody know of a way to boot from a cd and use an external display so that i can see what is going on?

thank you for bearing with me on this long thread. any advice greatly greatly appreciated.

best.

bassi · 10-18-2002, 11:19 AM

Bad luck man, what a nightmare!!

First, isn't video mirroring turned on by default in OS 10.1.5 => 10.2.1? Am I wrong to assume if you use an installation disc of this variety you can simply press the "c" key and boot up and display on the external monitor?

If that's true then you can spend the 1200 on a nice monitor and be chained to the desktop.

I wanted to get Apple to repair my broken Wallstreet G3 screen (display problem not a cracked screen), it was prohibitively expensive. Around $1000. So opted for a new TiBook and gave the Wallstreet to a local PC repair shop who, after the arrival of my TiBook, had repaired the screen. This was all in the US. I can't see a PC repair shop jumping to replace the Apple part, however if the screen is available as an apple part maybe they can get it for you and see if they can install it.

Try these guys:

http://applemacparts.com/cgi-bin/da-369c.cgi

update: the url I posted gives the wrong search page for the site, the part number is 661-2691, sorry.

They'll install parts for around 45 pounds haven't tried them out but if you think the mobo and HD and everything else i fine then this may worth it. The weird thing is that the 400 Mhz TiBook screen is more expensive than the 800 Mhz screen!!

poultryfarm · 10-18-2002, 11:35 AM

thanks for the info bassi

so far when i boot with a cd pressing the c key with an external monitor i get no signal to the monitor. i have tried pressing the video mirror button; i have tried beginning with the monitor not connected and then connecting once the computer is booted. this is of course also true when i run in single user mode.
i don't know or understand what is required to support the external monitor (maybe someone could shed some knowledge), it sort of makes sense that in single user mode or with a bootable cd the monitor isn't supported... but i have no idea why!

at this point because apple thinks that there are other things wrong with the computer besides the display it will not repair the display at all. i have no chance of getting a new display.

even if they would repair it for me and i paid the $1200, i am debating if it is worth it as that is more than half of what i paid for the computer new! and tibook 800 prices are only going to drop as hopefully new powerbooks are released soon.

so far i have only been able to find used pb lcd's on line for about $1500 ! i'll check out the link that you provided.

crazy silly stuff.

bobw · 10-18-2002, 02:22 PM

I don't know about where you are, but here in the Styates, my Home Owners insurance would cover a large portion of the repair if it was damaged in my house.

mervTormel · 10-18-2002, 02:55 PM

i think apple sees this as a total loss. if they had the internal means to repair it, it would cost them $5,000.00 in time and materials just to get someone started on it.

therefore, they quickly "total" the asset, and why they give you some poloney excuse is beyond me. they merely needed to say, "it'll cost you $10,000.00" to repair it to cover all our expenses (peoples time, materials, labor)" and be done with it.

it is quickly seen as a major loss by apple to even approach establishing policy and infrastructure to manage repairing such damage, because no consumer would pay the price.

how i see it, anyhow.

bassi · 10-18-2002, 05:41 PM

That's why, if it's worth the risk, it may be worth outsourcing this repair.
Some local vendors would easily buy the part and install for 25% of the $5000. It's a bit risky, because if the screen works, you may eventually find another problem which makes the $1200 dollars a lost payment.

poultryfarm · 10-18-2002, 05:58 PM

i couldn't agree with you more mervTormel.

i think that you are right on.

after researching a bit more, this is apparantly (obviously?) not just an apple problem. here in switzerland there was recently an article a major computer magazine that tested in 'consumer reports' style the process of getting laptops repaired by most all companies (not apple). every company turned out miserably bad, and unlike a desktop, there is nothing you can do with a laptop to fix it (you can't just get another display or usb keyboard) you're stuck. i think this is particularly so with apple who has clients who are so devoted to getting apple products (myself included) that they will come back and get another apple product in the future... despite these types of ridiculous scenerios.

i just wish they would be honest and say it costs us too much, or we no longer make the titanium parts, or whatever it is. rather than saying that my powerbooks ethernet connection isn't working and my hardrive is crashing when it clearly isn't.

in fact, i am writing this on my busted powerbook using an external monitor with an ethernet cable plugged in connected to my cable connection and my hardrive is sounding great.

any thoughts on creative uses for a powerbook 800 40gb 1gb ram without a screen? an email server? web server? file server? mp3 jukebox?

poultryfarm · 10-18-2002, 05:59 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by bobw I don't know about where you are, but here in the Styates, my Home Owners insurance would cover a large portion of the repair if it was damaged in my house.

i am originally from the states but am currently living in switzerland. and no homeowners insurance here. thanks for the idea though.

poultryfarm · 10-18-2002, 06:01 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by bassi That's why, if it's worth the risk, it may be worth outsourcing this repair. Some local vendors would easily buy the part and install for 25% of the $5000. It's a bit risky, because if the screen works, you may eventually find another problem which makes the $1200 dollars a lost payment.

i have found one place in england that seems like they can do it. but i think that you are right... i am now scarred that something else shows up in the future and i then really lose a lot more money.

i am starting to think that i should just find a creative use for the powerbook and start saving for another... that will take a long time though.

sad

poultryfarm · 10-20-2002, 05:43 PM

does anybody know if it is possible to use an external monitor while booted from a cd.
could someone shed some light on how this works.
so far in single user mode and from a bootable cd i have not been successful at using an external monitor.

thank you.

genimac · 10-20-2002, 07:30 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by poultryfarm does anybody know if it is possible to use an external monitor while booted from a cd. could someone shed some light on how this works. so far in single user mode and from a bootable cd i have not been successful at using an external monitor. thank you.

Not sure this will work, but i will try:
1- install OS9 (if not installed)
2- start a classic program (simple text), go to OS9 apple menu, go to control panels and look at the setting in monitors.
3- make sure the video is mirrored
4- change the startup system from X to 9
5- reboot.
if this works install norton, techtool, diswarrior or any utility to check the powerbook, Last versions check osx from os9. then burn a cd with os9 and the aplications to make the cheks.
if it doesent work, maybe a friend with another ti can make the cd for you.
I have one with the same model so mail me if i can help you more.

poultryfarm · 10-21-2002, 03:42 AM

Quote:


	Originally posted by genimac Not sure this will work, but i will try: 1- install OS9 (if not installed) 2- start a classic program (simple text), go to OS9 apple menu, go to control panels and look at the setting in monitors. 3- make sure the video is mirrored 4- change the startup system from X to 9 5- reboot. if this works install norton, techtool, diswarrior or any utility to check the powerbook, Last versions check osx from os9. then burn a cd with os9 and the aplications to make the cheks. if it doesent work, maybe a friend with another ti can make the cd for you. I have one with the same model so mail me if i can help you more.

thank you for the reply.
i had taken os9 off before the screen was broken (so i only have jaguar on) and now my problem is that i am not able to use any install cd or bootable cd because i can't use an external monitor (or haven't figured out how to yet) when booting from a cd and the powerbook screen is completely destroyed except for a small 1'' square corner in the top left of the screen.
so even if i have a repair cd that you are suggesting i am currently not able to use it because i can't use an external monitor with it and can use my powerbook screen.

is the video mirroring a hardware or software issue? when i first start up the computer with an external monitor it takes a while for the external monitor to show. the external monitor seems to show a signal after the boot image.

poultryfarm · 10-21-2002, 06:41 AM

a reader emailed me and suggested that i use an external firewire harddrive with a running os installed and boot from that to then reinstall the system or run disk utilities, etc.

this sounds to me like a great solution. thank you

i am still interested to know how the external monitor functions with the powerbook. is it a hardware or software issue?
and is it possible to have use an external monitor in single user mode for example? so far i have been unsuccesful.
can anyone provide some information here?

thank you

Mikey-San · 10-21-2002, 09:20 AM

Just thought I'd add a few bits of useless info to the thread ...

There are five basic tiers to an Apple portable repair:

Tiers 1 and 2 are really benign failures. Keyboard, hard drive, etc.

Tier 3 is serious stuff up to a display replacement. (Main logic board, some plastics.)

Tier 4 is hardcore failure or damage--usually damage--involving display replacement and (I believe) certain top case assembly replacements.

But there's one more, and yours probably falls into this category:

"Catastrophic". No kidding, they actually have a tier called "catastrophic". The last rep I spoke to who mentioned it described it in an example. He remembered a PowerBook that came into their dispatch center that was broken IN HALF.

In half.

As if someone had grabbed it on the sides and summoned the strength to break it in half over his or her knee.

That's "catastrophic". It usually involves, from what I've gathered, repairs that far exceed the cost of the machine itself. Yours is likely right there in the catastrophic realm.

In fact, I'll say that safely, as your damage reminds me of a Ti I looked at back at the beginning of the year. Its owner went hiking in the mountains and stuck the Ti in his backpack. He slipped, the pack slipped, and he watched his Ti tumble ... and tumble ... and tumble.

It was gnarly with a capital "holy s&#t!"

Anyway, I thought that might interest you. :-)

-/-
Mikey-San

poultryfarm · 10-21-2002, 11:21 AM

lol !

thanks mikey-san that is pretty funny. i would love to see pictures of the tibook that was in half (and some reason as to why?!)
In some strange way it makes me feel better knowing that my powerbook is in the 'catastrophic' level. i just wish i had a better story to tell about how it happened... maybe surviving a polar bear attack sounds good ?!

no laptop is designed to indure a hard drop onto stone stairs (or some similar abuse) but this incident has brought to my attention some design flaws with the tibook. subsequently, i have read so many stories of paint chipping, screen keyboard marks, hinges failing, airport signal problems, etc. i realize that most of these problems are relatively small and easily fixable, however they are problems and design flaws (imho) nonetheless. i love many things about the tibook... but i look forward to seeing the next improved powerbook case design.

genimac · 10-21-2002, 12:43 PM

Quote:


	Originally posted by poultryfarm thank you for the reply. i had taken os9 off before the screen was broken (so i only have jaguar on) and now my problem is that i am not able to use any install cd or bootable cd because i can't use an external monitor (or haven't figured out how to yet) when booting from a cd and the powerbook screen is completely destroyed except for a small 1'' square corner in the top left of the screen. so even if i have a repair cd that you are suggesting i am currently not able to use it because i can't use an external monitor with it and can use my powerbook screen. is the video mirroring a hardware or software issue? when i first start up the computer with an external monitor it takes a while for the external monitor to show. the external monitor seems to show a signal after the boot image.

Then i think your only solution is get a CDRom from a friend, your friend must do a bootable image of his OS9.2 system folder and a copy of the repair utilities.
Before he burns the cd, he MUST BE SURE to set the monitor on MIRROR STATE, (control panels , monitors, etc) this way when he burns the cd the preferences for the monitor are set.
I have this kind of cd with OS 9.1 and can recover some crashed diferent macs with it from my original lime Imac, tangerines Ibooks, non g3 powermacs.
Maybe i can make one for you in one week ( afriend is near to buy one).

penum6ra · 10-21-2002, 02:26 PM

Will the TiBook still go to sleep when you close the lid?

If so you can try to boot up from the CD
- then close to top putting it to sleep
- only THEN connect the external monitor
- open the TiBook again and it should recognize the external monitor. It may not be set to mirror, but at least it should "see" the external monitor.

The other possibility if you have a USB keyboard, would be to take advantage of clamshell mode.

After booting from the CD, and putting it to sleep, connect the external monitor, and THEN connect the USB keyboard (or mouse) (in that order). The computer should wake up, even with the screen still closed, and display the main screen on the external monitor.

YMMV.
Good luck.
(Making me doubt the extended AppleCare I just purchased!)
<penum6ra>

poultryfarm · 10-22-2002, 05:54 AM

thank you for the idea penum6ra.

in fact it worked! i don't have a usb keyboard so i didn't think i had much chance but somehow with only a usb mouse it worked. i have a hard time repeating it though! it doesn't seem to want to work everytime.

i was able to run disc utilities and osx and os9 installer cd's.

i haven't tried in single user mode and have a feeling that it won't work there, but i don't really know. it would be nice to run fsck -y, but not such a big deal.

thank you

bassi · 10-22-2002, 07:18 AM

If you run the OSX disk utility from the installer CD it basically runs fsck on your HD.

poultryfarm · 10-22-2002, 08:21 AM

Quote:


	Originally posted by bassi If you run the OSX disk utility from the installer CD it basically runs fsck on your HD.

of course. perfect! thank you all for your help. i appreciate it.

i have some instructions on how to install a replacement display on the powerbook g4... it looks intensive - taking much of the powerbook apart, but i am contemplating just installing a new display myself.
um... i just need to find a new display though!

anybody try this before?

10-18-2002, 09:49 AM	#1
poultryfarm Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 133	tibook repair nightmare - lcd broke hello all, forgive the long mesage, but hopefully you can help me! i recently dropped my 3-week old 800 tibook on some stone stairs and cracked the lcd screen. besides the screen there is some cosmetic damage (paint chipping and dents - none of which affect the functionality of the machine) but otherwise all is functioning well (i tested and used the computer after the accident using an external monitor). you can see pictures and get more info here: www.seeingandwriting.com/russianteacakes/ called apple. not under warrenty because i droped it and it will cost $1290 dollars to get a new screen. ok so be it. i am in switzerland so last week the powerbook went to the netherlands to the apple care center to get fixed. i was supposed get a fax from them yesterday to confirm the repair cost. didn't get anything from them so i called this morning and i was told that the computer is 'beyond economical repair' because not only is the display cracked but the 'MLB will not connect to the ethernet' and the 'HDD crashes in the finder' and it is on it's way back to me. this seems strange as everything besides the screen was working fine before it left my hands. I received the computer 20 minutes later. left in the computer was a cd from one of the install guys (burned copy of a os 9.2.2 insall cd). i checked the computer again with an external display and as far as i can tell everything is working fine. - ran fsck -y three times and everytime it says all is absolutely fine - am able to connect to my network, mount servers, ping, get email, search the web, etc all through my ethernet cable. - ran disk utility and all is ok - nothing is crashing and my hardrive works and sounds great -i am not able to run the hardisk repair utility disk as i can't use an external monitor with it and thus can not see the screen! so what gives?! I have tried to get a more detailed description of what exactly the 'problems' are and i have been told that they don't have any more detailed information and i am not allowed to speak with the apple repair people directly. now apple is telling me that that is what there 'technical' people analyzed and found and i am not a technical apple person. and most importantly that they will not repair or give me a new screen (remember that i am willing to pay the $1290 for the repair!). i called apple back saying that there clearly must be a mistake as i can use the computer fine and see no problems other than the display. and now suddenly they are telling me that the problem is intermitant so i might not see it for a couple of days. honestly i think this is bs. i do not want to pay for an estimate that doesn't match the problems of my computer. Am i missing something here. have any of you ever had such problems with apple repair? is there anyway i can fix my powerbook screen? with an external monitor i can never boot from a cd because i can not see the screen! so in the future i can't reinstall the system, or do such types of things. is there anything i can do to remedy this situation? or am i destined to use it as a server or email server or mp3 storage... etc.? anybody know of a way to boot from a cd and use an external display so that i can see what is going on? thank you for bearing with me on this long thread. any advice greatly greatly appreciated. best.

10-18-2002, 11:19 AM	#2
bassi Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Paris, France Posts: 498	Bad luck man, what a nightmare!! First, isn't video mirroring turned on by default in OS 10.1.5 => 10.2.1? Am I wrong to assume if you use an installation disc of this variety you can simply press the "c" key and boot up and display on the external monitor? If that's true then you can spend the 1200 on a nice monitor and be chained to the desktop. I wanted to get Apple to repair my broken Wallstreet G3 screen (display problem not a cracked screen), it was prohibitively expensive. Around $1000. So opted for a new TiBook and gave the Wallstreet to a local PC repair shop who, after the arrival of my TiBook, had repaired the screen. This was all in the US. I can't see a PC repair shop jumping to replace the Apple part, however if the screen is available as an apple part maybe they can get it for you and see if they can install it. Try these guys: http://applemacparts.com/cgi-bin/da-369c.cgi update: the url I posted gives the wrong search page for the site, the part number is 661-2691, sorry. They'll install parts for around 45 pounds haven't tried them out but if you think the mobo and HD and everything else i fine then this may worth it. The weird thing is that the 400 Mhz TiBook screen is more expensive than the 800 Mhz screen!! Last edited by bassi; 10-18-2002 at 11:22 AM.

10-18-2002, 02:55 PM	#5
mervTormel League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,536	consider... i think apple sees this as a total loss. if they had the internal means to repair it, it would cost them $5,000.00 in time and materials just to get someone started on it. therefore, they quickly "total" the asset, and why they give you some poloney excuse is beyond me. they merely needed to say, "it'll cost you $10,000.00" to repair it to cover all our expenses (peoples time, materials, labor)" and be done with it. it is quickly seen as a major loss by apple to even approach establishing policy and infrastructure to manage repairing such damage, because no consumer would pay the price. how i see it, anyhow.

10-18-2002, 05:58 PM	#7
poultryfarm Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 133	i couldn't agree with you more mervTormel. i think that you are right on. after researching a bit more, this is apparantly (obviously?) not just an apple problem. here in switzerland there was recently an article a major computer magazine that tested in 'consumer reports' style the process of getting laptops repaired by most all companies (not apple). every company turned out miserably bad, and unlike a desktop, there is nothing you can do with a laptop to fix it (you can't just get another display or usb keyboard) you're stuck. i think this is particularly so with apple who has clients who are so devoted to getting apple products (myself included) that they will come back and get another apple product in the future... despite these types of ridiculous scenerios. i just wish they would be honest and say it costs us too much, or we no longer make the titanium parts, or whatever it is. rather than saying that my powerbooks ethernet connection isn't working and my hardrive is crashing when it clearly isn't. in fact, i am writing this on my busted powerbook using an external monitor with an ethernet cable plugged in connected to my cable connection and my hardrive is sounding great. any thoughts on creative uses for a powerbook 800 40gb 1gb ram without a screen? an email server? web server? file server? mp3 jukebox? Last edited by poultryfarm; 10-18-2002 at 06:04 PM.

10-21-2002, 02:26 PM	#17
penum6ra Prospect Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 4	Sleep a possible fix? Will the TiBook still go to sleep when you close the lid? If so you can try to boot up from the CD - then close to top putting it to sleep - only THEN connect the external monitor - open the TiBook again and it should recognize the external monitor. It may not be set to mirror, but at least it should "see" the external monitor. The other possibility if you have a USB keyboard, would be to take advantage of clamshell mode. After booting from the CD, and putting it to sleep, connect the external monitor, and THEN connect the USB keyboard (or mouse) (in that order). The computer should wake up, even with the screen still closed, and display the main screen on the external monitor. YMMV. Good luck. (Making me doubt the extended AppleCare I just purchased!) <penum6ra>

10-18-2002, 11:35 AM	#3
poultryfarm Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 133	thanks for the info bassi so far when i boot with a cd pressing the c key with an external monitor i get no signal to the monitor. i have tried pressing the video mirror button; i have tried beginning with the monitor not connected and then connecting once the computer is booted. this is of course also true when i run in single user mode. i don't know or understand what is required to support the external monitor (maybe someone could shed some knowledge), it sort of makes sense that in single user mode or with a bootable cd the monitor isn't supported... but i have no idea why! at this point because apple thinks that there are other things wrong with the computer besides the display it will not repair the display at all. i have no chance of getting a new display. even if they would repair it for me and i paid the $1200, i am debating if it is worth it as that is more than half of what i paid for the computer new! and tibook 800 prices are only going to drop as hopefully new powerbooks are released soon. so far i have only been able to find used pb lcd's on line for about $1500 ! i'll check out the link that you provided. crazy silly stuff.

10-18-2002, 02:22 PM	#4
bobw Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Phila, PA Posts: 366	I don't know about where you are, but here in the Styates, my Home Owners insurance would cover a large portion of the repair if it was damaged in my house.

10-18-2002, 05:41 PM	#6
bassi Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Paris, France Posts: 498	That's why, if it's worth the risk, it may be worth outsourcing this repair. Some local vendors would easily buy the part and install for 25% of the $5000. It's a bit risky, because if the screen works, you may eventually find another problem which makes the $1200 dollars a lost payment.

10-20-2002, 05:43 PM	#10
poultryfarm Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 133	does anybody know if it is possible to use an external monitor while booted from a cd. could someone shed some light on how this works. so far in single user mode and from a bootable cd i have not been successful at using an external monitor. thank you.

10-21-2002, 06:41 AM	#13
poultryfarm Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 133	a reader emailed me and suggested that i use an external firewire harddrive with a running os installed and boot from that to then reinstall the system or run disk utilities, etc. this sounds to me like a great solution. thank you i am still interested to know how the external monitor functions with the powerbook. is it a hardware or software issue? and is it possible to have use an external monitor in single user mode for example? so far i have been unsuccesful. can anyone provide some information here? thank you

10-21-2002, 09:20 AM	#14
Mikey-San Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 3,541	Just thought I'd add a few bits of useless info to the thread ... There are five basic tiers to an Apple portable repair: Tiers 1 and 2 are really benign failures. Keyboard, hard drive, etc. Tier 3 is serious stuff up to a display replacement. (Main logic board, some plastics.) Tier 4 is hardcore failure or damage--usually damage--involving display replacement and (I believe) certain top case assembly replacements. But there's one more, and yours probably falls into this category: "Catastrophic". No kidding, they actually have a tier called "catastrophic". The last rep I spoke to who mentioned it described it in an example. He remembered a PowerBook that came into their dispatch center that was broken IN HALF. In half. As if someone had grabbed it on the sides and summoned the strength to break it in half over his or her knee. That's "catastrophic". It usually involves, from what I've gathered, repairs that far exceed the cost of the machine itself. Yours is likely right there in the catastrophic realm. In fact, I'll say that safely, as your damage reminds me of a Ti I looked at back at the beginning of the year. Its owner went hiking in the mountains and stuck the Ti in his backpack. He slipped, the pack slipped, and he watched his Ti tumble ... and tumble ... and tumble. It was gnarly with a capital "holy s&#t!" Anyway, I thought that might interest you. :-) -/- Mikey-San

10-21-2002, 11:21 AM	#15
poultryfarm Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 133	lol ! thanks mikey-san that is pretty funny. i would love to see pictures of the tibook that was in half (and some reason as to why?!) In some strange way it makes me feel better knowing that my powerbook is in the 'catastrophic' level. i just wish i had a better story to tell about how it happened... maybe surviving a polar bear attack sounds good ?! no laptop is designed to indure a hard drop onto stone stairs (or some similar abuse) but this incident has brought to my attention some design flaws with the tibook. subsequently, i have read so many stories of paint chipping, screen keyboard marks, hinges failing, airport signal problems, etc. i realize that most of these problems are relatively small and easily fixable, however they are problems and design flaws (imho) nonetheless. i love many things about the tibook... but i look forward to seeing the next improved powerbook case design.

10-22-2002, 05:54 AM	#18
poultryfarm Triple-A Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 133	thank you for the idea penum6ra. in fact it worked! i don't have a usb keyboard so i didn't think i had much chance but somehow with only a usb mouse it worked. i have a hard time repeating it though! it doesn't seem to want to work everytime. i was able to run disc utilities and osx and os9 installer cd's. i haven't tried in single user mode and have a feeling that it won't work there, but i don't really know. it would be nice to run fsck -y, but not such a big deal. thank you

10-22-2002, 07:18 AM	#19
bassi Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Paris, France Posts: 498	If you run the OSX disk utility from the installer CD it basically runs fsck on your HD.