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General discussion

ibook wont turn on,switch?

Dec 8, 2010 3:13PM PST

Hi,
my ibook wont turn on ?

Sometimes it does, often not.
Is it the switch on the top panel as when it does start-up it works fine and there is no problem.

Cheers
Laura

Discussion is locked

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HI
Dec 8, 2010 4:07PM PST

Me also using Mac laptops i do face same problem Laura give me some suggestions na

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ibook
Dec 8, 2010 8:34PM PST

Seems there are some very common ibook faults.
i think i will change the top cover which has the switch in it.
As it works fine it is probably the switch rather than the main-board?
I will let you know


Laura

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The iBook
Dec 8, 2010 10:23PM PST

The iBook had a known issue with solder joints that would crack due to flexing when you held the system with one hand. Most of the time, this would result in the system powering on, but not booting. Usually it didn't happen until well into the system's golden years, like yours.

You should probably take it somewhere to be looked at before spending any amount of money on parts. And replacing the top case on an iBook isn't exactly the easiest of tasks if you don't know what you're doing. There's no point spending money replacing the top case if the logic board is the problem.

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Ibook
Dec 9, 2010 6:51AM PST

Jim,

"And replacing the top case on an iBook isn't exactly the easiest of tasks if you don't know what you're doing. "

Funny that you should say this , i watched dad do it and thought it very easy!
Really nothing to it as i already removed the case on another one and replaced the screen.

It started off when a apple dealer in Melbourne told us how difficult it was........
dad pulled it apart after the dealer jerked him on a warranty claim.
My Dad replaced the mother board and it is still working a couple of years later.
The dealer busted a few bits in his efforts.

BTW my father often has a few vino's when he is working.

Laptop is always used on a desk any faults with the switch /case?

Cheers
Laura

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Well
Dec 9, 2010 10:20AM PST

Well, I just had an iBook G4 come across my workbench today, and it was a right PITA to get the thing apart. The hard part is getting the bottom case separated from the rest of the system and not bending things up badly. And things ALWAYS look easy when someone else is doing it.

If you don't care how it looks after, just so long as it works, have at it. ifixit has a couple of guides. Right now it doesn't work at all, so you've next to nothing to lose by trying, but a system that old could have a large number of problems. It wouldn't surprise me at all if one or several capacitors had simply gone bad. A system not starting regularly is actually a pretty common sign of a capacitor problem, though not conclusive by any stretch.

Just set a hard limit on how much money you're willing to risk on this system, and set it pretty low. I don't know what the conversion rates are between US and AU dollars, but even if that system were in perfect working order, it probably wouldn't be worth more than $250US. Even a used logic board off eBay is probably going to be $300US, and you have to be VERY sure that it's going to work with your particular system, and you never know if the other person has any idea about ESD and proper handling of sensitive electronics. So, figure out how much money you can afford to potentially throw down the crapper on this system if things don't work after you're done, and don't exceed that amount.

Personally, I would think a brand new MacBook would be looking pretty tempting in comparison. Whatever money you're willing to potentially waste on this old clunker could be put towards a new system with almost infinitely better specs. A new system would probably be at least two generations beyond what you currently have, maybe three. You wouldn't know what to do with all the extra time you have now that you don't have to wait for everything to load like on the iBook.

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try resetting PMU and Pram
Jan 2, 2011 4:54AM PST
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I can't tell you
Jan 2, 2011 5:56AM PST

I can't tell you how many times someone at Apple has suggested that to me, and I don't think I've ever once run into a situation where it made a bit of difference. Seriously. I've fixed literally hundreds of Apple systems from varying vintages, and not once have I ever come across a system where resetting the PMU/SMC or PRAM magically solved the problem. Closest I came was where someone set the brightness level really low and apparently didn't know how to turn it back up.

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I'm just passing
Jan 2, 2011 10:26AM PST

on info that I read on many forums. Some have said it helped. It's free and only takes a few minutes.

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I know
Jan 2, 2011 9:56PM PST

I know, it's a favorite suggestion of people who don't have any clue. While the sentiment behind it can certainly be admired, if it were something that simple, odds are either myself or the moderator who haunts these forums would have suggested it long ago.

Resetting the PMU is more for if your fans are stuck at a particular speed, and if you can't even turn the system on, resetting the PRAM is a bit difficult. Which is why it becomes clear that when people suggest these things to resolve other issues, odds are they are someone who doesn't let total ignorance get in the way of blundering forward. If they want to do that with their own systems, I say more power to 'em. It's how all the best techs I know learned. Not sitting around reading a book on computer repair, just sitting around breaking stuff and figuring out how to fix it. It's when they start offering up these little nuggets to other people I have a problem. It's like feeding someone undercooked chicken. It's just flat irresponsible. They need to take some time to process the knowledge they have amassed. Once they understand it, they will be able to figure out what does and doesn't apply to a given situation. As opposed to just being a dispensary of factually correct, but utterly useless, tech knowledge.

So as you venture out into other forums, remember that when you see panacea type cures, odds are it's just snake oil. If you take the time to figure out who the people are on that particular forum that know what they're talking about, you'll likely find they rarely suggest any of those things.

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I don't get all info from forums
Jan 7, 2011 7:49AM PST

I know I don't know nearly as much as you do about macs, but what I recommended, was from Apple's support, not from a forum.
http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=search&src=support_site.kbase.search&locale=en_US&q=ibook%20hard%20to%20start%20up

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iBook: If the Computer Won't Turn On or Start Up
Try removing the memory; if the computer starts up normally, the memory is not compatible with your computer. If that doesn t work, reset the PMU according to the instructions listed in technical document 14449, PowerBook and iBook : Resetting Power Management Unit (PMU

I'#
#
iBook: If the Computer Won't Turn On or Start Up
Try removing the memory; if the computer starts up normally, the memory is not compatible with your computer. If that doesn t work, reset the PMU according to the instructions listed in technical document 14449, PowerBook and iBook : Resetting Power Management Unit (PMU

I'#
#
iBook: If the Computer Won't Turn On or Start Up
Try removing the memory; if the computer starts up normally, the memory is not compatible with your computer. If that doesn t work, reset the PMU according to the instructions listed in technical document 14449, PowerBook and iBook : Resetting Power Management Unit (PMU

I'#
#
iBook: If the Computer Won't Turn On or Start Up
Try removing the memory; if the computer starts up normally, the memory is not compatible with your computer. If that doesn t work, reset the PMU according to the instructions listed in technical document 14449, PowerBook and iBook : Resetting Power Management Unit (PMU

I'm not saying you are wrong, maybe Apple is suggesting a panacea type cure, but your implying that I'm too ignorant to pass on something from a reliable source.

You are right, I really don't have a clue, what is wrong with the OP's mac. For now on, I will just ask questions on this forum, and hopefully you will reply.

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Ibook
Jan 7, 2011 9:42AM PST

I replaced the top-cover and the key-pad.

Problem solved.

Laura

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Nice one Laura
Jan 7, 2011 9:52AM PST
Happy


P
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Did you do it yourself?
Jan 7, 2011 11:09AM PST

If so, was it difficult?

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iBook top cover
Apr 30, 2011 4:12AM PDT

Now there is a tool i know many will not have seen.
It is a shearer's handpiece tool , funny flat twin blade screwdriver that is perfect to pry the ibook apart.

It doesn't damage the casing .
Heiniger tool.


Laura

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Or
Apr 30, 2011 8:15AM PDT

Or you can get the same tool Apple recommends using: http://www.amazon.com/Menda-Soldering-Probe-Nylon-Spudger/dp/B000PDUHNC

Called a spudger, nose picker, black stick, and/or nylon probe tool. Great for separating plastic. Also handy for getting at errant wifi antenna cables that like to get pinched under something, helping feed trackpad cables up without removing the logic board, etc. As a repair tech for Apple systems, it's quite probably my most often used tool.

Of course replacing the top case on an iBook G4 is a monumental PITA. Getting the top and bottom case apart is bad enough, but then you have to keep track of all kinds of screws. I used to hate the pre-unibody MacBook design, but then I was reminded of how much of an improvement it was over the iBook G4 that it replaced.