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kuback · Nov 24, 2003, 05:50 PM

So the other day I noticed that the little tip on the AC adapter for my ibook busted off and was left inside when i unplugged it. Needless to say it's bad enough I have to get a new adapter but I'd like to avoid having to replace the dc-in board. Does anyone have a good method for fishing the little bit out?

HELP PLEASE!

dracoleb · Nov 24, 2003, 07:04 PM

Ouch, if you have Apple Care I would just let Apple deal with it, otherwise I really don't know, wouldn't is the part stuck hollow or solid. If it's hollow then perhaps you can get something in there like a paperclip and try to get it out. If it's solid I don't know.

Link · Nov 25, 2003, 05:40 AM

Try using a good magnet

NYCFarmboy · Nov 25, 2003, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by Link:
Try using a good magnet

I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to put a magnet anywhere near your harddrive? (or was that a joke?)

andretan · Nov 25, 2003, 12:49 PM

Isn't the harddisk on the other side of the iBook?

What would the magnet hurt?

kuback · Nov 25, 2003, 01:01 PM

The magnet idea is tempting, and yes the hard drive is on the opposite end. The small size required wouldn't give off a big enough field to do anything. Now if only I had one...

andretan · Nov 25, 2003, 01:08 PM

Have you tried something like a nail clipper?

Don't blame me if it breaks anything.

Else, safest option is to try AppleCare.

Good luck!

dracoleb · Nov 25, 2003, 02:18 PM

Is the connection magnetic? And you would need a fairly powerful one, because if you can get it out with a normal magnet then you could probably shake it out, though I don't think thats good for the HDD either.

kuback · Nov 25, 2003, 02:22 PM

I'm not sure if the connection itself is magnetic, and no way am i shaking my ibook wildly about.

I don't have applecare by the way.

tomthebikerdude · Nov 25, 2003, 02:50 PM

I had the same thing happen shortly after my ibook ran out of warranty (funny how that warranty thing always preceeds any problems), and ended up going with a repair service on it. Local Mac shop (Atlanta) couldn't get the bit out (said it's not magnetic)..

I sent it down to the folks at Wegener Media (http://www.wegenermedia.com), for the replacement part. Apparently (according to them), it's a very common issue--either the tip breaks or the entire board cracks up. Either way they said it'd need a new board, and that's what they did..

Back in my hands and working great, 3 days later! All told, I spent longer trying to get the Mac shop to LOOK at the machine than it took the Wegener Media guys to get it, fix it, and return it---so much for the service abilities at your trusty apple shop..

thx

Tom

dracoleb · Nov 25, 2003, 04:07 PM

Wow, my old 5300cs is only worth $50 now.

dracoleb · Nov 26, 2003, 06:00 PM

Sorry to double post but about the magnet thing, I just found out that there already is a magnet right next to the HDD, and I don't mean the one in it. When you close the screen, it's a magnet that pulls the latch out to lock the display down.

RevEvs · Nov 26, 2003, 07:31 PM

Exact same thing happened to me. I bought a new Adapter and a DC in board from www.applemacparts.com and installed it myself. Was a little tricky, but as long as you are patient.

revs

ccsccs7 · Nov 27, 2003, 01:38 AM

The tip has a bit of a latching lip around the edge, right? What about using the paperclip and adding super glue to the tip, letting it set, and then trying to pull it out that way?

Just a suggestion, as I've never tried it.

oldmaccy2 · Nov 27, 2003, 05:03 AM

This happened to me and after ages trying to get the bugger out with needle-nose pliers etc I'd only succeeded in pushing in further in as far as I could tell.
In the end I tried just plugging in a borrowed adapter (mine was ususable without its tip - isn't yours?) it seemed to work fine!
Whether I'd pushed it so far in that it was out of the way, or had fallen through inside, or somehow fell out when I wasn't watching (it was so far in that I couldn't see for sure if it was still there) I don't know.
Anyway it's all been fine since, so I'm ignoring the fact that there may be a rogue tip somewhere inside the machine.
Just my experience, yours may be different, I'm not at all sure that this is an advisable course of action, but...

kuback · Nov 27, 2003, 08:41 PM

Thanks for all the help.

I finally got fed up enough to where I took apart my ibook and popped the tip out from the back end. Plugged a new adapter in and nothing. I suspect dc-in board was as dead as the old adapter from the whole ordeal. Thankfully my local mac store sells a replacement for $30.