[mi5]

Hi All,
I have an iBook G4 800 which I bought in February 2004. From February until about July all was well with only one reinstall, then July to August it kept locking up and when I went to restart I would get the flashing question mark in the little folder. I would then reboot with the OS disk and sometimes (up to 6 -7 reboots) there was no hard drive recognised in either the Disk Utility nor the install process. Then sometimes I'd leave it off for a while and then it would be fine.

It hasn't exhibited any symptoms covered by the earlier logic board replacement plan. My iBook serial number isn't covered and appears to be "newer" than those covered.

My Apple Reseller replaced the hard drive and all was well for about 3 weeks, then up to the end of September the lock ups/freezing began to get more frequent.

The Apple Reseller has now had my iBook since 1st October and has told me they are replacing the hard drive AND the logic board. I am so hoping this is the end of the problems because I simply can't be without a computer (I am in the middle of studying my Masters).

Everyone else I know who owns an Apple iBook or Powerbook NEVER have any problems. I DO NOT want a lemon!

Will Apple really replace the whole iBook if they have to repair it too much or do you have to fight for a replacement?

Being positive, hopefully I'll get the iBook back this week and the problem will be fixed (PLEASE...PLEASE Apple!!!!!)!

Any thoughts would be helpful and reassuring!

Cheers!

[Detrius]

There are three possibilities if the drive is disappearing from the ATA bus:

-Hard Drive
-logic board
-ATA cable

It's most common between these options to have a bad hard drive. The logic boards can fail as well. However, the cable will only be bad if someone has torn it.

Replacing these two parts will fix your problem--unless you get a DOA part which happens sometimes.

[mi5]

Thanks for the feedback!

I picked up my iBook yesterday (Thursday 14/10) and found they had replaced both the hard drive and the logic board. Last night I ran software update and have re-installed all my applications and settings (mail, safari, etc). In fact I am back upstairs on the internet via the Airport and my D-link wireless router (DI-614+).

Fingers crossed.

By the way, all was replaced and covered under warranty. Although the service guy said he had only encountered this problem after someone had dropped their iBook...well I assured him that I have never dropped it and if anything I am probably more cautious.

Cheers!

[mi5]

I think I spoke too soon!

All has been well until this week (less than 2 weeks since the above work) when the iBook started freezing up again, so I started the usual troubleshooting tasks...going into Disk Utility via booting from the OS disc, but on a number of occassions it either didn't find the hard drive or it took more than 5 minutes to "gather disk information"...I was finally able to do the Disk Repair and Repair Permissions...and the iBook started again okay.

So I called the tech at my reseller and he suggested 2 things: (1) call and let Apple know of the problem(s) and (2) bring it into him.

The tech suggested it might be the hard drive cable, but am I right in thinking if a cable is faulty or not connected correctly, that you would have no activity from the hard drive to the logic board, etc?????

Anyway, the tech said he would do a quick turnaround (3 working days), so including Friday, I'll be calling him Tuesday morning!

Any thoughts would be most appreciated!

Cheers

[mi5]

I got news Monday that Apple are going to replace my whole iBook with a current model, the only problem being that they are waiting for stock, which may be up to a month. I am certainly happy and reassured that Apple IS a company that stands firmly behind their products.

My local tech also told me the problem this time was another (replacement #2) Logicboard...we thought it might have been the hard drive again and didn't expect it to be the logicboard...oh well!

Waiting anxiously for my replacement iBook (I wish Apple could simply re-direct stock from their numerous Resellers throughout the country, rather than wait for new stock into Apple, although I guess their many Resellers don't want to give up "precious" stock)!

Cheers