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MacAttack802 · Jul 14, 2005, 11:05 PM

Hey folks,
My dad's iBook was passed down to me less than a week ago. It ran completely smooth and everything, and I was having a great time on it, until this afternoon. After work I put it to sleep and transported it while it was sleeping to another location, where I tried to start it up and found out that it was having big problems.

So I still get the spinning arrow, blue screen, which sometimes will spin forever without going anywhere. Sometimes will boot up as normal. However it will ALWAYS crash, eventually, and will only run for a few minutes at the most before it crashes. When it crashes, the screen usually freaks out- I get a vertical hold thing, or just trippy window dances or it all fades to white.
I don't know but I'm guessing I may have fried parts of my hard drive..? I'm wondering if there's an alternative to taking it to the local mac repair guy, where it will cost a ton of $$ to find this out. If I need to replace the hard drive, I can possibly do it myself. Since it's so new to me, there isn't anything I desperately need to recover. Advice?
Thanks
-Max

Jul 15, 2005, 05:49 AM

Is it an iBook G3? If yes, then have a look at http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/faq/ You say the screen freaks out? That's exactly one of the symptoms of those Logic Board Failures.

MacAttack802 · Jul 15, 2005, 08:59 AM

I'm pretty sure it's not a G3, just a straight up Ibook. I'll have a difinitive answer later today when I hear back from my folks..

Ozzpot · Jul 15, 2005, 09:13 AM

A "straight up iBook" does not make sense. Either it is a G3 or it is a G4. One or the other.

It does sound like a logic board failure though. It seems to be the most common major problem with iBooks. Unlucky that it happened so soon after you got it. :-(

MacAttack802 · Jul 15, 2005, 09:32 AM

Okay, wasn't aware of that. I'm sure it's a G3 in that case.
Would transporting a sleeping iBook cause the logic board failure? I'm 99% sure that's what caused these problems because it ran perfectly before that...
I'm going to check my serial number and see if it applies to the Apple Logic Board Repair program.... crossing my fingers!!!

MacAttack802 · Jul 15, 2005, 10:18 AM

Alright, I just checked my iBook and it fits within the range of serial numbers covered in the ELB repair program. Guess the next step is to take it to a local AASP and have them check it out/send it to apple? Thanks for all your help guys. If anyone can reccommend an AASP in the champlain valley area of Vermont, I'd be much obliged.

Kyros · Jul 15, 2005, 06:52 PM

Just so you know, it probably had nothing to do with transporting the iBook. They are meant to be moved around, and mine is always sleeping when I'm doing so. The logic board is a known issue, and usually has little to do with the user if it breaks down on those models.

MacAttack802 · Jul 19, 2005, 11:23 AM

Kyros, thanks for that info. I didn't think moving around should harm it but my mom acted as if it was a big mistake to do so. She's always overreacting so I'm not surprised. Hearing this from you guys has been a big relief and I'm gonna take it in tomorrow.

Link · Jul 19, 2005, 10:15 PM

No, as long as it's sleeping, it's fine to move around, since the only moving parts in the machine are the CD drive and the hard drive, both are off when sleeping.

MacAttack802 · Aug 13, 2005, 08:22 PM

well guys, looks like i'm out of luck again. My iBook was purchased just over three years ago so I'm not eligible for the logic board repair program... Apple told me that them reparing it would be $700... Fat friggin chance!
I looked on ebay and saw some logic boards anywhere from $19-$100... problem is, how do you know if they're the defected boards or good ones? I could probably install it myself.
Since the G3 is outdated anyway, what I really need to do is get a new comp, and most likely will be going PC as it makes the most sense with my new job, where there isn't a mac in the whole university. After growing up in a family that's gone through over 15 macs and not one PC, even!
But if there's anything I can do to still get something out of this ibook, that will be worth my $$ of course, I'm still open to suggestions.. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks -Max

Helmling · Aug 14, 2005, 12:50 AM

There shouldn't be any need to switch for your personal machine. I work at a school that has no Macs and yet (aside from that idiotic PowerPoint glitch with drag-and-drop images) have no problems.

skalie · Aug 14, 2005, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by MacAttack802

well guys, looks like i'm out of luck again. My iBook was purchased just over three years ago so I'm not eligible for the logic board repair program... Apple told me that them reparing it would be $700... Fat friggin chance!

Was that from Apple themselves or a dealer? I had similar problems and can't remember a three year rule. The local dealer did however send my iBook to Ireland, then quoted me a 300 euro repair price for a "faulty screen", I said no.

I since rang Apple in Ireland to inquire if they indeed had replaced the logic board and found out that the screen repair should have set me back 100 euro.

Next time I'll deal straight with Apple, well in fact everytime from now on, and that includes purchases.

MacAttack802 · Aug 14, 2005, 08:32 AM

That was Apple themselves telling me that I wasn't covered. The main reason for me switching machines is that I've been using Mac's all my life and now I'm beginning a job where I provide tech support in a PC environment. There's still a good amount I need to learn and having a PC of my own will help me do that faster.

skalie · Aug 14, 2005, 08:46 AM

Indeed, from the link above....

The program covers affected iBooks for three years after the first retail sale of the unit or until March 18, 2005, whichever provides longer coverage for you.

I was covered by the default date.

I've been using Mac's all my life and now I'm beginning a job where I provide tech support in a PC environment.

Ouch

MacAttack802 · Aug 14, 2005, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by skalie

Ouch

Yeah, but what are ya gonna do... it's a good job and there's no way I couldn't take it.
I think what I'm gonna do is replace the logic board myself and hope that I can still use the G3 for the portability aspect of it and the few things it was good for... Then get a desktop PC that's powerful enough for everything I need. The alternative (scrapping the iBook and buying a laptop PC) is more expensive and only leaves me with one computer... and no mac.

Which brings me back to... Where can I get a working logic board for my iBook?

megasad · Aug 14, 2005, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by MacAttack802

...hope that I can still use the G3 for the portability aspect of it...
Which brings me back to... Where can I get a working logic board for my iBook?

I use a nearly four year old iBook (600MHz) for just that and it is very handy. So, to get a logic board that actually works, PB FixIt seem the best. But $300 is a bit much... Only other thing I can recommend is if you know anyone who has an iBook that you know to be fine other than, say, a broken screen, maybe they will let you have it for less / free.

skalie · Aug 15, 2005, 12:58 AM

Oh, and btw, my iBook ( G3 600mhz ) showed all the symptoms of the first post and fixed itself. Try slapping it a few times.