[naterade]

Hey Gang,

New to the forum, but I've been pouring over years of posts trying to figure out what's wrong with my aging powerbook.

The 'book worked fine for years, but then one day, it didn't. Here's the deal:

Hit the power button, and I'd get a partial startup chime, then followed by horrible screeching noises followed by sounds of glass breaking (serious!). And then nothing...

I'd reset, unplug, reset pram, all that stuff, but no avail. So I figured the Mac was toast. It went into my closet to collect dust.


Here's the kicker - I've recently really desired to get the thing going again so I tried on the weekend, and it started!! Not sure how, but I got it booted, running and everything! Wow! Just like the day it stopped working! But, after about 6 hours or so, it crashed - and wouldn't boot again... same problems as before - crazy noises, no startup or anything Then, the next day, it boots again, works fine, crashes after a while, and won't start again!! Auggh!

So guys, I need your help. I realize there's got to be something wrong with the powerbook, but why, oh why, would it work sometimes?? It's driving me nuts!!

If anyone can provide any insight, it would be greatly appreciated.



Here's some specs:

Wallstreet, 128RAM, 8gig HD
I use AC only, battery has 0 capacity
DVD drive, floppy drive

I try booting it with everything in, I try booting with nothing in... I've dismantled it to check for loose connections, can't find any problems.


The only thing I can think of is a dead PRAM battery that is causing erratic behaviour... but still, why would it work sometimes?? Arrgh!!!


Thanks in advance for any help!!!


Naterade

[seanc]

The screeching could be the hard drive dying, although I think the broken glass sounds indicate bad RAM?

[naterade]

Could possibly be the HD, but when it did boot, I performed multiple 'first aid' checks and a norton utilities disk doctor - both said 'no problems, everything is fine'

Weird eh?

[SierraDragon]

An old box like your Wallstreet (and mine) do not justify investing in batteries, repair, etc.

-Allen Wicks

[naterade]

Originally Posted by SierraDragon 

An old box like your Wallstreet (and mine) do not justify investing in batteries, repair, etc.

-Allen Wicks

True, true - But still, it works some times and it would be so great if it worked all of the time and if it is some small, mundane problem (which it likely isn't) I'd love to be able to fix it...


I'll keep the faith and keep trying