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MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 06:49 AM

Well, I am sitting here typing this on my 4 year old HP because my 1 year old AlPB 12 has decided to break! Either a fan has died of the HD. I have a loud grinding noise and the boot stops at the blue screen(how ironic). Anyway, I need any detailed decriptions of how to open this thing up. I have no Applecare I have to do it myself. I just need to know how to open the body.

Thanks.

residentEvil · Oct 17, 2004, 06:51 AM

yes...

http://www.kodawarisan.com/PowerBook/10.html

this is from another macnn discussion, but the photos are worth a 1000 words.

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by residentEvil:
yes...

http://www.kodawarisan.com/PowerBook/10.html

this is from another macnn discussion, but the photos are worth a 1000 words.

Thanks for the quick response! Ahh yes, my day is turning out great.

Spheric Harlot · Oct 17, 2004, 06:57 AM

question:

does it get to the startup-disk switcher if you start up holding down the Option (alt) key?

does it boot into target disk mode (holding down "T" on startup will turn it into a Firewire disk - if the disk is okay)?

Taking this thing apart is a right bitch.

However, the Pictorial Fixit Guide to the 12" aluminum Powerbook G4 is here:

http://pbfixit.com/Guide/53.0.0.html

-s*

residentEvil · Oct 17, 2004, 06:57 AM

I should have posted the original thread, but I closed it already. You can search.

Anyway, it appears one of the steps may not have been photographed well, so take heed when removing the keyboard. Search the powerbook forum for that link/info so you can read it too.

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 07:02 AM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
question:

does it get to the startup-disk switcher if you start up holding down the Option (alt) key?

does it boot into target disk mode (holding down "T" on startup will turn it into a Firewire disk - if the disk is okay)?

Taking this thing apart is a right bitch.

However, the Pictorial Fixit Guide to the 12" aluminum Powerbook G4 is here:

http://pbfixit.com/Guide/53.0.0.html

-s*

Thanks, man!

MallyMal · 07:12 AM

Also, I know I can find a laptop HD on a Sunday if that is the issue but where could I find a fan?

Edit: I looked on PB Fixit and all of their PB 12 fans are out of stock. Anywhere else?

Randman · Oct 17, 2004, 07:20 AM

Might want to email the mods, have them move this from the lounge to the PB/troubleshooting section. You might get more help on it that way.

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
Might want to email the mods, have them move this from the lounge to the PB/troubleshooting section. You might get more help on it that way.

Yeah, I posted it here because no one was in the PB forum at the time and need a quick response.

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
question:

does it get to the startup-disk switcher if you start up holding down the Option (alt) key?

does it boot into target disk mode (holding down "T" on startup will turn it into a Firewire disk - if the disk is okay)?

1. No

2. Yes

Randman · Oct 17, 2004, 08:05 AM

Do you have DiskWarrior or TechTool4? Do you have a backup on an external drive or an iPod?
Was there any change in temperature in the room or could have any liquid been introduced? Was the book dropped?

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 08:16 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
Do you have DiskWarrior or TechTool4? Do you have a backup on an external drive or an iPod?
Was there any change in temperature in the room or could have any liquid been introduced? Was the book dropped?

I have an old Norton SystemsWorks CD somewhere. The only temp changes were gradual. No liquid and no dropping. I really think it's the HD now because all the noise is coming from under the left hand rest. The fan is in the back so a f*ck up fan would have it's noise centered from the back right?

Randman · Oct 17, 2004, 08:34 AM

Could be the HD. I'd not use Norton as it's likely to cause more problems than it could solve.
If you have your stuff backed up, you could take a chance on doing a clean install. That, at least, will let you know if the problem is mechanical or not.

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 08:37 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
Could be the HD. I'd not use Norton as it's likely to cause more problems than it could solve.
If you have your stuff backed up, you could take a chance on doing a clean install. That, at least, will let you know if the problem is mechanical or not.

Truly, I think it's the HD crashing because all the noise and vibration is coming from under the left handrest.

Randman · Oct 17, 2004, 08:40 AM

Probably, but at this point, it wouldn't hurt to rule out everything else. Sorry to hear about that dude.

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
Probably, but at this point, it wouldn't hurt to rule out everything else. Sorry to hear about that dude.

The good thing is that I have most of my site files on my Xserve or CD.

The bad is that I have no backup of my iTunes, iPhoto, or Address book.

I think I can get a lot my Mail messages back from Xserve.

Also, I'm looking at this Seagate 5400 RPM drive. I have Seagates in the Xserve and they have never given even though they both have been spinning non-stop for 2 years. Seagate says that the 5400 will give me 50% more performance that the stock 4200. Is this noticeable?

theolein · Oct 17, 2004, 09:28 AM

Yup, the performance does improve a bit with a faster drive, but only for disk related things. Since you have an XServe, maybe you should consider doing regular system backups to it from the PB in future. I have a little external Firewire drive that I use for that, just in case my machine does go bang. Good luck anyway.

Spheric Harlot · Oct 17, 2004, 10:36 AM

If the 'book will boot into Target disk mode, connect it to the XServe and pull everything off it while you might still be able to.

tooki · Oct 17, 2004, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by MallyMal:
Yeah, I posted it here because no one was in the PB forum at the time and need a quick response.

That is not an acceptable reason for posting in the wrong forum.

That said, it's not like you couldn't have found the info you need through a quick Google search and gotten the information immediately.

tooki

CharlesS · Oct 17, 2004, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by Randman:
Do you have DiskWarrior or TechTool4?

If the HD is actually making grinding noises, I think this is one case where DiskWarrior isn't going to be able to help that much...

MallyMal · Oct 17, 2004, 06:12 PM

Update: Went out to the Apple Store, made flirting looks at the cute apple girl, Genius confirmed that the HD is bad, got some candy to calm nerves, drove to CompUSA, bought Seagate 5400 rpm drive and toolkit, took the PB apart, put it back together and installed OS X.

Thanks to all of the fine people that helped me this morning!