FakieJakie

Q: My power cord isn't charging my powerbook g4

Okay, so my problems started a couple of weeks ago. I have a Powerbook g4, 15 inch. It's not brand new, I bought it off of ebay, but it worked fine for the first week that I had it, no problems. Then one day when I was using it I heard a "pop", and I smelled smoke. I picked up my power adapter, and realized that the smell was coming from it, where the cord that connects to the computer enters the adapter. I unplugged the cord from the wall, and then moved the adapter. When I did this, I heard another "pop" and the smell of smoke got stronger. I unplugged the cord from the laptop, and it continued to work fine, but I didn't have any way to charge it.

 

     I got another power cord, this one not Apple brand, and started using it. It seemed to charge the laptop when it was off, and supply power to it when it was on, although it didn't CHARGE when the computer was on, it just kept it from dying. After I had been using it for a while, though, the light behind the screen started to flash, and then it went out altogether. The screen didn't go completely dark, though, and I could still see what was on it if I strained my eyes. I managed to shut the computer down from the apple menu, and I left it alone for a little while. When I came back it started right up, but I had the same issue after I used the computer for a while. I showed my dad what was happening, and he pulled the power cord out of the computer when the screen started to flash. This stopped the flashing, but because this cord didn't charge the computer while the computer was on, the battery died within a few minutes of removing the power cord.

 

     Since then he's managed to charge the battery from MY powerbook in HIS powerbook (we have the same computer), but we haven't been able to get the battery to charge in my computer. Also, when he plugs his charger (Apple brand) into my computer the indicator light turns green, then orange, then red, and then goes off completely, all within the space of one or two minutes. When we completely remove the battery from my computer the indicator light stays green, but when I try to turn the computer on it doesn't work. The only thing that happens is the fan starts running, but there's no start up chime, and nothing on the screen.

 

     I don't know if I need to get a new battery, a new charger, or if something happened inside the computer when the old charger exploded, but I would really appreciate any insight! There's an Apple store nearby that I can take it to, but I'd like to be able to know what's important to tell them, and what's not, at the very least. Thanks!

 

- Jakie

PowerBook

Posted on May 20, 2011 10:15 AM

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Q: My power cord isn't charging my powerbook g4

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  • by old comm guy,Helpful

    old comm guy old comm guy May 20, 2011 11:37 AM in response to FakieJakie
    Level 4 (2,244 points)
    May 20, 2011 11:37 AM in response to FakieJakie

    Non knwing the specific model and flavor of Powerbook (Titanium, Aluminum, Size, CPU speed, etc) I can't give you more specific information, but it certainly appears that the DC-IN board has been partially fried. 

     

    If the machine is a Titanium Powerbook, you are probably in luck since replacing the DC-in board is easy and boards are cheap. 

     

    If it is an Aluminum Powerbook (CPU speed usually over 1 GHz) then you are in for a more complicated repair and a more expensive replacement board.

  • by FakieJakie,

    FakieJakie FakieJakie May 20, 2011 12:14 PM in response to old comm guy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2011 12:14 PM in response to old comm guy

    Okay, that gives me somewhere to start, thanks! It is an aluminum powerbook, I completely forgot to mention that. It's 15 inches, I'm not sure about the other specifications, though. I'll try to find out some more details about it, like the speed if that'll help. Thank you again!

  • by FakieJakie,

    FakieJakie FakieJakie May 20, 2011 12:41 PM in response to old comm guy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2011 12:41 PM in response to old comm guy

    It's 1.67 GHz. Thanks again!

  • by old comm guy,

    old comm guy old comm guy May 20, 2011 1:33 PM in response to FakieJakie
    Level 4 (2,244 points)
    May 20, 2011 1:33 PM in response to FakieJakie

    That's inside and involved is usually at the iFixit repair manuals site.  You can start at this link.

     

    The board, which is a combination DC-in Sound board, as I recall, could be 922-6707 or 922-6963 with the second number applying to the Dual-Layer Optical Disc model.