-
All replies
-
Helpful answers
-
Mar 14, 2013 5:28 AM in response to maartje2013by maartje2013,To give some more information. Obviously, my laptop's pretty old now. The battery was getting old, so when charged only worked for a couple of hours but was not yet completely dead. I started up my laptop, everything was fine. I saw the battery was charged so I turned it off at the wall. Then the computer went dead - black screen. I assumed the battery had just got to the end of it's life, so I turned it on at the wall and restarted: nothing. No chime, no fan sounds, black screen, nothing.
I've tried leaving it a while and turning on again and restarting - nothing. Tried taking battery out and putting it in again - nothing. Tried shift, control, alt - nothing.
I don't think it's the battery as four LEDs light up on that when I check it, and anyway, have got it plugged in at wall.
Any tips?
Also, got a load of stuff on there that I 'cleverly' haven't backed up - do you think that's all lost or do you think I can pay someone to retrieve it? Am resigned to having to buy a new laptop.
Any advice gratefully received!
-
-
Mar 15, 2013 9:22 AM in response to dalstottby maartje2013,Thanks, dalstott, but already tried that - nothing.
-
Mar 15, 2013 1:06 PM in response to maartje2013by Jan Hedlund,★HelpfulA component failure cannot be ruled out. If nothing else works, it would be possible to open the computer and remove the internal hard drive. The removed drive can be installed in an appropriate external USB enclosure (or connected to a special adapter without a case). Using another Mac, you should then be able to see the drive and retrieve important files.
Jan
-
Mar 16, 2013 5:30 AM in response to Jan Hedlundby maartje2013,Thanks, Jan, that sounds positive at least. I am not tech-savvie enough to carry that out myself, but do you think it's something I would have to get a professional to do or could a fairly tech friend do it?
-
Mar 16, 2013 7:19 AM in response to maartje2013by Jan Hedlund,★HelpfulHello,
It may be difficult to determine whether or not the machine has a hardware issue (this could be almost anything, such as loose cables, leaking capacitors, damaged semiconductors, and bad solder joints).
If you decide to remove the hard drive, it is going to take some time, since iBook disassembly is a bit complex; but a tech friend should not have major difficulties following instructions found on the Internet (for instance, at ifixit.com). You may even find that there is interest for certain spare parts from the computer.
Look for a suitable USB enclosure for the hard drive in question, or something similar to the following example:
http://www.newertech.com/products/usb3_universaldriveadap.php
Normally, you would try to retrieve documents from the hard disk with the drive connected via USB to another Mac. It is possible to use a Windows PC in some cases, providing that an appropriate program (such as TransMac) for the handling of Mac disks is installed.
If the files on the hard disk are very important, ask someone with the necessary expertise for help.
Jan
-
Mar 19, 2013 6:06 AM in response to Jan Hedlundby maartje2013,Thanks, Jan, that's really helpful.
Before you were talking about data retrieval you said a component failure or a hardware issue couldn't be ruled out. I am completely clueless, so sorry to ask stupid question, but how would I know? Is there anyway of finding out other than paying someone? Before you said that I just assumed I had a dead laptop and the best I could hope for was to retrieve the data (if possible) and then start saving for a new laptop. Is it possible it could be repairable? Or is it so old now that I wouldn't be able to get parts for it?
BTW, that is a really cool point you made about some people maybe wanting to buy spare parts from my laptop - every penny made helps towards a new one, right?
Thanks for all your help so far...
Maartje
-
Mar 19, 2013 2:11 PM in response to maartje2013by Jan Hedlund,Hello Maartje,
One could have suspected the power adapter, but then the computer ought to have started/reacted from the (partly charged) battery. Apparently, there is absolutely no sound or light.
If necessary, the power adapter DC output voltage (see the label) can be checked with a multimeter.
You mentioned earlier that the battery had been removed and replaced. Did you try starting the iBook with the battery out?
Something may have happened inside the machine. This is the difficult part. Professional help is probably going to be too expensive, but a tech friend could perhaps have a look. A magnifying glass can be used in search for obviously damaged or leaking components, and cracked solder joints. Some basic things can be tested with a digital multimeter. One area of specific interest would be around the power adapter port.
Two web page examples:
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/iBook_G4
http://lowendmac.com/powerbooks.html
Good luck!
Jan
-
Mar 19, 2013 3:08 PM in response to Jan Hedlundby Jan Hedlund,I should add that measuring the power adapter DC output voltage would require a special technique because of the power plug design.
-
Mar 19, 2013 11:07 PM in response to Jan Hedlundby Jan Hedlund,Another addendum.
The computer itself does not appear to react at all. Not even a faint sound of any kind. No light.
What about the DC power plug (when connected to the iBook)? Any light/colour?
If/when less than four indicator lights on the battery, does it again charge (more lights)?
-
Mar 20, 2013 6:36 AM in response to Jan Hedlundby maartje2013,Hi again Jan
I cannot thank you enough for all this help you are giving me, it is really amazing.
The plug does not have a light because the original one (which would light up) broke and Apple no longer made them so I bought a bootleg replacement which did not have a light.
You are right - there is no reaction of any kind from the laptop, as if it was just a lump of plastic.
With the battery - all four indicator lights light up. I haven't tried starting it when plugged in but with the battery taken out, so I will try that next.
Best wishes
Maartje
-
Mar 23, 2013 11:32 AM in response to Jan Hedlundby maartje2013,Hi again Jan
I just tried my laptop with the battery out but with the laptop plugged in, as you suggested and to my amazement it worked! What do you think is causing this? I haven't dared turn it off and see if it does again - I have been busy emailing myself all my data as I don't have a USB stick...
-
Mar 23, 2013 1:30 PM in response to maartje2013by Jan Hedlund,Maartje,
Very good. I do not know the exact reason for this behaviour. However, completely removing power to all circuits for a while, or just changing the load, can sometimes lead to a reset (not too different from the normal Power Manager reset). This may or may not last (electrolytic capacitors could be bad, et cetera). Hopefully, the machine will work, but creating backup copies is of course wise.
Jan
-
Mar 23, 2013 2:35 PM in response to Jan Hedlundby Jan Hedlund,Another possibility could be that the battery has an internal fault (perhaps resulting in a heavy load on the power supply), without this being indicated by the lights.