Peapodman

Q: IBook g3 will not power up

Hello, i recently tried to boot up my old Ibook g3 but it refused to do so. The battery charges and it currently at 2 stable lights and the charging cable glows orange where it connects to the laptop. However when ever i press to power button nothing happens; the screen doesn't light up and the computer doesn't make any noises.

 

Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks P

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4), G3

Posted on Jul 24, 2014 6:52 AM

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Q: IBook g3 will not power up

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  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 24, 2014 6:54 AM in response to Peapodman
    Level 10 (122,048 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 24, 2014 6:54 AM in response to Peapodman

    Orange? It should be green.

     

    Might be the adapter >  Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters

  • by Peapodman,

    Peapodman Peapodman Jul 24, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 24, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    The orange means it's still charging i thought?

  • by Jan Hedlund,

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Jul 24, 2014 9:02 AM in response to Peapodman
    Level 6 (9,894 points)
    Jul 24, 2014 9:02 AM in response to Peapodman

    The iBook G3 has a barrel-type low-voltage DC connector.

     

    To begin with, see the following article.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

     

    Any change if the battery is not in place?

     

    Is the low-voltage DC plug securely in place? Many laptop computers (both Mac and PC) have problems with the DC-in jack. The pins sometimes work loose (and may have to be resoldered). One can often discover this through a change (intermittent connection) when one tries to move the plug a bit.

     

    Also, some iBook G3 computers have an issue with a graphics chip that may have to be resoldered (special technique). Applying pressure to a certain area near the trackpad can lead to a temporary change (a computer that did not react at all may then attempt to start up). Try a web search for more information.

     

    Jan

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jul 24, 2014 12:17 PM in response to Peapodman
    Level 6 (14,345 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 24, 2014 12:17 PM in response to Peapodman

    For vintage pre-Intel based Apple Portable computer power adapter identification see:

    •PowerPC-Based Mac notebooks: Identifying the right power adapter and power cord--US

     

    The battery, power adapter, and DC-in board all work together to alternately power/charge

    the computer, and charge the battery, also to let the computer run at correct voltage when

    the battery is fully charged. Or to run the computer at reduced CPU without battery installed.

     

    These three component products need to be correctly functioning for this to happen. Also

    there is a fourth possibility outside of these three, in this line of thinking, that may contribute

    to a failure of the system to function as expected. The logic board can sustain some kind of

    damage that may cause the charging/power systems to fail, outside of the above component

    parts that may test OK otherwise.

     

    The DC-in Board issue can be a part of a greater level of troubleshooting by replacement

    of parts, however difficult opening the iBook computers can be, to be sure the logic board

    has no defect which may have occurred due to rough handling.

     

    Then, the other issue with the logic board and graphic chip, involving Shims to jamb the

    failed solder joints together, could affect some models among the iBook G3 & iBook G4.

    There had been a few articles online by a guy who'd figured out how to shim these years

    ago, and I am not sure of his name (Cory? something) but a general search such as this

    https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=ibook+solder+defect+repair+shims does bring

    up V-chip repair by shims, and may touch on the re-flow or re-bead of cracked solders.

     

    Hopefully you can make your old iBook G3 work OK; and that the logic board or graphic

    chip, etc are also not part of the issue.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by One Brain Cell,

    One Brain Cell One Brain Cell Aug 15, 2014 2:01 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 4 (2,165 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 15, 2014 2:01 PM in response to K Shaffer

    In addition to the comments you've already received, I'd try a couple of other things:

     

    I'd remove the battery and just leave it out for say, 10 minutes before putting it back in before reinserting it.

     

    If nothing changes isn't there a PRAM Zapping thing you can do? This might be an OS9 only trick, but it's worth a try. To Zap the Pram, with the machine off, hold down the Command Key, the Control and the Power key together. Keep the keys pressed down and listen to the computer startup three times. After you hear the startup noise for the third time take your fingers off the keys and let the machine startup as normal.

     

    Major apologies if that is an OS9 only trick, but I don't think it'll do any damage to try.