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Li'l Roo

Q: Dead logic board in my PowerBook G4

My PowerBook G4 is dead, really dead. The technician said the logic board "suffered a failure," which somehow caused a secondary failure in the keyboard cable. He didn't offer a reason for this, and I was so stunned by the $1100+ repair costs I didn't to think to ask. I've seen in discussion boards for the iBook G4 that removing the bottom casing and placing some sort of shim in there can help because the pressure created when the housing is replaced can press the logic board against the graphics chip. Is that anything that would even be worth trying with my PowerBook? I'm in no way a technically inclined person, so I have no idea how similar or dissimilar the innards of these two different models might be. I know someone who will be more than willing to give this a try if anyone out there thinks it's worth it. I have no problem replacing the keyboard cable & keyboard, but first I need to know whether I'll have a working computer to connect them to!

Thanks to anyone who can help with this.

G5; PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.5), PowerBook is OS X 10.5.3 (I think)

Posted on Nov 30, 2008 1:51 PM

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Q: Dead logic board in my PowerBook G4

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  • by S.U.,

    S.U. S.U. Dec 4, 2008 8:01 PM in response to cornelius
    Level 6 (8,360 points)
    Dec 4, 2008 8:01 PM in response to cornelius
    You make a good point when you say "the problem with the broken logic board diagnosis is that it is too broadly general". I also think that it's important not to conclude that the logic board is at fault until all other possibilities have been eliminated. Sometimes I think people are too quick to blame any problem on the logic board.

    Your other point is also well taken--that whether or not it is worth fixing depends greatly on what it is worth to you. My iBook was my first computer ever, and it was an iBook because it was all I could afford or justify at the time. I had an ongoing love/hate relationship with it, and when the logic board failed, I opted to try fixing it in the cheapest possible way by sending it to Superior. Even though I have read a lot of bad ink on Dale, my own experience was excellent, and it was immensely satisfying to hear the start up chime after I reassembled it. I actually had more fun taking it apart and working on it than I did learning how to use it. Once it was fixed and treated to a new hard drive, I gave it away to my better half. So it was easily worth the $150 I ended up spending for the reball and new drive. But it would not have been worth paying the retail price for someone to replace the logic board and hard drive at a cost of several hundred dollars.

    In the meantime, I bought a 17" MBP, and this is a computer that I truly love. I am not impressed with the new unibody MBP's. If mine breaks down, I will fix it, no matter what it takes. I like it--it's exactly what I want and need. So I can relate to your fondness for your Pismo, and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep it going. Truly how you feel about your computer will be the determining factor in what you will want to do to fix it.
  • by cornelius,

    cornelius cornelius Dec 4, 2008 8:25 PM in response to S.U.
    Level 6 (17,825 points)
    Dec 4, 2008 8:25 PM in response to S.U.
    S.U.

    Apparently I am not the only one nuts about an old computer. I have been researching the MBP for a while, but my wife asks, I thought you already have the best computer Apple made?, and I cannot justify buying a new computer while I have a perfectly good one that does everything I need to do. I'm afraid, at this rate, I will never get a new computer as I have another Pismo I can use, I have a spare logic board, I can get parts from eBay quite reasonably, and the Pismo is easy to service. Sounds like the old Pismo and I are wedded for life However, one never knows...

    c
  • by S.U.,

    S.U. S.U. Dec 4, 2008 8:39 PM in response to cornelius
    Level 6 (8,360 points)
    Dec 4, 2008 8:39 PM in response to cornelius
    Well if you stay wedded to your Pismo you will be able to avoid one of the hazards of owning a MBP:

    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1631059&start=30&tstart=0
  • by cornelius,

    cornelius cornelius Dec 5, 2008 7:52 AM in response to S.U.
    Level 6 (17,825 points)
    Dec 5, 2008 7:52 AM in response to S.U.
    Laptopia Epithelial Dislogica

    Another great argument for the Pismo.

    c
  • by docsharp01,

    docsharp01 docsharp01 Feb 14, 2009 11:09 AM in response to SpeakEasy - Home Brewed Gear
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 14, 2009 11:09 AM in response to SpeakEasy - Home Brewed Gear
    If you are referring to ipod repair, please go to http://www.ipod-repair-guide.com for more information. I hope this helps.
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