No Audio from Powerbook G4
I just bought a secondhand 17" PB G4 1Ghz with 1Gb RAM . The machine looks brand new and works perfectly apart from there is no audio output either through the internal speakers or via the headphone jack . I must emphasise the machine is completely unmarked , with no signs of having been dropped and none of the screws in the casing look to have been tampered with .
The vendor did point this fault out before I bought the unit and this was factored into the price .
Once I got the machine home , on Tuesday night , my first checks were for simple hardware problems - there is a click from the speakers on startup and the same via headphones if plugged in .
Looking at the sound pane of system prefs shows internal speakers , built in audio as the only option under the Output tab ; Under the sound effects tab , play alerts and sound effects through : the box shows internal speakers but is greyed out and cannot be selected despite having ticked and unticked every box .
I did a complete erase of the hard drive and then a clean installation of Leopard - no change .
Somewhere along the line I decided to try resetting the PRAM - pressing Cmd Opt P R just after the power button made no obvious difference , but if these four keys are held down while pressing the power button a first and then second startup chime is heard , however the computer reverts to silent mode after that .
This to my mind at least proves the internal amplifiers and loudspeakers are working .
Since the PRAM reset buttons had some effect , I wondered if there might be a problem with the RAM . I took both RAM sticks out and tried each one singly and in each slot - still no sound although the system profiler recognised each RAM stick in each slot - I guess it is unlikely both are faulty and particularly since the computer functions perfectly in every other aspect - I am currently typing this on it just now , I can run Photoshop CS3 , Lightroom , Final Cut Express ( without sound ) and all my other apps on it without problems .
I bought the computer primarily to use for Photographic work out in the field and for internet and email - this it will do in its present state and for half the cost of the cheapest new MacBook I am happy enough . It would be nice , though , to have sound for iTunes and for occasional video editing ( I also have a dual 2.5ghz Powermac G5 in the house where I already do video work so I don't have a desperate need to edit on the Powerbook and I can use my iPhone for music on the move ) .
Earlier tonight , I dropped by the Genius Bar of the Glasgow Apple Store and told this story , but there were no simple suggestions . There was a suggestion it might be the logic board ( and it may be ) but I'm not ready to lay that much out on the machine yet ( especially not two weeks before Christmas ) . I may yet consider this option after eliminating all less costly options as even then it would only have cost about the same as a basic MacBook or about half the price of a 17" MBP . The big , bright , matte finish 17" screen is a plus point for photographic work and much preferable to a smaller , glossy screen .
Just thought I'd post here to see if anyone can suggest anything or has seen these symptoms before ?
The vendor did point this fault out before I bought the unit and this was factored into the price .
Once I got the machine home , on Tuesday night , my first checks were for simple hardware problems - there is a click from the speakers on startup and the same via headphones if plugged in .
Looking at the sound pane of system prefs shows internal speakers , built in audio as the only option under the Output tab ; Under the sound effects tab , play alerts and sound effects through : the box shows internal speakers but is greyed out and cannot be selected despite having ticked and unticked every box .
I did a complete erase of the hard drive and then a clean installation of Leopard - no change .
Somewhere along the line I decided to try resetting the PRAM - pressing Cmd Opt P R just after the power button made no obvious difference , but if these four keys are held down while pressing the power button a first and then second startup chime is heard , however the computer reverts to silent mode after that .
This to my mind at least proves the internal amplifiers and loudspeakers are working .
Since the PRAM reset buttons had some effect , I wondered if there might be a problem with the RAM . I took both RAM sticks out and tried each one singly and in each slot - still no sound although the system profiler recognised each RAM stick in each slot - I guess it is unlikely both are faulty and particularly since the computer functions perfectly in every other aspect - I am currently typing this on it just now , I can run Photoshop CS3 , Lightroom , Final Cut Express ( without sound ) and all my other apps on it without problems .
I bought the computer primarily to use for Photographic work out in the field and for internet and email - this it will do in its present state and for half the cost of the cheapest new MacBook I am happy enough . It would be nice , though , to have sound for iTunes and for occasional video editing ( I also have a dual 2.5ghz Powermac G5 in the house where I already do video work so I don't have a desperate need to edit on the Powerbook and I can use my iPhone for music on the move ) .
Earlier tonight , I dropped by the Genius Bar of the Glasgow Apple Store and told this story , but there were no simple suggestions . There was a suggestion it might be the logic board ( and it may be ) but I'm not ready to lay that much out on the machine yet ( especially not two weeks before Christmas ) . I may yet consider this option after eliminating all less costly options as even then it would only have cost about the same as a basic MacBook or about half the price of a 17" MBP . The big , bright , matte finish 17" screen is a plus point for photographic work and much preferable to a smaller , glossy screen .
Just thought I'd post here to see if anyone can suggest anything or has seen these symptoms before ?
Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.1)
