iBook G4 14" RAM And Hard Drive

Question

Level 1

0 points

iBook G4 14" RAM And Hard Drive

Hey Everyone!

Alright, here's another question:

I just got an iBook G4 14" that was in like a hundred different pieces. I got it for free because they said that the logic board was trash. However, with some advice from a friend, I put the thing back together. However, they took the hard drive and RAM from the computer and now I don't have those parts.

Since I own another iBook G4, I took the RAM from it, and put it into the new computer that was missing it. Also, we stuck the install CD that came from my computer in it, and it booted up and worked perfectly! We were able to move the mouse, keyboard, etc...

So now, here comes the interesting question: Is it now worth the time and money to buy a hard drive and RAM for it? Because it booted up from my RAM, does that mean that the logic board is actually OK? Did they mis-diagnose the problem? Did the boot up test we performed on it mean that it it actually OK and would work fine with a new RAM card and a hard drive?

What do you guys think? Thanks for all your help in advanced!!!!

LAPTOPER777

iBook G4

Posted on Jul 13, 2009 5:08 PM

Reply

Answer 1

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Jul 13, 2009 5:49 PM in response to LAPTOPER

That depends on what the original problem was with the logic board. Things like video card failure, fan sensors, and a hundred subsystems are at work on the board. Without being able to test for the problem it's anybody's guess if the logic board is actually ok.

Reply

Answer 2

LAPTOPER Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 5:56 PM in response to dechamp

Hey Dechamp!

Thanks for your reply. I was told that the logic board wasn't working, and after asking some questions he finally told me that it was the memory (RAM) that wasn't working. However, after adding my own memory, it booted up and worked great. Does that mean that it is ok?

Thanks man,

LAPTOPER777

Reply

Answer 3

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Jul 13, 2009 6:42 PM in response to LAPTOPER

It means that the initial test of the ram has passed. That's not a great test as it doesn't stress the ram like installations or running actual programs. In order to actually test the ram you would need to be able to run a program like Apple's hardware test or some other boot disk testing utility. The hardware test is specific to each mac for the G4's so I don't have a source of that disk.

But, I'm still a bit suspicious of the motherboard. You said that the Ram and Hard Drive was pulled. This is usually done because the parts have some value for repairing other machines. If the Ram was bad, then it would have been replaced and the machine repaired. The best test for bad ram is to use new good ram, and if that was done, then the machine wouldn't have been left in parts (at least not in my shop).

You'll either have to get a loaner hard drive to install Leopard to, and thoroughly test all of the subsystems, or buy one. They're not real expensive compared to the potential benefit of having another laptop running around.
Here's a 80gb for $45 shipped - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152109
or
a 160gb drive for $60 shipped - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148073

Maybe you've got a friend with a laptop hard drive laying around? There's nothing special about the drives that make them work in a Mac. The older drives use an IDE (ATA) interface, while the newer drives use a SATA (thin 1/2 inch wide cable) interface. Your's would take the IDE drive.

Reply

Answer 4

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Jul 13, 2009 6:42 PM in response to LAPTOPER

Hey LAPTOPER777 how easy do you think it is to diagnose issues with an electronic piece of technology from afar? Take it to a Mac repair shop and have them give you a full report.

Reply

Answer 5

LAPTOPER Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 8:19 PM in response to sig

Hey Sig!

Thanks for the reply!

Ha, the thing is, I live in Wyoming. I don't even think there is an Apple Repair store anyway. If there were, it would be at least a seven hour drive from where I live.

Reply

Answer 6

LAPTOPER Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 8:29 PM in response to dechamp

Hey Dechamp!

Thanks a ton for the reply!

Alright, that sounds great. However, the supposed problem with the RAM is the one soldered into the motherboard - thus no way to replace it unless you replace the whole logic board. That's really what I am cautious about.

The guy I got the computer from didn't seem extremely skilled in the field. The laptop was taken apart pretty badly. To be honest, I was really surprised it still even turned on. 🙂 I don't know how he came up with the diagnosis either. That's just what he said the other guy said..... So, I really don't know what to believe.

I do totally agree, the RAM and the hard drive would be well worth "salvaging" if they thought the computer wasn't even going to work. However, now those are the parts I need to test it out.... I wouldn't mind buying some RAM, as I also have an iBook G4 that I guess I could upgrade the RAM for.

I can search around for one, but I live in a little town in Wyoming, not the best place to get technical support! 🙂

Anyway, what do you think?

Thanks so much though for all you've done!!

Reply

Answer 7

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Jul 13, 2009 10:21 PM in response to LAPTOPER

If you enjoy working with the guts and can get a drive to test with, then why not give it a shot? I think a competent repair shop would have been able to isolate the trouble to Ram and replaced it. I've never had the pleasure of opening up one of those G4 laptops, so I don't know about RAM on the motherboard. I've seen several Mac's put some of the ram on the underside of a motherboard, so it's a pain to change, but it's not soldiered and can be changed.

The last Mac that I had with soldiered ram was my IIsi, 4 slots and 1MB on the board. For a hundred dollars I was able to get 4 4MB boards (used on AOL Classifieds) and had the only machine in town with 17MB's ! I do enjoy tinkering with the hardware. That machine really kicked-butt with a 30MB hard drive (much larger than the 20's in the PC's. Overclock chipper plugged into the motherboard, 60ns ram, clocked to 26Mhz, Dual Monitors on a cable I built myself, and ISDN on System 7 🙂

If you do get ram that you can use to upgrade yours, and a good drive, then the worst that can happen is that you've got a few spare parts. I hear eBay calling...

Good Luck.

Reply

Answer 8

LAPTOPER Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 10:21 PM in response to LAPTOPER

Alright, updates!

I performed the Apple Hardware Test on the iBook and everything passed!

No problems were reported at all!

So, what's next? A hard drive?

Reply

Answer 9

LAPTOPER Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 10:29 PM in response to dechamp

Hahaha

Hey Dechamp!

We posted at the exact same time, but I don't think you saw my last one. The Hardware Test passed! As fas as I can tell, everything should work fine?

Yes, I believe that 512 MB is soldered to the actual mother board, but there is also a replaceable spot for additional RAM! Yay!

I was thinking of putting the removable 512 of RAM that I have on my original iBook, putting it on there, and upgrading to a 1 GB RAM for my original one. That way I will have 1.5 GB of RAM! Wow, what a gigantic improvement compared to yours! Hahaha 🙂

I do have some hard drives. However, the one I think would fit, only is 4 GB. I do have a 30 GB drive, but it is too thick, and won't fit into the spot. However, I have this little adapted that changes any 'ol hard drive into a portable drive via USB. Is there any way I can hook that one up and test the computer through there?

Thanks man!!!!

LAPTOPER777

Reply

Answer 10

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Jul 13, 2009 11:54 PM in response to LAPTOPER

Yep, I saw your post after I checked back. I think you will need at least 9 GB or so for a Leopard installation, so the 30 would work except G4's and G5's (PPC) processor Macs will not boot from USB, you would need a Firewire adapter. 512MB RAM is a minimum, but it will work. Performance can come later if the machine proves out.

Reply

Answer 11

LAPTOPER Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 14, 2009 8:41 AM in response to dechamp

Alright, that sounds great!

Where would be my best guess to get a hard drive? I have seen hard drives at Wal Mart before, but I'm not sure they would work. I live in Wyoming, and its difficult to get anything local without driving for hours...

Radioshack? It may be over priced, or, I could do it online, but I HATE paying for shipping...

Steven Wilcox

Reply

Answer 12

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Jul 14, 2009 12:34 PM in response to LAPTOPER

Both of the drives that I linked to are with free shipping, at least they were when I posted them. Newegg is a pretty good company and is usually running some pretty good deals.

They ship from California, Accept PayPal and normal credit card payments.

Reply