Q: Powerbook 145 apparently dead
I have a Powerbook 145 that I bought used around 1998, and it died in 2000. I suspect a power issue since hitting the power button on the back yields no response at all - no lights, chime, etc. I've confirmed using a multimeter that the AC adapter works and the battery is completely dead. Does this machine require a startup surge beyond the AC adapter's capacity (i.e., replacing the battery might resolve this problem), or is it likely the internal power supply, or something else?
I'd really like to get this fixed so I can see my applications and documents as they were 10 years ago before the machine died (though admittedly I have no idea if the hard drive still works). I can get a new battery with a warranty on eBay for only $30, but any other parts (or entire systems for sale) seem to be very hard to find.
Thanks in advance!
I'd really like to get this fixed so I can see my applications and documents as they were 10 years ago before the machine died (though admittedly I have no idea if the hard drive still works). I can get a new battery with a warranty on eBay for only $30, but any other parts (or entire systems for sale) seem to be very hard to find.
Thanks in advance!
Mac Pro 8-Core (2x 2.26 GHz Xeon 5500-series), Mac OS X (10.6.3), 10 GB RAM, 2x 750 GB HD, Radeon HD 4870, 24"LED Cinema Display, Nikon D300 w/GPS
Posted on Jun 7, 2010 8:43 AM
by Jan Hedlund,Solvedanswer
There is a little block labeled F1 on the board near the battery contacts (doesn't look like any fuse I've ever seen though).
That is an SMD (surface mount device) fuse. This web page shows one example.
Off the board, it would have been easy to check that fuse; just use an ohmmeter (look for a near zero reading).
When soldered to the board, the surrounding circuits complicate matters. Still with an ohmmeter, one can try to carry out the test in both directions (should read almost zero in both). I should add that there is always a certain (albeit relatively rare) risk that an in-circuit test negatively affects other components.
Jan
Posted on Jun 7, 2010 11:29 AM