I have a power book g4 17 inch 2005 when you press the power button the hard drive spins up and clicks a couple of times and nothing happens the display stays blank and no boot chime. it charges the battery when plugged in. any help would really be appreciated.
If you have tried another known good power adapter, then you could try using another DC-In Board. Otherwise the only other thing to try is start disconnecting things in case an item is preventing the laptop from powering on. I would remove the hard drive since it would require the most power to run. I would even remove the memory to see if you get the three beeps. Even disconnect the keyboard and use the power on pads on the Logic Board to attempt powering on the laptop. I think the Power On pads are the ones shown just below the "PMU NMI" shown in your earlier photo and just above the "PMU Reset" pads (at least power on pads are usually right next to the PMU Reset pads).
The following is the procedure for resetting the PMU on the PowerBook G4 17":
https://www.cnet.com/news/troubleshooting-powerbook-g4-17-5-charging-problems-resetting-the-pmu/
I searched both sides of the board and could not find the pmu reset switch but I did find 2 small pads labelled R553 under the pads it says pmu reset. so I got a screw driver bit and shorted them for less than a second. I plugged the keyboard assembly back into the board put the ram back in and attempted to power on the lap top nothing happened the hdd started spinning and no error coad. The seller also stated that when it was working the sound did not work I do have some power book g4 speakers which do work I could plug those in and see what happens what do you think? hears a picture of the pads its not very good (it was taken with my I phone 5c) :
• 922-6007 - Backup Battery Assembly PRAM, 820-1813-A - Apple Part
www.powerbookmedic.com/parts/922-6007/Backup-Battery-Assembly-PRAM.html
Similar image (as iFixit page) shows "round button cell, in holder, w/o wires."
This changed a bit; some were soldered in. Had to snip wire once defective
then Mac would ignore it. Or attempt resolder.
Good luck & happy trails!🌻🌤
Have you tried booting the laptop without the internal PRAM battery connected?
IIRC there may be a PRAM battery on the Logic Board. If this battery is worn out or dead, then it will prevent the system from powering on or booting. Just unplugging this battery should be enough to test this theory, but I don't recall where the PRAM battery is located or if it is even possible to disconnect it. I think some later G4 laptops soldered the PRAM battery to the board. I believe if the PRAM battery was removable it would be easily accessible from beneath the keyboard or in the memory compartment. I haven't worked on a G4 in over 12 years so my memory is a bit hazy on details. In fact I had completely forgotten about the laptop PRAM batteries until just this moment.
And those are harder to find, the PRAM battery for PowerBook 17-inch models.
Most I'd seen for sale, were used and flat= without power. May be enough room
inside to discover if a button-cell battery could be fitted. The last PBook 17-inch
models had wire -and connection plug- attached to the battery.
Good luck & happy trails!🌻🌤
I remember having to solder in a replacement one time for some type of Mac (may have been the original iBook G3 Clamshell). It wasn't easy to do because of the extremely limited space. I don't recall the voltage of those batteries. I think the desktops did use a 4.5V barrel battery, but I'm not sure about the laptops. The good thing is the laptop should work Ok without the PRAM battery, but it just won't retain the NVRAM settings if the laptop becomes disconnected from power.
What does the VDC measure with a1K resistor in series?
I got this power book of eBay so I have no idea when it was used. I have also tried to unplug the hdd and power it up without anything different happening. I have not tried the reset switch I will try and locate mine and try it.
Generally those similar instructions for that build model (among clutter) are seen here:
• Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU) - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1431
..link to exact section :here: sometimes doesn't work..
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1431#faq10
The part - from this official document (for that model) - shows same.
Older reset buttons were OK for their time. Tower G3/G4 models, too!
I mesured the two batteries they claim to each be 3.7 volts each but when I took the reading it only said 4.7 volts this is a it low but I think it is enough to keep the power book g4 running hear are some pictures.
[Image Edited by Moderator to Remove Personal Information]
I tried charging the power book for 24 hours and it did not work the same thing happened as last time the hdd started spinning and no error coad. I am starting to suspect the logic board. any other ideas
Not sure why some one should suggest my reply was any sort of cure.
They 'recommended' one offered only as correction for secondary issue!
Perhaps a second example of the PB/17-inch should be sought; if one
can be found inexpensive enough to explore. I'd found early MacBook
2006-07 to have fair upgrade over last version PPC PowerBook/iBook.
The issue is hardware related. Anyway, I'm 'un-following' this thread now.
With apologies!🌻🤔
Has it been out if use for a long time?
power book g4 17 inch 2005
