iBook G4 hard drive removal

Al,

Don't attempt to work on your iBook without a good repair manual. Check out this iFixit link then choose your iBook model.

http://www.ifixit.com/Browse/iBook_G4

You will find detailed directions for the hard drive replacement there. Be extra cautious when disconnecting the the power switch and speaker connectors from the logic board. They are easy to inadvertently pull right off the board.

Good Luck,

Randy

Hey Al,

Your new drive needs to be formatted. Boot from your install DVD and when you get passed the first page (where you select your language) choose 'Utilities' from the drop down menu. Click on 'Disk Utility' and then select your volume at the top of the list to the left. DU will tell you that the disk is unreadable and ask if you would like to initialize it. Say yes, and then click on 'Partition' to the right. Choose (1) partition (normal) unless you would like more than one volume. Make sure that 'Mac OS Extended (journald)' is selected, and click 'Partition'.

After the initialization is complete, quit Disk Utility and return to the installer to complete installing your OS.

After the installation is complete, you will be led through setting up your computer. You must then go to System Preferences > Software Update and install all of the required updates. This can take some time as you have to return to software update after each install and restart to install the next wave up updates. Continue until Software update says that your computer is up to date. After all of the updates are installed, go back to Disk Utility, which now lives in the 'Utilities' folder within your Applications folder. Select your volume again and this time click 'Repair Disk Permissions'. Apple Recommends repairing disk permissions after installing updates and generally at least every month.

Whewwww. You'll be ready for a coffee break after that.

Good Luck,

Randy

Sorry about that Al. If your new HD is not seen or available, you may have to open up your iBook again. Look to make sure the IDE cable is fully seated on the hard drive as well as the cable connection to the logic board. If that isn't fully seated your iBook doesn't know the drive is connected.

It is possible that you have a bad HD. It happens sometimes. A 2.5" Firewire IDE enclosure is a very nice diagnostic tool to have. They are not very expensive on eBay. I would recommend getting one if your aren't able to resolve your HD issue. At least if the HD is bad, you can confirm this and get a replacement on warranty.

Let me know how it goes.

Randy

Hi Al,

The IDE connector at the logic board can look similar to the wide connector on the hard drive and plugs into the logic board along side of the HD, or depending on which model you have, it can be connected to other side of the logic board as a smaller connector. In the former case, just make sure that the connector is pushed all the way down on both ends. The other type od IDE cable has a small flat connector that is more tenuously snapped in on the opposite side of the logic board from the hard drive. A piece of high temp Kapton tape is attached to the connector to help ssecure it in place.

I believe that, at least in the first example, the logic board connection also serves the optical drive, so if your optical drive is functioning OK, that connection is probably alright.

Keep watching eBay for an IDE enclosure. I got a great deal on a new one awhile back ($5.00).

Good Luck,

Randy

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