How do I diagnose/fix/test my water-damaged iBook? It could still work!

Question

Level 1

8 points

How do I diagnose/fix/test my water-damaged iBook? It could still work!

Hi! My 1.33 GHz G4 iBook with Leopard and 512 MB RAM was water-damaged about 6 months ago. I powered it on with the old (Still working) battery, but not plugged into an adapter, and I heard it make sounds. It started humming, but then it beeped a couple times (I think 3) and the sleep light flashed on and off. How can I test the parts? I have a G3 Clamshell, a G4 iMac, and one of my siblings has one of the exact same model. I don't want to risk breaking any of them at all, though. How can I test the hard-drive or any other parts? This could save me over $200, so I would appreciate any help at all. Thanks!

Also, I think the display might still work, but it could've been blown out. How do I hook it up to an external display before I turn it on?

iBook G4 1.33 GHz 512 MB RAM-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 29, 2012 11:05 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Qwertii Author

Level 1

8 points

May 29, 2012 2:38 PM in response to Qwertii

I've heard that it could be due to a failed RAM stick, but I removed it and still got this issue. Also, is there any way I could test the hard-drive to use for parts?

Reply

Answer 2

May 29, 2012 4:56 PM in response to Qwertii

I would advise giving up on it at this point. Any opportunity to save it evaporated (so to speak) months ago.

For future reference, dealing with a spill:

Turn it off, but leave it open.

Turn it upside down, rotating the display toward you so that any liquid runs away from the display. From this point on in the procedure, leave it upside down and work on it in that position. Gravity is your friend and will keep the liquid from getting any further down into your iBook if you leave it upside down.

Unplug it from the adapter.

Remove the battery.

Remove the keyboard.

With a clean lint-free cloth or paper towel, gently blot (don't rub) away any visible liquid. Leaving it open and upside down, allow to sit and air dry (no fans or hair dryers) for another three days before reassembling it and trying to use it.

Never try to use a laptop that has been spilled on before disassembling and drying it out. Doing so can allow the liquid to come in contact with circuit boards and permanently short them out.

If, after allowing to dry for several days, the display does not work right, try reviving it by resetting the NVRAM and PRAM in Open Firmware:

Start up into Open Firmware by pressing and holding the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.
At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-nvram
Press Return.
When prompted for your password, enter it and press the Return key.
It responds OK.
At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-all
Press Return.

The computer restarts (hopefully).

You can try the Open Firmware NVRAM and PRAM reset. If it won't start up in Open Firmware, I fear it's a goner.

Good luck.

Reply