FrontSideBus

Q: iBook 4G won't boot after upgrading components.

I am a tech at a local computer store, and recently a customer came in wanting to upgrade her iBook 4G. We decided it would be cheaper for the client to go ahead and purchase a refurbished one and just transfer the HDD's. We took the two machines apart (after taking out what seems like 50 screws a piece) and swapped the HDD's, reassembling them both. The new iBook took the drive and booted up just like her old desktop was and is fine. Her old laptop which was still working before the HDD swap will not boot anymore. We have taken it apart and made sure everything is connected but are still very confused.

 

The old iBook starts to boot up, the chime occurs, and after a few more seconds it just powers itself off right before the screen is supposed to come up with the Apple logo. Any input guys? Thanks!

 

iBook Refurbished:

30GB HDD (Swapped with old)

1.25GB RAM

1.07 Ghz Processor

Refurbished Battery

 

iBook Old:

30GB HDD (Swapped with new)

512MB RAM

1.07 Ghz Processor

Old Battery (Holds only half charge)

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Aug 16, 2012 2:14 PM

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Q: iBook 4G won't boot after upgrading components.

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  • by Ronda Wilson,

    Ronda Wilson Ronda Wilson Aug 16, 2012 10:10 PM in response to FrontSideBus
    Level 8 (41,572 points)
    Aug 16, 2012 10:10 PM in response to FrontSideBus

    Hi, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.

     

    What was the upgrade she wanted? It doesn't look like she got much of an upgrade.

     

    Did the refurbished iBook start up okay before the hard drive swap?

     

    Do both hard drives have Mac OS X 10.4.11 installed?

  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Aug 17, 2012 1:20 AM in response to FrontSideBus
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Aug 17, 2012 1:20 AM in response to FrontSideBus

    Hello,

     

    Check if the internal fan is connected and the connector is fine. (These will power down if they can't detect a fan)

    Check the hard drive by  removing it and rebooting. If you get a flashing folder icon, then chances are it doesn't like the new hard drive.

    Check the RAM, by removal and booting without it. (They have built in memory to use)

    Check the battery, but removal and booting without it.

    Try doing a PMU reset, by removing the battery and power adapter and holding down the power button for five seconds. Put battery/power back in and try and boot.

  • by FrontSideBus,

    FrontSideBus FrontSideBus Aug 17, 2012 7:58 AM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2012 7:58 AM in response to Knucklesmac

    Our client is an older woman and she is convinced her iBook is the best thing in the world, all she uses it for is typing papers. The upgrade she wanted was a new battery, a RAM upgrade, to clean the inside and out and a HDD upgrade, so we decided as much as labor and parts totalled out a refurb would be the cheaper option and to just get a much larger external drive than get a slightly bigger internal.

     

    Before performing the swap, both iBooks booted fine, both run Tiger 10.4.11.

     

    I will try all these options, and then will look to see if the fan is disconnected and report back here, thanks!

     

    Also, it was powering down before anything would display on screen.

  • by FrontSideBus,

    FrontSideBus FrontSideBus Aug 17, 2012 9:17 AM in response to FrontSideBus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2012 9:17 AM in response to FrontSideBus

    I finally got the iBook disassembled, and its the strangest thing. I think it's some kind of grounding issue because with the computer disassembled, plugging in the power it boots with the Folder with Question Mark. I put in the HDD, it booted up fully. I assembled the metal shield and replaced the palm rest, the computer still powered on fine. But upon fitting the metal shield on the lower half and trying to power on I got the same symptoms, so it has to do with something in between putting the palm rest back and the lower case shield, any thoughts?

  • by Ronda Wilson,

    Ronda Wilson Ronda Wilson Aug 17, 2012 10:49 AM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 8 (41,572 points)
    Aug 17, 2012 10:49 AM in response to Knucklesmac

    Knucklesmac wrote:

     

    Try doing a PMU reset, by removing the battery and power adapter and holding down the power button for five seconds. Put battery/power back in and try and boot.

     

    Wrong procedure for doing a PMU reset. You need the key combination on this particular model.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US#faq6

  • by FrontSideBus,

    FrontSideBus FrontSideBus Aug 17, 2012 11:33 AM in response to Ronda Wilson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2012 11:33 AM in response to Ronda Wilson

    I found out a little more about the problem. Apparently it has something to do with the wires behind the display. When it booted up one time I was adjusting the display's viewing angle and the screen started to flicker and powered off. So it's the issue now of a broken cord I'm suspecting.

     

    I believe this is the issue, but if I fix it or find anything else I will let you know. Thanks again!

  • by Ronda Wilson,

    Ronda Wilson Ronda Wilson Aug 18, 2012 5:33 AM in response to FrontSideBus
    Level 8 (41,572 points)
    Aug 18, 2012 5:33 AM in response to FrontSideBus

    Sometimes the cord is just pinched, and not broken. In this case, adjusting the angle of the display can allow it to work for awhile, but eventually the cable will probably need replacement.

     

    Good luck.