Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

0 points

PowerBook will not boot

Hi all, I have a serious problem with my powerbook:

The last day or two the whole system has frozen (no cursor movement/no force quit) so I had to do a couple of hard resets (pressing the power button)

This morning a lot of white writing on black backing came up when the system froze and after shutting down using the power button when I try and boot it makes that noise (not the MacOS chime) but nothing displays on the screen.

Obviously this seems to be a serious problem, I am within my one year Apple warranty, is my only problem to take it back? If so what will they do to it?

Any help is much appreciated, Thanks,
Frankie

PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Apr 12, 2006 3:43 AM

22 replies

Frank_D Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 12, 2006 3:54 PM in response to Red Dwarf

Well looks like I am off to Computer Warehouse in Brentford tomorrow morning, I know how busy the APpleStore in Regent Street gets.

Frank_D Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 14, 2006 3:47 AM in response to Frank_D

I thought I'd just give an update on what is happening as I have noticed from searching through these forums that once advice has been given there are very few people who explain Apple's process of getting things fixed.

I booked an appointment for the genius bar in Regent Street yesterday explaining the problem but unfortunately I couldn't get it to crah again to prove that there was a problem. This meant they have taken it in for diagnostics and apparently they don't rely on the Apple Hardware Test utility which originaly showed the problem. The diagnostics may take upto 10 days!

Only if it fails that process will the logic board be replacedwhich will take another couple of days so I will be without a computer for a max of 2 weeks.

I didn't go with an AASP because unless you have bought your computer with them you will go to the back of the repair queue which in the two AASPs I tried was 2-3 weeks.

So at the moment I am not very happy, I'll keep updating when/if there is any progress.

Frankie

Red Dwarf

Level 6

14,920 points

Apr 14, 2006 4:18 AM in response to Frank_D

Frank,

I didn't go with an AASP because unless you have bought your computer with them you will go to the back of the repair queue which in the two AASPs I tried was 2-3 weeks.

The main goal here is for you to have your PowerBook repaired and returned to you with minimum inconvenience to yourself. Whether that is achieved via an AASP, The Apple Store or Apple (UK) is in effect irrelevant 😉

Allow me to give you an example where an AASP assited me in a way that no one else could:

After approximately 8 months of buying by 12" PowerBook 867MHz the superdrive failed. It could read CDs/DVDs but would not burn. I went to my local AASP to get it repaired under warranty. Once they confirmed that the SuperDrive was faulty they ordered a new one from Apple which took 5 days to arrive. Under normal circumstances my PowerBook would have been with them during those five days however, because of the relationship I had with them, they allowed me to keep the PowerBook and would call me as soon as the replacement superdrive arrived. I got a call 5 days later and took it in at around 3pm. At 10am the following morning I got a call advising me that the work is now complete and I could collect the powerbook. Total inconvenience in time to me = 19hrs (ie overnight). Total cost to me = £0.00 (all done under warranty)

In a previous reply you mentioned MacWarehouse in Brentford as one AASP you approached. They wouldn't have been my first choice because their focus is in box shifting. It's a call centre environment there.

Find an AASP which is a small company in terms of employees. The 2 AASPs that I have a good relationship with have a combined workforce of 12 people in total including directors. Heck, they both have a coffee mug reserved for me. 😉

RD

Frank_D Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 14, 2006 4:42 AM in response to Red Dwarf

Hi again,

The post I made wasn't to complain about your advice (sorry if it seemed that way), more about Apple's practices (in their own stores) where there is a very negative stance on helping (from overhearing many people who came and left at the 'genius' bar as well as my own experience).

However, now with that experience, in the future I would probably go with a smaller AASP following your advice, one of the reasons behind asking Brentford was due to previously having good experiences buying from them. I also had no experience with the AppleStore so at that time had nothing against them.

Red Dwarf

Level 6

14,920 points

Apr 14, 2006 4:52 AM in response to Frank_D

Oh good grief Frank, it never even entered my mind that you were complaining about my advice. Did my reply really give that impression? I must learn to articulate better 😉

RD

Frank_D Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 20, 2006 7:11 AM in response to Frank_D

Well I said that I would update everyone with the conclusion of the problems I was having, and this post is a little late:

I picked up my fixed PowerBook with new logic board on Tuesday from AppleStore Regent Street and whoever fixed it also cleaned the whole thing up. Whatever they used was very good as it looked brand new and of course the PowerBook is now working as normal.

Thanks to everyone who helped diagnose the problem (especially Red dwarf), and although my experience with the front end of Apple's Genius' was pretty bad, behind the scenes the repair was done well and quickly. I just hope I don't have to deal with them again.

Frankie

Red Dwarf

Level 6

14,920 points

Apr 21, 2006 2:47 AM in response to Frank_D

Excellent news Frank. There you go... another satisfied customer 😉

RD

PowerBook will not boot