PowerBook 140 flashing question mark

Susan,

The flashing question-mark indicates that the PowerBook cannot see a valid system folder.

To begin with, try to reset the Power Manager and the PRAM.

Do you know which operating system version is installed?

If there is not any difference after you have tried the commands in the above links, you will need a separate startup floppy. You mentioned a floppy; would that be a Disk Tools disk?

If the floppy is not OK (that is, not bootable), it is possible to download a suitable disk from Apple. Before we continue, could you please post back with some information about other computers available. Do you have access to another (older) Mac with a built-in floppy drive? A more modern Mac? A PC with a floppy drive?

Jan

Hi Susan,

First of all, I should ask whether the hard disk is spinning.

Could you try the available startup floppy once more, this time while holding down the four keys Command (Apple) + Option (Alt) + Shift + Delete (Backspace)?

If you wish to create a bootable floppy on a PC, this is one possible method:

Download the freeware utility Aladdin Expander 2.0 (you could perhaps try at ftp://ftp.allume.com/pub/archive/pc/StuffIt_Expander/ or carry out a Google search for the exact name).

A disk-image utility for PC will also be needed. For example, the shareware utility WinImage 6.10 (winima61.exe here).

Install the programs on the PC.

Prepare an empty PC-formatted 1.44 MB (HD) diskette through the FORMAT A: command in DOS (or via the "Full" formatting command under Windows).

Download the Network Access Disk 7.5 .bin file (Network Access_Disk7.5.sea.bin here). The Windows operating system may truncate the file name. Drag this downloaded file (as it is) onto the Aladdin Expander 2.0 icon (on the Desktop). Aladdin Expander will decode the file into an archive (document) called Network Access Disk 7.5, and automatically decompress the latter into a Network Access folder.

Inside the Network Access folder you will find a Read Me document and a file called Network Access.image.

Insert the empty PC-formatted diskette into the PC's floppy drive.

If WinImage is used, drag the Network Access.image onto the program icon. In the WinImage application window, select Write disk (from the Disk menu) or click on the Write disk icon. When the operation is completed, immediately eject and lock the diskette. In order to make this work, it may become necessary to (temporarily) switch off any active anti-virus software.

You should now have a startup floppy for the PowerBook 140.

The procedure is a variant of a method described in the 68000 FAQ ( here).

Alternatively, the same basic approach can be used with the System 7.0.1 Disk Tools floppy here.

Jan

Susan,

I got as far as the Welcome to Macintosh screen, then got a system error notice: bus error.

I assume that the Command + Option + Shift + Delete key combination (immediately after the startup tone; depressed during the startup sequence) did not change this.

When I start up the computer, there is a rapid clicking sound for a few seconds though.

Normally, one should hear the hard disk spinning. Any clicking not related to the expected disk activity (reading files from the operating system) might indicate difficulties with the hard drive itself or the SCSI bus.

see if I can find an old mac that will read my old floppies with all my data.

It is good that you have backup copies of your files. Locating another old Mac would not be a bad idea. If the files are on Mac-formatted 800K (not 1.4 MB) floppies, this would be the only way (unless the PB 140 can be made to work properly).

The macs at my work won't read my old floppies at all.

It is possible to attach an external USB floppy drive to many modern Macs, but one may face various software and operating-system limitations. USB floppy drives cannot handle Mac-formatted 800K disks.

1.4 MB Mac-formatted HD floppies can be read in a PC as well, provided that an appropriate utility (e.g. TransMac or HFVExplorer; try a Google search) is installed.

Once the floppy disks as such can be read, you may experience additional problems with file formats (depending on the type of files).

In all cases, make sure that the floppies are locked (the slider in the write-protected position) before you test them in other computers.

Good luck!

Jan

Addendum

A bad main battery can put a heavy load on the power circuits, thus possibly affecting the hard drive et cetera (normally, leading to difficulties turning on at all, though). If so, one may want to try starting the computer without the battery in place.

Also, it may be a good idea to check all boards, cables and connectors. This would, of course, mean that the PowerBook has to be opened.

Jan

For take apart you may look at:
http://www.whoopis.com/computer_repair
I would try to load the battery with 24 hours on power cord.
The PRam battery(3 V Li) may also be gone. According to the repair manual the PB 140 should not be left for more than a month from powercord.
According to the specs PB 140 uses 1,44MB floppies and can use System 7.0.1 up(the 7.0.1 should be downloadable from Apple,also a 7.5 DiskTools Disk to start with).

System 7.0.1 at:
http://download.info.apple.com/AppleSupport_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-British/Macintosh/System/System7.0.1/
No DTDisk 7.5 from Apple,but Network Access Disk 7.5, must be modified.

Hello Rainer,

If I may add a few comments.

I would try to load the battery with 24 hours on power cord.

Yes, that is a good proposal and may help, provided that the battery has at least a small reserve capacity. One should always be observant as far as old batteries are concerned, especially regarding overheating. A bad/damaged main battery may not be possible to charge at all, and could heavily load the power supply, as mentioned earlier.

The PRam battery(3 V Li) may also be gone.

This is a very common problem. Replacing the internal (rechargeable) battery requires soldering. If said battery is OK, the date and time settings will be preserved when the main battery is removed. Usually, a weak internal battery will not affect the function of the PowerBook in other ways (in contrast to the logic-board batteries of desktop Macs). A charged main battery will "take over" the date/time keeping.

PB 140 uses 1,44MB floppies

and can handle the 800K Mac format, if necessary.

System 7.0.1 at

As indicated earlier, the 7.0.1 Disk Tools can be used as an alternative startup floppy to the Network Access Disk 7.5. If so required, the full set of British 7.0.1 system disks can be created on a PC (except the System 7 Tune-Up disk image, which is 800K; can be read and written once the Mac is operational).

However, right now the PB 140 in question does not appear to boot to the Desktop from any floppy. The idea behind the Command + Option + Shift + Delete combination is to try to block any damaged SCSI driver software (on the hard disk) from having an influence on the startup sequence. In order to check whether the hard drive is the culprit, one could of course remove it (and insulate the connector), and then try again to start from a floppy.

Jan

Jan
Apologise for double-posting adress for 7.0.1-didn't see that fine "here" with the adress behind-should have known better!
Didn't find any description of replacing backup-battery in repair-manual-or where it sits.Just thought if you go into the PB anyway(without technician) you could replace it as well.
Ta inte illa upp!
Rainer