Wont boot - no chimes, fan noise but only with battery connected

Question

Level 1

43 points

Wont boot - no chimes, fan noise but only with battery connected

Hello,

It's an old Powerbook G4 - A1138 that won't boot.

If you press the power button, the fan whirrs quickly and loudly. But only with the battery connected. If the battery is removed (but the computer is connected to the power supply) then nothing happens...

I have tried re-setting the PMU as per this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431 This didn't help.

Is it now dead? If I can just reach a point whereby I can boot it in Firewire HD mode (normally holding command + T down) and recover content then great!

Thanks :-)

Jay

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 2:44 AM

Reply

Answer 1

dalstott

Level 4

2,639 points

Apr 26, 2013 9:09 AM in response to Jay Ashton

If it is dead then remove the hard drive and connect via USB adapter to another Mac in order to retreive your data.

http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Universal-Drive-Adaptor/IF107-108

http://www.ifixit.com/Device/PowerBook_G4_Aluminum_15%22_1.5-1.67_GHz

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 26, 2013 5:54 PM in response to Jay Ashton

Troubleshooting portables that won't turn on or start up

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25686?viewlocale=en_US

Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367

 Cheers, Tom 😉

Reply

Answer 3

Jay Ashton Author

Level 1

43 points

Apr 27, 2013 8:33 AM in response to Jay Ashton

Hi there,

Thanks to you both. Yes, dalstott - that was going to be my last option if couldn't get the computer itself kicked into life.

I should also have said, Texas Mac Man that I have seen those articles before posting. Unfortunately without a solution.

Oh well, the laptop had a good innings... RIP...?

Reply

Answer 4

Allan Jones

Level 9

68,690 points

Apr 27, 2013 10:22 AM in response to Jay Ashton

If the battery is removed (but the computer is connected to the power supply) then nothing happens...

Not an uncommon PowerBook occurence. I get the same thing with my PBG4 and am convinced it's a symptom of a dead internal backup battery.

These backup batteries are hard to find new and require a fairly major teardown to replace. It's best to keep the main battery in place with some charge on it.

Reply