iBook G3 won't turn on

My iBook G3 just won't turn on, I've tried all of the usual things apple tells us to do, like removing the battery, removing attached drives, and nothing seems to work. I'm currently using a Powerbook G4 to do everything I need to do and a friend uses my iBook but I really would love for my iBook to work again. Since I haven't used my iBook in a while I'm not really sure which operating system it runs on, but I think it might be Jaguar. Please help me!

Thanks
-Jason

iBook G3, Powerbook G4 15 inch 768 RAM Mac OS X (10.2.x)

PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Jul 4, 2006 7:49 AM

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13 replies

Jul 5, 2006 7:58 AM in response to Jason Wilkin

Hmm, nothing seems to work-I tried reseting the PMU and that did nothing. I also got all the way through the "Troubleshooting portables that won't turn on or start up" article without success. It is as if the button to turn on the computer is fake and doesn't do anything at all. I might have to call 1-800-APLCARE or take it to a genius (with my procare card :D). But I think that instead of paying for a repair my friend (who is currently using it as her own) would rather get a new computer (a PC 😟 ).

Jul 6, 2006 10:34 PM in response to Jason Wilkin

This may sound strange but....

it seems to have worked for me and I only recommend it if you have a good computer bag (if you are going to be driving around). But basically stick your ibook in your car or the trunk of your car for a few hours until it heats up. Take it out and if it feels warm try hitting the power button.

My ibook is having the same issue, I coincidentally went on a 2.5 hr roadtrip and sure enough it started up when I got to my destination. Then, I had to shut it down, once again the only thing that seemed to work was heating it up. It could be a coincidence, but it seems to work. Don't use a heat pad or blow dryer; you don't want to introduce any electromagnetic field to your hdd.

Anyway, give it a shot... what do you have to lose.

ibook g3 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Jul 9, 2006 2:53 AM in response to Jason Wilkin

I don't know what kind of things she wants to transfer, but Mac file formats may not be readable by a Windows PC. Mac is much friendlier to Windows formats than Windows is to Mac.

If she has jpegs or MP3's or other universally readable files she's wanting to recover, you may want to try installing the iBook's hard drive in a suitable external enclosure such as this one (assuming the HP has FireWire). If the HP doesn't have FireWire, you could try retrieving the files to your PowerBook and then transfer the files to her HP.

Instructions for removing the hard drive can be found at both iFixit and PowerBook Tech.

Good luck.

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iBook G3 won't turn on

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