'new' g4 connects @ cafes etc, not to home wireless

The PPPoE is 'point-to-point-protocol-over-Ethernet' if I remember correctly, and as such it may not have much to do with the setup of the local network to the level you otherwise describe in your post. It is not used for wireless or a regular setup to use a base station in a home, usually.

If you have access to the computer, it can tell you about the system, the hardware and additional software installed, via the main Finder menu bar where the Apple appears in the far left side...

Click on the Apple icon to open the first column of items in the drop-down menu, see 'About this Mac' click it. See the window, click on information under OS X. Several items should appear, including Serial Number of the iBook. Save this for later.

Then click 'More info' which will launch System Profiler. Note several categories in this which do include the system and hardware configuration of the combined software and hardware. Even the status of the Battery and charging cycles, etc are in there.

The iBook G4 usually uses a WPA or WPA2 and not the older WEP which is considered less secure. IF for some reason those settings in the Network Preferences don't help or fail to work, initially try to set it up without the security settings, to troubleshoot the issue.

The last OS X version and system the iBook G4 could use, would likely be Leopard 10.5.8, and that's if the portable powerPC computer has a processor faster than 800MHz speed. The last iBook G4s, depending on screen size other specs varied, the 12" had a 1.33GHz cpu, the 14" had a 1.42GHz cpu, so these shipped with Tiger 10.4 in mid-2005 and could be upgraded in RAM to about 1.5GHz via one chip in a slot under the keyboard, and can run Leopard 10.5.8 if a retail DVD install disc were acquired. Tiger is the last system version that can use older OS 9 applications in Classic; for that reason, some people kept a Mac at Tiger 10.4.

Not sure if what I've mentioned helps.

For more information include specs.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

The settings in the Network Preferences panel, in the System Preference selection area, can be changed and changed back, some are saved in the system and you can switch back and forth. WEP is a weak 'wireless equivalent' security protocol so it seems odd that it'd be in use nowadays by anyone, but it still is, by some.

There is a way to change or save new Locations in the Network Preferences, and likely if the computer has been used via IEEE ethernet (cable or wifi) the owner may have used the 'MAC address' or machine ID, in conjunction with those settings to make a new secure Location for use at home, otherwise he'd have to do a bunch of stuff over and over again. Senseless, it remembers them under different Location names. So when he travels with the computer, a different set of Location is chosen in that Network panel. And if you approach a library network with a passord protection, they can tell you the PW and it can be entered into a Public location. Some do not require one. So they are less secure because they can be open to people nearby using their computers to look for unsecured visitor devices. And each location may invite use of a password, even if the hardware is sitting right in front of you, but set up by someone else, to insure their secure motives.

The direct by wire without a MAC address should be a matter of settings in the Network Preferences, such as TCP/IP and so on, look around but don't change anything. Sometimes the alternate settings are already there, but not chosen after traveling with a portable.

I've thought of several answers, researched a few others, and decided to not go further with this. After all, the classic 'Forbidden Planet' is on TCM again, and it is rather distracting, yet more honest than talk radio.

Hopefully someone will point out all the shortcuts a frequent user of the Network Prefs & setup of MAC address connections. When you used the WEP, you used a password to access the local wireless, so if you make and save a new Location in the G4 and point to the router, set on Automatic, it should just work. And that may stop it from looking for the Ethernet. {But any breach of security in his computer would be on you.} See the Airport icon in the main menu bar and click on that, to see about 'join another network' if you have a password for WEP, if you can find the correct one by name, or make new one in Network Prefs.

PS: find the computer build information and original OS X

by use of an 'identify by serial number' site such as this:

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

The computer does nothing? Still it may not be dead.

In a coma, maybe. Or dreaming, of being a new MB/Air?

There are Support articles that may help:

•Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on:

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

•Troubleshooting (older) portables that won't turn on or start:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25686

•Resetting PowerBook & iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

•About NVRAM and PRAM:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

•Apple - Support - iBook (G4) + PowerBookG4

http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/

http://www.apple.com/support/powerbook/

or it may need a trip to a pet computer hospital

for older portable macs example wegenermedia.com

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂