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Can't connect to wifi

A friend has given me an apple iBook laptop it's very dated and I have no idea how to update it as I will not connect to any kind of wifi source although it can find my network please help ????

iBook, Very dated software can't update ?

Posted on Jan 14, 2014 2:05 PM

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2 replies

Jan 14, 2014 4:44 PM in response to Jamielumsden

If it is one of the early iBooks ( Clamshell) you will need to get an external adapter as the Airport card will only connect with 802.11b compatible base stations and most now are 802.11g/n and newer 802.11ac. You can get an external adapter that will work but you will not be happy as it will be very slow and the necessary older browsers do not support modern applications well if at all.


I have a 1999 iBook G3 with the adapter and never use it except to just see if it works and I am reminded how little we had back then. Great for a hobby but not practical for use.

Jan 15, 2014 1:23 PM in response to Jamielumsden

If your newer internet router base station does not have backward compatibility with the earlier wireless protocol - of an older (colors G3?) iBook, and the USB port too slow to use a modern adapter (no drivers?) to wi-fi, you could see about using an ethernet cable to the base station, if it has a port.


For a browser, depending on the Mac OS installed in the old iBook, you could try iCab - all the way back to an older OS 8.6 - or so. And with varying results. They have newer versions in the main page, older via page link. A few browser builds have 'older version' download pages for some stable but unsupported ones in archive.


And if you can find an old AirPort base station, perhaps an Extreme orb or the first models Express, those should be backward compatible or near the exact vintage to be happy in shared antiquity with the iBook.


Which iBook model is it? White G3 or Colors? You could run the serial number in a lookup page, or go through & match the specs if you have the Mactracker application.


Good luck & happy computing! 🙂


{PS: Not sure if a replacement battery of quality is available or worth the cost}

Can't connect to wifi

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