BondableAtom

Q: How do I stop my iBook G3 doing a hardware test everytime it starts up?

Every time I startup my iBook G3 it makes the bong then it shows the apple the logo but then a black screen with writing appears and does, what I think is, a hardware test. It is very annoying for me and I don't know how to stop it doing this everything it boots up. I have tried restoring the iBook to factory settings and that did nothing. Please help me, thanks!  

iBook, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Jun 5, 2014 11:53 AM

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Q: How do I stop my iBook G3 doing a hardware test everytime it starts up?

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  • by a brody,Solvedanswer

    a brody a brody Jun 5, 2014 12:11 PM in response to BondableAtom
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Jun 5, 2014 12:11 PM in response to BondableAtom

    Generally speaking that should only happen if the hardware test CD is inside the machine.

    If it happens when there is no CD inside the machine per this tip:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1015

     

    Then it says the PRAM capacitor is dead.     Unfortunately that requires a logicboard swap.

  • by BondableAtom,

    BondableAtom BondableAtom Jun 5, 2014 12:20 PM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 5, 2014 12:20 PM in response to a brody

    Thanks alot!  

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 7, 2014 9:08 PM in response to BondableAtom
    Level 6 (14,244 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 7, 2014 9:08 PM in response to BondableAtom

    The replacement process to resolve the issue of a failed capacitor is a tedious repair, and any qualified service provider that has a modern workstation to repair logic boards, graphic cards, and other electronic may be able (willing) to consider it. The part itself can be relative inexpensive, otherwise. So you pay for the experience and also the time it takes to get to the point of accesing the area where the part resides in hiding...

     

    A general search online located an example of such a capacitor, though the one in your device may vary from the one shown in this page http://www.thebookyard.com/product.php?products_id=1884

     

    Some iBook G4 and white G3s had an issue with solder failure on the logic board and third party cures varied from re-flowing the solder, to simply wedging the graphic or other component into place with a non-conductive space filler (plastic chunk) so if you happened to have one of the suspect models where a re-flow of some other logic board components may be needed for longer term use, you could find a company who knows these computers (wegenermedia is one of several authorized repair service companies who can reflow Mac circuit boards with modern workstations) and have them check over the computer, and replace the capacitor.

     

    While the computer is open for such a simple part, the labor is already expended to access other areas of the interior, so that would be a time to consider a hard disk drive, or a legacy SSD from OWC, or a superdrive upgrade, and other tests, inspections, etc if you sought to keep it running as a curiosity. You can still get rechargable batteries from a few sources, owc and ifixit show some, amazon may show others.

     

    The complete logic boad swap may be OK if a suitable part is available, but the actual repair of yours may be less if the company who does the repair also takes yours apart to perform it. And if you need any other parts inside upgraded at the time, that can be a labor bonus, if those other parts are reasonably priced and installed at that time, with some guarantee...

     

    Good luck & happy computing!