I have a Powerbook Duo 280/280c (circa 1994) that I have not used for a few years. I tried to turn it on, but it does not boot up. Any suggestions on hot to get it to boot up or how I can diagnose what might need addressing? Thanks.
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PowerBook
Does the computer react in any way when you try to turn it on? Anything on the screen, or any sound? Has the battery been charged for a while before attempting to start the computer? Also, an old battery can sometimes put a heavy load on the power supply circuit. Is it possible to start the machine if the battery has been removed?
See the following article for information about how to reset the Power Manager:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1781
Jan
Does the computer react in any way when you try to turn it on? Anything on the screen, or any sound? Has the battery been charged for a while before attempting to start the computer? Also, an old battery can sometimes put a heavy load on the power supply circuit. Is it possible to start the machine if the battery has been removed?
See the following article for information about how to reset the Power Manager:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1781
Jan
Thanks for the response!
I was able to start the machine after removing the battery. When I re-insert the battery, the computer shuts down, so it appears to be related to the battery.
Despite being an older model, is there a way to update/upgrade the Mac OS operating system to make it as functional as possible for today's environment?
Thanks.
Hi,
Glad to hear that the computer as such is working. It may or may not be possible to charge the battery to a useful state.
http://support.apple.com/kb/sp158
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP159
The supported system versions are shown in the documents above. Until recently, a free System 7.5.3 could be downloaded from Apple (and a 7.5.5 update). Unfortunately, that older software downloads page does not appear to be available any more (an Internet archive search for an earlier asu.info.apple.com page could possibly result in additional information). System 7.6 and Mac OS 8.0/8.1 are not free.
In principle, (with the appropriate software and a sufficient amount of RAM) one could use a PowerBook Duo 280/280c on the Internet. However, without an extra dock, a dial-up connection is the only option. The choice of web browsers is limited, and pages will load slowly (unless a text-based browser like WannaBe is used). Email could be OK (but an email client with SMTP authentication is normally required). The typical field for a computer like this is word processing.
Which operating system is installed? How much RAM does the machine have? What type of applications do you wish to work with?
Jan
Jan,
The system software is 7.5.3 with a system 7.5 update 2.0. Total memory is 12,288K.
Given the constraints you listed, if I'm limited to word processing, how can I "erase" the hard drive before recycling the Powerbook Duo?
Thanks.
Hello again.
System 7.5.3 contains the basic software needed for TCP/IP. A PPP program has to be added for a dial-up connection. Depending upon the modem, further connection software may be needed. As mentioned earlier, a text-based WannaBe web browser can be used. There is also a "normal" browser called iCab, but 12 MB RAM in the Duo is a bit low.
The Duo is a compact and in many cases practical computer for word processing. With a suitable modem and the appropriate software, the computer can be used for sending fax messages.The machine should also work fine for retro gaming.
http://www.umich.edu/~archive/mac/
The Apple HD SC Setup utility on a bootable disk tools floppy is one way of erasing the hard disk (providing of course that you have access to an external floppy drive or a dock). A higher degree of security is possible by overwriting free hard disk space, using a utility such as Burn 2.5.
If absolutely necessary, you could remove the hard drive and then use a sledge hammer to destroy it.
Jan
Thank you!
I am exploring how to maximize the usability of the Duo, but it appears that it is limited to word processing.
Thanks again for sharing your expertise.
Powerbook Duo 280/280c (circa 1994) - Start Up Issue
