PowerBook Duo 210 problema

Other than looking through vintage sites that may offer up ideas

of how someone else may have resolved similar issues, or see

if there are any Fix-it sites with instructions or ideas, there may

be a few persons who visit these discussions with hands on...

http://lowendmac.com/

http://lowendmac.com/1992/powerbook-duo-210/

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/tips/MacBasics_Guides.html

A few places to look for older leads; hopefully some useful content still exists,

sometimes a few general to specific searches may find bits & pieces online.

Companies who specialize in repairs may help locate replacement parts.

Ones such as powerbookmedic.com &/or wegenermedia.com

• PowerBook Duo series repair guides - iFixit.com:

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/PowerBook_Duo_Series

Apple PowerBook Duo	How to replace a broken trackball (in Japanese).
Apple PowerBook Duo	How to repair a broken trackpad (in Japanese).

• Macintosh PowerBook Duo 210: Technical Specifications -- Apple Support

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Macintosh_models_by_case_type

Not sure if any of this helps; however hope you have fun trying..! 😝

Further searching & reading, a little more evidence of vintage information was found;

here's a link to get an original PowerBook 200 series manual (in PDF) from a mirror:

http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/old/Powerbook/PowerBook%20200%20series.pdf

A sketchy copy of something vaguely like the above 'without images' can be found here:

http://manualmachine.com/apple/powerbook-200-series/203644-service-manual/page:1 0/

or here:

http://www.manualguru.com/apple/apple-computer-laptop-powerbook-duo-floppy-adapt er/users-manual/page-57

Were you able to try the suggestion given in iFixit site where you posted question about

the trackball problem? To be able to disassemble that and clean the internal rollers...?

Though the trackball was somewhat similar to the old roller-ball Apple mouse in a few

ways, the design is harder to open given it is attached to a larger bulk of a computer...

I remember my early Apple ADB mouse products; somewhere I still have a few from

when I had a room full of desktop Macs that I'd repaired, & then gave away, years ago.

Some models of earlier Apple portables had an ADB port, so a vintage mouse may work.

Sorry the iFixit guide was lacking in detailed information; guess they needed a page filler

to show they knew it existed. Someone may have created a video, but not loaded it online.

Anyway, thought to get back on this topic and hopefully you can get the trackball to work.

There also is a backup battery, in addition to the main battery. Not sure if that may be a

problem, or what may be available should you seek to replace it...

Good luck & have fun... 🙂

Trackballs and Mouse(es) operate using two "rotors" - plastic wheels mounted at 90 degrees from each other. the surface of these wheels can get 'gunk' on them - basically dust and oils from your fingers combined to prevent proper contact between the ball and wheel.

What you describe seems to be one the wheels is gunked a bit.

Use a Q-tip with a little alcohol to methodically clean the wheel(s)

iFixit can tell you how to get to the trackball assembly

If there is a short-cut to getting the trackball mechanism apart to clean it,

that would be a great thing to know in the case of this computer design

since the instructions in the 'service manual' in PDF shows no easy path.

The iFixit site, specific to this model, did not show much; perhaps the early

PowerBook models (pre G3) share certain attributes, although differences

exist; and the link with Japanese instructions may be helpful with Translate

from google, or other function where the whole page gets translated; since

the early PowerBook model included several Sony concept designs.

https://translate.google.com/#ja/en/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkclub.or.jp%2F~maakun%2F trackball%2Ftb_tpchange.html

Basic the idea may be, accessing those moving parts appears to require a

removal of the top cover of the bottom assembly; unless a shortcut exists.

Some users with the ADB mouse, chose to rely on that when the trackball

was sketchy. With my current obsolete Apple portables, at Desk, I use mouse.

And an external keyboard, too; so as to keep the built-in items w/o wear...

Vintage & Obsolete tend to be terms of relative static motion, once set adrift. 😝

At least with the ADB Mouse, turn it over, twist the 'ring' holding the ball in = voila!

I had an Industrial "MousetTrak" trackball from my neighbor in Garland TX. It was somewhat harder to enter, so I would VIGOROUSLY spin the ball to do periodic 'cleaning' - still required semi-annual teardown though.

I might try "wetting" the trackball itself with alcohol (applied semi-generously with a Q-tip or cotton ball) and giving it a spin or ten... doesn't sound like much to lose?

Happy Turkey Day!

Just so long as excess consumption by the PowerBook Duo trackball assembly

is not allowed; since any ingested liquids may give the poor fellow heartburn...!

Haven't caught a turkey so far, but time will tell. Had been invited some miles

away through icy roads and a higher altitude, where travel is questionable, for

a meal which included cooked meat: Wild caribou, was one item on their menu.

However looking after an elder relative not likely to weather the trip, is part of the

trouble with holiday travels and any other daily planning; it also interferes with

any options I'd been offered in other directions... with only two roads out/of here.

Yet if one gives their portable computer a cup of holiday cheer, it

could become a hot plate on which to roast something or another. 😝

Carlos,

As has been indicated by ChitlinsCC, one would twist the retaining ring (anticlockwise) in order to remove the trackball. This can be difficult on a PowerBook Duo since the ring surface often does not provide enough friction. If necessary, use a pair of pencil erasers, or a piece of adhesive tape (across the trackball).

You may have to check around online for a source of a working trackball unit

from another computer that had been parted-out; or a source of new old stock

of the entire trackball component, as shown in the older information thus far...

Not certain what kind of wear or damage may affect the useful purpose, or why

the items you've had access to and attempted to remedy the issue, haven't

been forthcoming or resolve this problem. To have a working spare could allow

you time to dissect the original to see if it can be repaired or cleaned better.

Best of luck in this matter... 😎