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+--- Thread: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? (/showthread.php?tid=70983)
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Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - Stephanie - 01-24-2009
Over a year ago, I gave my parents my old 17" powerbook. They love using it but it's recently developed some issues.
First, the airport extreme card went out.
Then, the power adapter they'd been using was one of the iGo Juice ones. They broke the tip. I happened to have a second iGo Juice adapter, plus the tip they needed. I gave it to them. Since they broke the tip, they've not been able to charge the laptop's battery. Since the battery is now drained, we cannot start the computer at all. BF has an old adapter from his g3 ibook and we tried that, just to be sure it wasn't the iGo that was bad.
Of course, no go on this as well. So, after much research (trying to find out what the inside of a powerbook looks like), my guess is that the dc in board is the issue. The "port" had always been loose - meaning, when the cable was plugged into it, it was wiggly. It's no more loose than it always had been, but I think when the tip broke, that was the final straw for the port.
So now I'm stuck with a (mostly) perfectly good powerbook. I had read online that one could buy an external battery charger and just keep charging the battery when needed. That seems like a pretty lame fix. Since the computer's 6 yrs. old, they don't want to spend much to fix it. I'm wondering if this is something I could do for them.
My question is, how difficult is it to take apart a 17" aluminum powerbook? I found one partial take apart manual online, but I'd like to hear of some real-world experiences. Opinion - is this something that's doable? I've never taken apart a powerbook, other than to add ram, but I've taken apart towers before.
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - StingMe - 01-24-2009
iFixit Manuals are the best, IMHO:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/PowerBook-G4-Al-17-Inch/55/
Getting in and out of Powerbooks and iBooks is typically not that difficult, but it can be time-comsuming, especially if you haven't done it before.
Good Luck!
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - mattkime - 01-24-2009
it depends upon how brave you are. its hard, but not as hard as swapping the hard drive in an ibook.
if you've worked on towers and you're comfortable with it then maybe you're ready to try your hand at a laptop.
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - SKYLANE - 01-24-2009
Just be careful how much force you use to pull apart the palm rest and touchpad area from the lower part of the case. If you are fussy about how well the case lines up at the split line when you put it back together, then be careful as you pull it apart. My MacBook Pro split line above the DVD slot load isn't perfect since I put it back together after harddrive upgrade -- no one notices it but me, yet it still drives me nuts! :confused:
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - Stephanie - 01-24-2009
StingMe - thanks for the link. I never came across that when I was googling this morning. I only found the ones at Powerbookmedic.com.
mattkime - yeah, I'd say I'm comfortable with it but I know laptops are an entirely different animal.
SKYLANE - thanks for the info. I am indeed picky!
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - DRR - 01-24-2009
Just go slow and be careful. Get one of those guides which has a slot for all the screws. Then use double sided tape to make sure the screws stay where you put them.
Other general tips, especially for notebooks: a large, uncluttered work area. PLENTY of lighting.
Lots of patience.
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - qdog - 01-24-2009
Get some egg cartons to put the screws in as you take them out. It makes it easier to remember where the screws go. I have taken my 17" PB many times. The last time I damaged the trackpad cable while replacing the sound card. The cursor freezes when the computer gets warm. Ifixit also sells parts for the laptop. I paid $70 for the sound card and put it in myself. Apple wanted $380 for the replacement.
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - Stephanie - 01-24-2009
qdog - powerbookmedic.com also sells parts. I compared prices and for the dc in board, ifixit wanted 80 for a used part and powerbookmedic wanted 50 for a new part.
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - SteveO - 01-24-2009
Ditto all of the above, esp. the space, lighting and care removing the top front of the case. You kind of gently have to work it back and forth very slowly so as not to put too much stress on it or it may bend. But this is not hard if you just use extra care. I think you are fine doing this and yeah it does sound like the DC inboard to me as well. I think you can get a replacement for less than $150, I want to say i saw them for around $99 or so several months back on various sites.
I grabbed some scratch paper and cups and put each set of screws in its own cup, with a piece of paper saying what/where the screws go. There are different sized screws in there, so this is not a bad idea. I got this tip from a link here on the OWC site to an affiliate of theirs, I think it was xlr8yourmac.com which IIRC has linked take-apart guides here on OWC site in PB section.
Links:
http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/action.lasso?-database=faq.fp3&-layout=FaqList&-response=answer.faq.lasso&-recordID=34147&-search
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/laptops.cfm
Re: Taking apart a G4 powerbook (17 aluminum)? - Big Daddy Cool - 01-25-2009
I find the big monthly pill containers work great for small parts. I pick them up at the 99ยข store and can write the part name on each cover corresponding to the instructions. This also allows me to close each cover and even put the project away for a night without worrying of the parts being disturbed.