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The Sad Story Of A Devestated iBook...

Submitted by astro_rob on March 29, 2005 - 1:10pm. PowerPC Macs

For the past few weeks, I've been slowly trying to resurrect an iBook Clamshell (Tangerine) with the hopes of having something resembling a modern machine around the house. This machine came to me when I was working as a science educator and with gifted students. The unit had belonged to one of my students, who decided that he didn't like Macs anymore, so he proceeded to wreck it. First, apparently he managed to trash the OS. Then, he physically beat the machine. There are signs of stress fractures in the handle, and a number of scratches on its shell. There is also a noticeable kink in the Faraday shell under the screen. The keyboard was physically rolled up, most of the keys torn off. The CD bezel is nowhere to be found.
But, the machine still powers up, and this is what gave me hope that it might be resurrected.
I've attached an external USB keyboard and have managed to get it to boot into OpenFirmware (thanks Doug!), but it cannot read the restore CD. In fact, the CD doesn't sound like its spinning up to the needed RPM; there is noise, but not much.
So, at this point, I'm not sure where to go with this. This is a tough situation. I need a machine that will run OS-X, but can't afford a new machine (not even a MacMini). I would prefer a portable unit, and this seems like a logical place to start.
Any thoughts?

Rob

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My iBook was in a similar (no

Submitted by aladds on March 29, 2005 - 2:20pm.

My iBook was in a similar (not as bad, however) state when I got it, there was (and still are) cracks round the apple at the bottom of the display and on the handle, its filled with dirt (mostly cleaned now) and there is a visible dent in the cage over the LCD thing, however the CD-ROM still works and the bezel for it (although it falls off a lot) is still present.

What I recommend you do is disconnect the internal keyboard (if you have not already done so) and try and boot the thing from an external CD-ROM drive, or failing that a USB drive thing with a slim 8.6 or 9 installation. Then you could either install from CD or share an installation CD and install from that, over a network. (to get os9 on it) As for X, you will have to somehow netboot from the installer CD. I know it can be done, but I haven't the foggiest idea how.

Good luck!

» Get a GP2X! http://gp2x.co.uk/go.pl?A421

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Kbd

Submitted by Abe Skolnik on March 29, 2005 - 3:12pm.

I can send you a replacement keyboard; it is not in perfect condition (coffee spill victim), but all of the keys are physically present. If the kbd, you have now has a perfectly-OK circuit board, you can (with time and effort) merge the two together to make a good kbd. Oh, and the spare I have (if I can find it... I think I know where it is) is from a Tangerine iBook... even the colored markings will match.

You will pay the shipping cost. I am in ZIP code 11104. Let me know via a post and a private message if you are interested.

Another thing... if you want, you can send the laptop to me (only after my present school semester is over), and I will install the OS on it for you. I will then send it back to you.
Again, you will pay the shipping charges (both ways this time). I can do what I can for the keyboard as well. If you want a new kbd. or a new CD drive I will have to buy parts and then charge you for parts and labor. What I got for free, I will give you for free.

»
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Guess That Should Read "Devastated"

Submitted by astro_rob on March 29, 2005 - 4:01pm.

First, thanks for the replies, fellas. I don't have an external CD drive right now, but instead think I might go forward with the rebuild and purchase another internal one. And Abe, much appreciated, I could definitely use that keyboard.
Also, it should read "Devastated". The moral is; cold medicine and typing do not a good couple make...

Rob

» Tinker Ergo Sum!
PB540c "Excalibur", Centris 660AV "Atalanta", PB5300cs "Gwynneffar", 5260/120 "Sophia", iBook Clamshell "Tang", Portable "Galatea", eMate 300 "eLaine", Tandy Model 102 "Tandy", Apple //c "Eve", B&W "Maia"

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iMac CD ROM?

Submitted by doug-doug the mighty on March 29, 2005 - 4:24pm.

I have a spare iMac (Rev A) CD ROM lying around, while not cosmetically a match, does anyone know if this drive would hook up. This would give astro-rob (within driving distance from me BTW) a bootable drive until he can get his hands on a permanant replacement.

» --DDTM ('Fritter Critter' since Apr 26 2004 - 18:16)

'If it ain't broke, take it apart anyways. If you can't take it apart, break it so that you can fix it.'

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Could It?

Submitted by astro_rob on March 29, 2005 - 5:12pm.

Be neat if it did. But I can't see any other reason why this machine won't boot aside from the obvious. I doubt that the logic board was damaged, so it just has to be these drives.
If the iMac drive could work, I'd definitely give it a shot...

Rob

you interested in buying a b/

Submitted by pyromaniac on March 29, 2005 - 7:59pm.

you interested in buying a b/w for 200$

its gut ok specs, 400mhz, 512mb ram, 27gb hd, dvd-rom, rage 128 video card, os x and os 9.nice condition.

» wether it seems it or not, we're all dreaming.

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That'd Be Nice...

Submitted by astro_rob on March 29, 2005 - 8:57pm.

...but I barely have the money for working on the iBook (already shelled out $70 for its repair). I wish I had known about the B&W earlier in the year, after I had my tax return (yup, and it's gone, too).
More than anything else, though, is portability. My wife and I are not going to be permanent in this part of Florida, and quite honestly my health isn't up to moving a myriad of computer components again, be they towers, desktops and/or monitors (as is, I have, at this time, over a dozen computers... a tad bit excessive).
But I've always wanted the B&W as well...

...talk about being in a rough spot...

Rob

let's see..

Submitted by coius on April 3, 2005 - 5:18pm.

I have the cover plate for the ram (metal plate that fits under the airport card, and above the ram) I also have an iBook Battery for the clamshell. I also have ram (1 64MB PC-100 SoDIMM, and 1 128MB PC-66 SoDIMM) I think I also have a modem card and RJ-11 assembly (i think I have a speaker for it too), a Power adapter board (thing the external power adapter connects to. (fits on the right upper side of the board) and a screen power inverter with sleep light. PM Me for details, just pay S&H and it's yours. I'm trying to clean out my house, this is what I have: http://www.applefritter.com/node/6420

» troubleshootnow.com. When you need to troubleshoot NOW! Forum site for macs and PCs. We are happy to help you troubleshoot. Home WebPage: coius.info <-Served off an iMac in my roo

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There's a way...

Submitted by Zuka on April 8, 2005 - 10:38pm.

The small CD drives that are used in most laptops and iMacs share something in common: they all have the same basic connector, but different manufacturers put adapters on this connector to keep the drive from being used in another computer. I know for a fact that iMac CD drives have an ATAPI adapter attached to them. The CD drive in that iBook should have a little circuit board on it, which you can remove and attach to another CD drive from an iMac (or any other laptop), thus enabling you to use that CD drive in your iBook.

» Macintosh Classic FD/HD "Elmer FD" - PowerBook G3 Series II (Wallstreet) "Durandal" - PowerBook G3 Series (Pismo) "Tycho"

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that being so,...

Submitted by doug-doug the mighty on April 9, 2005 - 2:07am.

...Rob, if you need an iMac drive, let me know...

» --DDTM ('Fritter Critter' since Apr 26 2004 - 18:16)

'If it ain't broke, take it apart anyways. If you can't take it apart, break it so that you can fix it.'

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Roger That!

Submitted by astro_rob on April 9, 2005 - 2:16am.

Sure! At this point, I've got to try something. I've got a semi-funtional keyboard at this point (mostly for cosmetics... thanks Abe!), USB keyboard, a power supply and the disks... all I need to do now get the lil' thing to boot!
Let's work this out... I could definitely give this a try!

Rob

Tang Lives!

Submitted by astro_rob on April 13, 2005 - 12:40am.

My employer let me use his IOmega CD-RW tonight to move some files, and on a lark, I decided to use it on the iBook... and son-of-a-gun, it booted!
Discovered that, no surprise here, the harddrive was bad... had no choice but to reinitialize it. Installed 9.2.2 onto a machine that has only 32MB RAM, so its performance is sluggish. But, it is running! That said, moving forward... as soon as I get my wife's permission to spend more funds...

Rob

...And Surfs!

Submitted by astro_rob on April 13, 2005 - 3:14am.

This is the first post via Tang, the rebuilt iBook. Currently, connecting through Netscape 4.7, and some pages look weird. But, it works, and now we're moving in the right direction, even if we have to use an IBM USB keyboard. At least it's running. Thanks to all who helped. Still have a ways to go, but it is really good to get this iBook running again.

Robe