12" PowerBook - Rebuild

[MisterBiro]

I recently acquired another 12 inch PowerBook, this time a 1.5GHz with a partially functioning keyboard and non-working Super Drive.

I also have a 1.33GHz with a partially functioning display, I thought it would be a good opportunity to make at least one good machine out of parts from both of them.

To cut a long story short, unfortunately both of these machines had been at least semi-disassembled prior to my owning them, leaving the 1.33 without and mounting points for the springy screws above the CPU (the mounts were snapped off and the screws mashed) and the 1.5 with massive bends in the bottom case.

After much time and effort, I finally got them reassembled with new thermal pads and paste on the 1.5 (which also has a thermal pad under the top case above the CPU?).

In trying to make a 'good' single PB I also swapped out the top cases, which is where my question cones from...

If I plug the trackpad from the 1.33 into the logic board for the 1.5 I find that the 1.5 won't boot.

I'm guessing this is because the trackpad on the 1.5 is USB and the one for 1.33 isn't (it shows as USB on the 1.5, with the 1.33 not even listing the trackpad).

Is it possible to make the swap work or will I need to buy a new 1.5 specific top case?

 

[Raging Dufus]

Hello, I've been in your exact situation before. The 1.5GHz 12" PB's top case is not interchangeable with earlier models. This was the last of the 12-inchers, and the first in that line to have a scrolling trackpad (which, as you noted, is connected thru USB - unlike its predecessors). You will not be able to make the 1.5GHz PB work with a top case from any earlier models, and vice-versa.

What I would suggest, and what I did myself, is to remove the display from the 1.5GHz and install that on the 1.33GHz. You're giving up ~11% of CPU clock speed (which doesn't necessarily transfer to an 11% difference in performance), but in my experience what you gain is a cooler-running PowerBook. You'll still have the same graphics card, same RAM, and same 167MHz system bus. Then you can use the 1.33's top case, no problem. You can even have the same functionality of the scrolling trackpad by using iScroll: https://sourceforge.net/projects/iscroll2/

Alternatively, you can search for a good top case for the 1.5GHz model on eBay - but be prepared to pay for it, they can be nearly as expensive as buying a working PowerBook.

Hope that helps, good luck!

 

[Intell]

You can use the 1.5Ghz topcase with older models, but you cannot use the 1.5Ghz trackpad with older models. The trackpad it easy to switch between the two models, they even use the same cable. Once switched, it'll work normally.

 

[Raging Dufus]

You can use the 1.5Ghz topcase with older models, but you cannot use the 1.5Ghz trackpad with older models. The trackpad it easy to switch between the two models, they even use the same cable. Once switched, it'll work normally.

You're correct, I should have been more specific. It's only the trackpad itself that presents a problem.

 

[MisterBiro]

How do you remove the trackpad?

It seems pretty straight forward to remove the button, but not the rest of the trackpad?

 

[Raging Dufus]

How do you remove the trackpad?

It might not be the best tutorial, because the guy did not achieve his objective (a working trackpad), but this will at least show you how to swap it out: http://appletothecore.me/files/powerbook_g4_repair.php

It doesn't seem straight forward because it's not. The trackpad and button were meant to be integral with the top case, not separately serviceable. Nonetheless, it can be done.

 

[Intell]

The button is easy to remove, undo a few screws and it comes out. The trackpad is help in with doublesided sticky tape. Go slowly, and you can remove it.