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Best way to proceed with a broken iBook G4

G

GammaPoint

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 22, 2010
25
0
My fiancee dropped her iBook G4 from about a foot off the ground a week ago and has had kernel panics since then (the kernel panic messages look like those I'm posting below):

Code: 
Tue Nov 2 09:54:22 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 00000000006B77
20, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 42000000, dar = 00000000301A2000
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80 
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2FEEDC80)
PC=0x006B7720; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x301A2000; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x006B
D3A4; R1=0x0CF33350; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x006BD34C 0x006BC8A8 0x006B7A1C 0x006CD4F8 0x006C8930 0x006F42EC 
0x006D0B18 0x006F0874 0x006EDF9C 0x007008F8 0x005D042C 0x005D02AC 0x002
D2244 0x005D0320 
0x005C7240 0x005C7470 0x005C70FC 0x005D02AC 0x002D2244 0x005D0320 0x005
C6FBC 0x0011E790 
0x0011BB98 0x0011C0A8 0x00283F80 0x00284034 0x00260FE4 0x00280198 0x002
ABDB8 0x000ABD30 
0x69627261 
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.AppleAirPort2(405.1)@0x6b1000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5c4000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5c4000
Exception state (sv=0x2FB00280)
PC=0x90001F0C; MSR=0x0200F030; DAR=0xE00EC000; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x000E
431C; R1=0xF00803E0; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1
/RELEASE_PPC

*********

Tue Nov 2 19:34:30 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 00000000006DB5
2C, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 40000000, dar = 0000000017260040
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80 
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2FA40C80)
PC=0x006DB52C; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x17260040; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x006F
0078; R1=0x0D0A3D30; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x0027D47C 0x006F0078 0x002D1B8C 0x002D0A54 0x000A9714 
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.AppleAirPort2(405.1)@0x6b1000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5c4000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
Exception state (sv=0x1D14C500)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x0000
0000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1
/RELEASE_PPC

*********

Tue Nov 2 23:05:07 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 00000000006CD5
2C, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 42000000, dar = 00000000043B6000
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 00000000ff000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80 
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2F57CC80)
PC=0x006CD52C; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x043B6000; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x006E
2078; R1=0x0CFC3D30; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x016027C0 0x006E2078 0x002D1B8C 0x002D0A54 0x000A9714 
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.AppleAirPort2(405.1)@0x6a3000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5b6000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
Exception state (sv=0x20ACBA00)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x0000
0000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1
/RELEASE_PPC

Anybody know what that might mean? Does it mean that AirPort is the problem? That would be consistent with the fact that her computer runs completely fine in Safe Mode (AirPort is turned off in Safe Mode).

Anyway, I performed a hardware check and nothing was found wrong. I did a 'archive and install' and the problem still occurred. I did a 'clean and install' and the problem still occurs (except, again, that it works fine in 'Safe Mode').

What should I do next? Is it possible to see if the AirPort card is damaged or dislodged without taking it into the Apple Store? Also, she bought this in 2005 so the normal 1-year warranty has since long expired. If we take it into the Apple store, what sort of charges are we looking at for them taking a look at it?

Thanks for your help!
 
AlphaDogg said:
Why not just go get a new MacBook? It doesn't seem worth it to put money into this computer, as it is so old.
Click to expand...

Well, she still likes it, so no need to buy a new one if she's happy with it. I wasn't sure if the Apple store helped for free and then would tell you what the replacement hardware would cost, or if they'd simply start charging $50/hour or something just to take a look at it. If the costs of fixing it is over a couple hundred dollars, then yes, I agree, she should just suck it up and get a new one :)
 
GammaPoint said:
Well, she still likes it, so no need to buy a new one if she's happy with it. I wasn't sure if the Apple store helped for free and then would tell you what the replacement hardware would cost, or if they'd simply start charging $50/hour or something just to take a look at it. If the costs of fixing it is over a couple hundred dollars, then yes, I agree, she should just suck it up and get a new one :)
Click to expand...

They will help for free, but charge you for diagnostics, repairs, and whatnot...
 
AlphaDogg said:
They will help for free, but charge you for diagnostics, repairs, and whatnot...
Click to expand...

I see. Thanks for the info. Just set us up a Genius bar appointment for Tuesday. I imagine they'll say "Yep, looks like you're $@%&ed and we'll have to ship it off to find out more" and then say no and move our way over to the new laptops.

Assuming she gets a new one, is there anything semi-useful that we can do with the old one? Do computer stores pay for laptops that have some sort of problem (I suppose Apple doesn't do "trade-ins").
 
GammaPoint said:
I see. Thanks for the info. Just set us up a Genius bar appointment for Tuesday. I imagine they'll say "Yep, looks like you're $@%&ed and we'll have to ship it off to find out more" and then say no and move our way over to the new laptops.

Assuming she gets a new one, is there anything semi-useful that we can do with the old one? Do computer stores pay for laptops that have some sort of problem (I suppose Apple doesn't do "trade-ins").
Click to expand...

Apple may give you $100 for it... but that's all...
 
You can check the AirPort card quite easily. It's under the keyboard, which is released by 2 spring-loaded tabs in between some of the Function keys. The keyboard will then simply lift off and you can re-seat the AirPort card.

The easily-removable keyboard is probably one of the best features of the computer. Also, FWIW, this should be in the PowerPC sub-forum, not the MacBook sub-forum.
 
iThinkergoiMac said:
You can check the AirPort card quite easily. It's under the keyboard, which is released by 2 spring-loaded tabs in between some of the Function keys. The keyboard will then simply lift off and you can re-seat the AirPort card
Click to expand...

I don't think this is true with her model (I saw a Youtube video where this was true). I removed the keyboard yesterday and there is nothing sitting there except a metal grate which I suppose leads to the hard drive. I believe with her specific computer I have to take the computer apart much more in order to get access to the AirPort card.

The easily-removable keyboard is probably one of the best features of the computer. Also, FWIW, this should be in the PowerPC sub-forum, not the MacBook sub-forum.
Click to expand...

Oh sorry, I didn't really know what the iBook was considered. I guess I just thought it was the MacBook predecessor. If a mod could move the thread that'd be great.
 
GammaPoint said:
I don't think this is true with her model (I saw a Youtube video where this was true). I removed the keyboard yesterday and there is nothing sitting there except a metal grate which I suppose leads to the hard drive. I believe with her specific computer I have to take the computer apart much more in order to get access to the AirPort card.
Click to expand...

Which model do you have? To my knowledge, all iBook G4s have the AirPort card in the same location.
 
There you go. I learned something today.

Those things are a pain to get apart, but not at all impossible. If you've got the tools and skills, I'd give it a try. You don't have a lot to lose... she doesn't have a computer that works well enough right now, so if it broke she wouldn't be much worse off.
 
iThinkergoiMac said:
Those things are a pain to get apart, but not at all impossible. If you've got the tools and skills, I'd give it a try. You don't have a lot to lose... she doesn't have a computer that works well enough right now, so if it broke she wouldn't be much worse off.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was thinking. I'll see what the guy at the store says, but I'm assuming he's not going to be able to fix the problem for free. Then I'll take it home and open it up. If it's going to be worthless then I might as well have fun opening it up. At the very least I'll learn something and at the very best I'll fix the problem and save $1000.
 
GammaPoint said:
My fiancee dropped her iBook G4 from about a foot off the ground a week ago and has had kernel panics since then (the kernel panic messages look like those I'm posting below):

Code: 
Tue Nov 2 09:54:22 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 00000000006B77
20, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 42000000, dar = 00000000301A2000
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80 
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2FEEDC80)
PC=0x006B7720; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x301A2000; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x006B
D3A4; R1=0x0CF33350; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x006BD34C 0x006BC8A8 0x006B7A1C 0x006CD4F8 0x006C8930 0x006F42EC 
0x006D0B18 0x006F0874 0x006EDF9C 0x007008F8 0x005D042C 0x005D02AC 0x002
D2244 0x005D0320 
0x005C7240 0x005C7470 0x005C70FC 0x005D02AC 0x002D2244 0x005D0320 0x005
C6FBC 0x0011E790 
0x0011BB98 0x0011C0A8 0x00283F80 0x00284034 0x00260FE4 0x00280198 0x002
ABDB8 0x000ABD30 
0x69627261 
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.AppleAirPort2(405.1)@0x6b1000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5c4000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5c4000
Exception state (sv=0x2FB00280)
PC=0x90001F0C; MSR=0x0200F030; DAR=0xE00EC000; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x000E
431C; R1=0xF00803E0; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1
/RELEASE_PPC

*********

Tue Nov 2 19:34:30 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 00000000006DB5
2C, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 40000000, dar = 0000000017260040
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80 
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2FA40C80)
PC=0x006DB52C; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x17260040; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x006F
0078; R1=0x0D0A3D30; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x0027D47C 0x006F0078 0x002D1B8C 0x002D0A54 0x000A9714 
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.AppleAirPort2(405.1)@0x6b1000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5c4000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
Exception state (sv=0x1D14C500)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x0000
0000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1
/RELEASE_PPC

*********

Tue Nov 2 23:05:07 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x000A8C00): Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 00000000006CD5
2C, msr = 0000000000149030, dsisr = 42000000, dar = 00000000043B6000
AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000
L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 00000000ff000000

Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095A10 0x00026898 0x000A8C00 0x000A7E90 0x000ABB80 
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2F57CC80)
PC=0x006CD52C; MSR=0x00149030; DAR=0x043B6000; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x006E
2078; R1=0x0CFC3D30; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x016027C0 0x006E2078 0x002D1B8C 0x002D0A54 0x000A9714 
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.AppleAirPort2(405.1)@0x6a3000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(1.5.0)@0x5b6000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(1.7)@0x48d000
Exception state (sv=0x20ACBA00)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x0000
0000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0: Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.24.17~1
/RELEASE_PPC

Anybody know what that might mean? Does it mean that AirPort is the problem? That would be consistent with the fact that her computer runs completely fine in Safe Mode (AirPort is turned off in Safe Mode).

Anyway, I performed a hardware check and nothing was found wrong. I did a 'archive and install' and the problem still occurred. I did a 'clean and install' and the problem still occurs (except, again, that it works fine in 'Safe Mode').

What should I do next? Is it possible to see if the AirPort card is damaged or dislodged without taking it into the Apple Store? Also, she bought this in 2005 so the normal 1-year warranty has since long expired. If we take it into the Apple store, what sort of charges are we looking at for them taking a look at it?

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

Taking it to the apple store is a waste of time i had my ibook g4 quit on me to i took it into apple in febuary, they stopped supporting parts and service for it in may they will only say sorry we dont support it can i show some new features on the unibody macbook... but if it is only the airport card..look for one on the internet, i just sold one and it is really easy to install it just flip the keyboard and the card was right there
 
Went to the Genius bar last night. I basically told them everything that I wrote in this thread and he agreed that the AirPort card might likely be the problem. One thing he did that I didn't was boot into standard mode and then turn the AirPort card off (I had only operated in Safe Mode with the card off). The computer worked fine in standard mode without the wireless card activated.

So he recommended that we just get an external USB ethernet and go with that, which sounds like a good idea to me. Does anyone have any recommendations on a good one? I've never bought one of these before and don't know how variable the quality of these are.
 
GammaPoint said:
Went to the Genius bar last night. I basically told them everything that I wrote in this thread and he agreed that the AirPort card might likely be the problem. One thing he did that I didn't was boot into standard mode and then turn the AirPort card off (I had only operated in Safe Mode with the card off). The computer worked fine in standard mode without the wireless card activated.

So he recommended that we just get an external USB ethernet and go with that, which sounds like a good idea to me. Does anyone have any recommendations on a good one? I've never bought one of these before and don't know how variable the quality of these are.
Click to expand...

As for reliability, I can speak for a buddy of mine that's had one on his desktop since I met him 4 years ago. The thing is still going strong, and he's never had any issues with it. If I get a chance to ask him what the brand and model is, I'll let you know, but since it's fairly old, I don't know if that'd help or not.

Regardless, those things are great. Very strong, and basic - the best part about basic technology is that not a whole lot can go wrong, since there's not a whole lot there to begin with.
 
Great, thanks Skippy. Perhaps I'll just meander over to Newegg and see what gets good reviews.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A306 Safari/6531.22.7)

It looks like you the 1.33ghz model which is different than all of th other iBooks, the airport card isn't under the keyboard, anyways this is a very common issue and you can find a lot of information if you google 1.33ghz airport.

You can take the iBook apart and shim the airport in place, just put a piece of cardboard betwwe the card itself and the supporting plastic part.

Or you can resolder all the connectors on the logicboard if you have a good soldering skills.

Ps or the card could be simply loose since she drop it.
 
Having had one of these, I can say that it's not too terribly daunting. All you have to do is go to iFixIt or a similar website and look at the service manuals... As long as you just do exactly what they say, anyone can do it! :)

They are awesome little computers.
 
Thanks for the replies you two. I think there's a pretty good chance that if I followed directions online I could replace the internal card without damaging or breaking the computer. But I've got my qualifying exam in a couple weeks so I'm worried about that taking up too much of my time. Getting an external wireless USB would probably fix the problem without me having to open up the box and worrying about it.

But if it doesn't work, or if something breaks in the future, that iFixit site looks great for repairs.
 
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