Opening an iBook G4

[VirtuallyInsane]

I got my iBook G4 half working. It definitely needs a hard drive replacement. What is the best way [preferably the easiest too] to get into an iBook G4 14-inch to open it up and replace the hard drive, in your experience? (No, don't link me to the iBookGuy video, tried that and nothing).

 

[TheShortTimer]

How about the iFixit guide?

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

How about the iFixit guide?

Yeesh! D: 34 steps? ....

 

[Amethyst1]

Yeesh! D: 34 steps? ....

Yeah, replacing the hard drive in those iBooks is… involved.

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

Yeah, replacing the hard drive in those iBooks is… involved.

I am close to just using a Firewire SSD lol.

 

[eyoungren]

Yeesh! D: 34 steps? ....

I am close to just using a Firewire SSD lol.

Don't whine, you have the 14" iBook G4. The earlier iBooks were much more of a PITA.



Just messing with you. This is one of the reasons I do not care for the iBooks.

Be careful when you disconnect the hard drive ribbon cable from the LB. A former user here gave me an iBook at one point and unbeknownst to him, he'd slightly torn the connector away from the logicboard. This resulted in the iBook freezing frequently.

I ended up just replacing the whole thing for $50. My daughter was using it until it developed a problem with the DC-in board. I never got around to fixing it because I just do not want to deal with opening it.

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

Don't whine, you have the 14" iBook G4. The earlier iBooks were much more of a PITA.



Just messing with you. This is one of the reasons I do not care for the iBooks.

Be careful when you disconnect the hard drive ribbon cable from the LB. A former user here gave me an iBook at one point and unbeknownst to him, he'd slightly torn the connector away from the logicboard. This resulted in the iBook freezing frequently.

I ended up just replacing the whole thing for $50. My daughter was using it until it developed a problem with the DC-in board. I never got around to fixing it because I just do not want to deal with opening it.

Haha, yeah I can understand this. People say that the 12-inch Powerbooks are hard to work with, but they're super easy looking compared to the iBooks, tbh. I have a 12-inch one (1.07 GHz) and it runs fine, with no issues.

It seems like the 1.42 GHz model has the main issues, for me.

Yes, I definitely will be using a spudger for the disconnections when it comes to the logic board. I will try and salvage it. If not, I can replace it, they are cheap. I like working on them because they're a nice screen size and because the keyboard is also comfortable.

Can't blame you for not wanting to open it, tbh.

 

[Mark.g4]

I have an ibook g4 and replacing the disk isn't easy, there's a lot of plastic and the risk of breaking something is high, be careful and calm.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I use and also recommend the ifixit guide. This job is a real pain with lots of ugly sounding creaking plastic parts as you pry the thing apart. For me, I used a combination of plastic spudgers and the the guitar pick shaped wedges to keep seams from snapping back together while working my way around the shell. To keep the screws organized, I use a ice cube tray. Just take your time - don't rush, be methodical and you should be ok.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Just take your time - don't rush, be methodical and you should be ok.

Yes, patience is paramount where these machines are concerned.

I've got several that I need to upgrade/repair and I've avoided doing so because I know they'll require time and space to work on them properly.

 

[paardenkapper]

I just replaced the harddrive in my 12'' iBook. It is not that hard - only in comparison to more recent models. You just have to remove the outer shells first before you can access the harddrive as there is no easy access door.

Just my 2 cents:
1) Keep track of the screws - keep them in the order you unscrewed them - a magnetic mat is key!
2) Test the harddrive and everything you had to unplug before you screw everything back together