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Powerbook G4 Problem

i'm pretty sure it's not the RAM, i don't think RAM would even let the computer start up if it weren't working properly, and i also don't think it causes computers to freeze. i can read the RAM anyway, so i can access the banks.

it might be the harddrive, but i don't have the money to get a new hard drive.
 
dragonmantek said:
i'm pretty sure it's not the RAM, i don't think RAM would even let the computer start up if it weren't working properly, and i also don't think it causes computers to freeze. i can read the RAM anyway, so i can access the banks.

it might be the harddrive, but i don't have the money to get a new hard drive.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it is the ram, but it is the ram slot.

These models had dead or dying ram slots. First, try putting your ram in the other slot.

There is a fix for these for about fifty bucks from the elusive team in Arizona that reflows iBooks' infamous bad video chips.

They also reflow 15" Powerbook memory slots to get them working again. It is the tiny broken connectors inside the slot that pull off. This company reflows them. Google arizona reflow ibook.

But if you just want the machine to work now as best as it can,swap the ram into the other slot and then upgrade to one gig later. You may find yourself having to upgrade to a new hard drive soon enough. Hard drives just fail after a certain number of years, they are full of moving parts, you understand.
 
I tried re-seatting the RAM into the other slot, and my father had some old RAM that we tried putting in, it was DDR, but it wasn't the specific one we needed I guess, because it didn't work.

For some reason if I put the RAM into the second slot it won't work, but I cleared up some dust, and hopefully that might have been the problem.

Honestly, I think it might be a heating issue. Why would the laptop freeze in 15 minutes? I think because it's working and it gets too hot?
 
dragonmantek said:
I tried re-seatting the RAM into the other slot, and my father had some old RAM that we tried putting in, it was DDR, but it wasn't the specific one we needed I guess, because it didn't work.

For some reason if I put the RAM into the second slot it won't work, but I cleared up some dust, and hopefully that might have been the problem.

Honestly, I think it might be a heating issue. Why would the laptop freeze in 15 minutes? I think because it's working and it gets too hot?
Click to expand...

That's why I asked if the fans were coming on at all.
 
Install iStat or similar app to see what temperatures the machine reaches and how fast the fans are spinning.

I would also consider replacing the thermal paste on the CPU, since those will get worse over time. Thermal paste is almost free, but it's a bit tricky to apply it if you aren't comfortable messing around inside the computer
 
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