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CooperBox

macrumors 68000
Sadly, it never works out for me. After a few hours I usually get them up and running, leaving me with an added member of the family and still in search of spare parts.
That could have been me saying that! It's happened several times here too. Not that I particularly mind taking home another 'lost orphan', but once back home and realising that it's not handicapped and ready to play almost out-of-the-box, Mme. CooperB starts wondering if she's not living in a digital orphanage. ;)
 
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AphoticD

macrumors 68020
Feb 17, 2017
2,282
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Hmm.. I've taken in 3 strays this past week...
  • PowerBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz - dead DC-DC board. Good battery.
  • iBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz - A OK, but pretty scuffed on the outside and a mostly expired battery.
  • MacBook Pro 15.4" 1.83Ghz - A OK, except a dead battery.
With another three on their way...
  • iBook G4 12" unknown spec.. possibly a 2004 model.
  • PowerBook G4 15" unknown spec.. possibly a 2005 model (hopefully another DLSD)
  • PowerBook G4 12" unknown spec. Could be any model. I am actually hoping it is an original 867 with the Geforce4 420 just for the sake of hardware diversity :)
In my repair pile is also a PowerBook G4 15" DLSD 1.67Ghz with a dead LCD. The replacement CCFL tubes I have on order should be arriving soon for the repair.

I've been lucky with the three units already in my possession this week. All were covertly delivered or collected... My better half didn't notice them as new additions, even the MBP looks like just another PowerBook G4 :apple:
 
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TC_GoldRush

macrumors 6502
Dec 6, 2017
283
272
Nevada, USA
Hmm.. I've taken in 3 strays this past week...
  • PowerBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz - dead DC-DC board. Good battery.
  • iBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz - A OK, but pretty scuffed on the outside and a mostly expired battery.
  • MacBook Pro 15.4" 1.83Ghz - A OK, except a dead battery.
With another three on their way...
  • iBook G4 12" unknown spec.. possibly a 2004 model.
  • PowerBook G4 15" unknown spec.. possibly a 2005 model (hopefully another DLSD)
  • PowerBook G4 12" unknown spec. Could be any model. I am actually hoping it is an original 867 with the Geforce4 420 just for the sake of hardware diversity :)
In my repair pile is also a PowerBook G4 15" DLSD 1.67Ghz with a dead LCD. The replacement CCFL tubes I have on order should be arriving soon for the repair.

I've been lucky with the three units already in my possession this week. All were covertly delivered or collected... My better half didn't notice them as new additions, even the MBP looks like just another PowerBook G4 :apple:
Where do you get all these from?
 
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AphoticD

macrumors 68020
Feb 17, 2017
2,282
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Where do you get all these from?

Mostly eBay, some gumtree. It’s very thin pickings where I am, but I have my alerts set up to keep an eye out for new listings as they pop up.

I’ve been reluctant to spend too much, but have also masked the “collecting”, as an R&D exercise. :)
 
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CooperBox

macrumors 68000
Hmm.. I've taken in 3 strays this past week...
  • PowerBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz - dead DC-DC board. Good battery.
  • iBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz - A OK, but pretty scuffed on the outside and a mostly expired battery.
  • MacBook Pro 15.4" 1.83Ghz - A OK, except a dead battery.
With another three on their way...
  • iBook G4 12" unknown spec.. possibly a 2004 model.
  • PowerBook G4 15" unknown spec.. possibly a 2005 model (hopefully another DLSD)
  • PowerBook G4 12" unknown spec. Could be any model. I am actually hoping it is an original 867 with the Geforce4 420 just for the sake of hardware diversity :)
In my repair pile is also a PowerBook G4 15" DLSD 1.67Ghz with a dead LCD. The replacement CCFL tubes I have on order should be arriving soon for the repair.

I've been lucky with the three units already in my possession this week. All were covertly delivered or collected... My better half didn't notice them as new additions, even the MBP looks like just another PowerBook G4 :apple:

With ref to your comment, "PowerBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz - dead DC-DC board. Good battery."
An aesthetically good, complete PBook6,4 1.33GHz (A1010) I recently acquired for spares doesn't boot, as correctly described by the seller, who also added, "One day it wouldn't power on, and charger light when connected remains green even with battery removed". Photos follow:
P1140982a.jpg P1140984a.jpg

I've tried the several common known attempts - PRAM reset etc, and also another good known battery and another charger. Charger light still remains green when connected. Would this point to a suspect dead DC-DC board?
As we who have tinkered with these 12" PBbooks know only too well, a change of DC-DC board is akin to a surgical removal of an appendix wearing a blindfold - in terms of difficulty. :(
I always jump with pleasure at the occasion to completely tear-down and refurbish a 15" and especially a 17" PBook, not so with these little devils........
 

AphoticD

macrumors 68020
Feb 17, 2017
2,282
3,459
C’mon, it’s not that bad. it’s just the key cap removal that instills fear in me. The rest of it is just screws and plugs.

I was lucky with my 1.33 to visually see a blow out on the DC-DC board, combined with a brown burn stain on the underside of the trackpad.

However... it was still capable of charging the battery (amber light). But that’s not to say that a different blown component would prevent the charger from switching from green to amber

When it comes to a non-boot scenario, the only real option is to dissect. It could be either the DC-DC board, the DC-in connection (or wiring) or the logic board.

If you have a similar unit (1.0 - 1.5ghz) then you can try using a known working DC-DC board pulled from one of your other machines before removing the heatsink, logic board and DC-in connector and wiring.

It only takes 10 minutes or so to dismantle to the point of removing the keyboard and top case. Just take your time with the F-keys :)
 

CooperBox

macrumors 68000
C’mon, it’s not that bad. it’s just the key cap removal that instills fear in me. The rest of it is just screws and plugs.

I was lucky with my 1.33 to visually see a blow out on the DC-DC board, combined with a brown burn stain on the underside of the trackpad.

However... it was still capable of charging the battery (amber light). But that’s not to say that a different blown component would prevent the charger from switching from green to amber

When it comes to a non-boot scenario, the only real option is to dissect. It could be either the DC-DC board, the DC-in connection (or wiring) or the logic board.

If you have a similar unit (1.0 - 1.5ghz) then you can try using a known working DC-DC board pulled from one of your other machines before removing the heatsink, logic board and DC-in connector and wiring.

It only takes 10 minutes or so to dismantle to the point of removing the keyboard and top case. Just take your time with the F-keys :)

C’mon, it’s worse than bad.....;)
Seriously though, it's exactly the removal of the 4 key caps, those micro connectors with their extremely flimsy flip-up retaining bar, and the spaghetti junction cable runs that instill fear in me. Think I'll take a sedative later tonight in preparation for another 'High-Noon' PBook 12" encounter tomorrow.
 
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CooperBox

macrumors 68000
The tear-down of the 12" PBook referred to above in post #32 is now complete. Not without incident as I found the main two 'spring' heat-sink retaining screws, just turned without any resistance, which I realised immediately meant that their anchor posts had detached from the logic board. This I can fix, which is probably best shown in a new thread when all is completed.
 

AphoticD

macrumors 68020
Feb 17, 2017
2,282
3,459
The tear-down of the 12" PBook referred to above in post #32 is now complete. Not without incident as I found the main two 'spring' heat-sink retaining screws, just turned without any resistance, which I realised immediately meant that their anchor posts had detached from the logic board. This I can fix, which is probably best shown in a new thread when all is completed.

Well done @CooperBox! You faced your fears head on :)

The same thing happened to me on the 1.33Ghz machine. It was difficult to remove the screw from the post which was spinning on itself. I eventually got it out and then used a 2 part clear epoxy to glue the anchor post / standoff back to the logic board and let it set for a few hours before reassembling.
 

CooperBox

macrumors 68000
Well done @CooperBox! You faced your fears head on :)

The same thing happened to me on the 1.33Ghz machine. It was difficult to remove the screw from the post which was spinning on itself. I eventually got it out and then used a 2 part clear epoxy to glue the anchor post / standoff back to the logic board and let it set for a few hours before reassembling.

Mine is the belt & braces approach. Attach both with superglue (which I've just completed), now taking a break with a jar of java. ;)
Next step - like yourself - is to use a 2 part epoxy (I always use Standard Araldite, never the Rapid version), and then leave to cure for 48hrs. At this stage I don't know if I'm not wasting my time, the logic board may be toast......
_
_

I now realise that my comment about change of DC to DC board being difficult was nonsense - it's relatively accessible and straight forward. It's called memory playing tricks, or senility........:p. I was confusing it with the DC-In board which together with the optical drive can only be removed once the logic board is out. But it's true, when you've completed two such refurbishments, the third becomes easier.
 
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