Andy’s PowerBook Problem

[3lectr1cPPC]

Neither the 160 or 3400 work.

Sounds like they've mostly working to me! Super duper lucky that the 3400 boots, get that PRAM battery out ASAP!!! 3 screws on the bottom, keyboard lifts up, one or two more screws holding the above-keyboard bezel in, lift it out, and the battery is right there to remove. 15 minutes and it's gone. The 3400 uses Lithium Ion batteries, so with a bit of luck your pack may work! The 160 gray screen (if you get a cursor) likely means the hard disk is dead and holding up the SCSI bus (thus why no question mark). The 160's LCD probably also needs to be recapped though. Good luck!

 

[AndyO]

The 340o doesn't boot - but there is definitely a problem with the HD. It spins up, then down a few times, then there's click and it powers down. Sounds like the heads are stuck, the drive doesn't initialize, and after a few attempts it self parks again. Meanwhile, of course, the question mark icon.

I've had hit-and-miss results from the IDE/SD adapter - it's worked perfectly in the wall street and my PDQs, but not in the Lombard or 1400, so assuming I burn a 3400 install CD and the 3400 CD drive works, it's still not certain the problem is resolved - but it might be, and even if not, we're somewhere nearer.

The 160 doesn't show anything on screen when it's chimed, but the sound from the drive is similar, if rather more muted. I'll try and use a Disk Tools floppy to get it running, but I think there's more wrong than just the drive. However, the 160 was just for parts (I want the bottom casing and keyboard particularly) so I'm not fussed if it doesn't play ball.

And yes, I'll get the 3400 PRAM battery out - thanks for the details! I think I've seen new PRAM batteries for the 3400 for sale on eBay too, so that might be worth a look if I can get it running.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

I’ve got an SD to IDE adapter with a 64GB card in my 3400 and it works great, no issues. Also, when I said that it boots, I meant to the question mark. That means you’ve got a working system, just a dead drive. As for PRAM battery replacements, it really isn’t necessary unless you’re planning to sleep-swap multiple battery packs, or if you really really care about date and time being correct. Issue is if you leave the new pack in there for 10-15 years and forget about it, *poof* ruined motherboard.

 

[AndyO]

I couldn't get the IDE/SD formatted in the Lombards - it wasn't recognized. Perhaps I need an alternative disk utility or something, but a different SD solution was good though.

However, you were right about the fact the 3400 was 'booting', because I grabbed a Mac OS 8.0 install CD from the Garden, burned it to CD on a G4 PB, and the 3400 booted that just fine. Then, much to my surprise, it reported a 1.2Gb internal HD that wasn't formatted. After 30 minutes, the 3400 8.0 on it and booted up to the internal drive - whatever it is.

I will experiment with the IDE/Sd adapter, with a view to installing it with maybe an 8Gb or even just 4Gb SD card, but I will have a play with the 3400 in the meantime to see if I like it. I also need to work out why the 1400c with Mac OS 8.5 recognizes a CF card in the PC Card slot, so I can get that working in the 3400 too.

It only has 16Gb RAM though, which limits my options a bit. But still, quite happy with that!

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Do all the keyboard keys work? First thing that gets killed when the PRAM battery leaks are the keyboard connectors. Which processor does it have, and how much did it cost you?

 

[AndyO]

All the keys seem to be working, and the battery even reported it was charging and is now charged... I'm not sure I believe that though. It's a 180, so I think, the base model with 16Mb RAM and 1.3Gb HD. Physically it's a bit scuffed up and 'well used' but no cracks and the hinges are good, so for $40 I'm certainly pleased with the new arrival!

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Sweet. $40 is a steal for one of those! You said you got it from a recycler, right? How can I find a place like that near me

 

[AndyO]

I was rather fortunate with it, though the seller had said it was not tested, so I didn't think he'd accept the offer. When he did, I was pretty sure that meant he actually had tested it and found it wouldn't work. When I first plugged it in, it chimed but did nothing else, so maybe that's what he got too.

But, here it is...


And the battery is holding some sort of charge. It kept the correct date/time overnight and for the trip to the office, but I'd bet it won't power the system at all.

Now installing stuff from my SCSI2SD 5.5.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

And the battery is holding some sort of charge. It kept the correct date/time overnight and for the trip to the office, but I'd bet it won't power the system at all.

Unplug the thing! Chances are it will run the system. All 4 of mine did. It can cold boot without a PRAM battery, but if you remove the pack and stick it back in, it will need a jump start.

 

[AndyO]

At least 20 minutes run time. Had to plug it back in at that point because I wouldn't be there to observe it. Pretty sweet.

And the floppy module from my 190 works perfectly in it too. Shame though that this is not a great keyboard. It works, but the keys are stiffer than I like or they look like I should expect.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Fairly certain that the 5300/190 and 3400 keyboards are interchangeable.

 

[CC_333]

It seems, within the space of about a year, you've gone from not being terribly fond of PowerBooks to having a rather decent collection of them!

I have a 160 or 165 (I can't remember which) which does something similar I think, except the display is cracked.

c

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

It seems, within the space of about a year, you've gone from not being terribly fond of PowerBooks to having a rather decent collection of them!

That's what's happened to me too. I was always fond of them (and I had iBooks before then), but I only got my first PowerBook in march of 2021, and look what's happened now...
Andy has me beat though. Way more than me! I'm not jealous at all... definitely not.

 

[CC_333]

Indeed!

I've almost always had a PowerBook of some sort around (my mother bought a new Lombard in 1999 or so, which I promptly usurped, and I've since collected quite a few other models since then), so I never had the lack of fondness problem, it seems.

c

 

[AndyO]

Fairly certain that the 5300/190 and 3400 keyboards are interchangeable.

That's ironic, because I do have a 5300 which is basically for parts, but it actually has a fairly poor keyboard too. Still, that's worth a try - and though not really related more than tenuously, the floppy drive does at least!

It seems, within the space of about a year, you've gone from not being terribly fond of PowerBooks to having a rather decent collection of them!

I have a 160 or 165 (I can't remember which) which does something similar I think, except the display is cracked.

c

Ah, I know. It's a disease, and I can't help it. That said, they work perfectly for what I need, but what makes it quite ironic is that when I began to think about using old computers for some of my work, I made the decision that I was not interested in Macs at all, and PowerBooks even less. My first systems were TRS-80s (and I admit, I really like my Model 4P), and a couple of DOS machines, including a rather excellent NEC PowerMate Portable. 286, DOS 6.2, WordPerfect 5.0 ... what more could you want?!

 

[AndyO]

My good fortune has come to an end. A recent PowerBook Duo 280c purchase from eBay arrived... and was DOA. No sign of life at all. Somewhat brittle plastics on the power supply and battery too, though the Duo itself appears in good condition, and was shown, and listed, as working.

The PSU seems to be pushing out the correct volts, but with battery in and out, no activity at all. Not sure there's anything I can do, and the seller seems happy to refund. Disappointing though.

Then, a $10 junk 165c also. This is as a donor for its keyboard and HD, from a recycler who listed it as dead, but good physical condition for its plastics. More by habit than anything, I plugged it in and indeed. dead.

30 minutes later, a chime. Then a whir, and then with a bit of brightness/contrast tweaking, a 'welcome' screen. Sadly, though the display is sharp and has almost no ghosting, it does have two orange blemishes, one is totally opaque.

But... 12Mb RAM and an 80Mb HD, running 7.5. Everything but the orange blemishes seems to be good. Now I wonder if I can find a new display panel for it!

 

[joshc]

and the seller seems happy to refund

That's at least something!

Everything but the orange blemishes seems to be good.

What causes this?

I do have a fondness for the 165c / 180c, very cool laptops and I would love a working one.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

It's pressure damage. Something was pressed hard up against those points at some time in the past.
280c might be capacitor related, but it could be anything as well. Try any of your later AC adapters that fit, they're all compatible.

 

[mdeverhart]

No sign of life at all.

Have you tried the power button on the back, near the dock connector? The one above the keyboard often won’t work if the PRAM battery is dead, but the one on the back should “jump-start” it.

Sorry it’s not working, let me know if you’d be interested in selling it as a parts machine.

 

[AndyO]

I rather like the 165c. These blemishes are obviously not good, but the smaller color screen gives it a sharper display than the greyscale model. The color saturation is pretty good too, which is quite a surprise. I think I might be able to find a replacement panel - it's a Sharp LM64C06P (I think), so I'll keep my eye open. @3lectr1cPPC is right that the blemishes are pressure damage - it is frustrating to see people poking at these displays, not realizing how easily bruised many of them are. I have a PB video cable if I was minded to run it with an external display, though I doubt I have the right adapter.

The 165c floppy drive is bad too, but hey, for $10, expecting it to be totally dead, I can't complain!

The 280c... that's just sad. I tried a PSU from my PDQ, but that didn't work either. I will leave it plugged in overnight though, because, well, voodoo isn't just for SCSI!

I've never been sure what the difference is between the power button on the back and the top on the Duo PBs, but I tried them both, including for the reset (as not entirely described in the 200-series service source PDF). Sadly, no difference. Also no way to determine what may or may not be salvageable from the unit. However, I will, one day, get a working Duo, just so I have one. It appears though that today is not that day unfortunately.

Sorry it’s not working, let me know if you’d be interested in selling it as a parts machine.

Thanks for the offer, but it won't really be mine to sell.