Crutch
Well-known member
I bought a PowerBook 550c from Japan a year ago that was DOA — wouldn’t start no matter what I tried (no battery of course - was running with an AC adapter only). After a year in storage, I decided to try to repair it ... plugged it in just for kicks ... and it worked! The Finder was just loading when I decided to try out the Caps Lock key and ... POOF, it powered down.
Since then, I’ve been able to get it to power up only on a few random occasions, and, it seems, for shorter periods each time.
I know the power brick is good, it powers up my 540c (which I bought as a parts machine to fix this 550!) and a different 550c with no problem. AC adapter voltages check out fine.
I’ve tried the four-finger salute (Cmd-Ctrl-Opt-Power for ten seconds while unplugged) from this list https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1781. Also noted this thread https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/56171-powerbook-540c-wont-startup/ but nothing listed seems applicable (for example, the collar piece on my AC adapter plug is nice and tight). Would love any ideas or advice. I can take it apart, obviously, but not sure what I’d be looking for once it’s opened up!
Since then, I’ve been able to get it to power up only on a few random occasions, and, it seems, for shorter periods each time.
I know the power brick is good, it powers up my 540c (which I bought as a parts machine to fix this 550!) and a different 550c with no problem. AC adapter voltages check out fine.
I’ve tried the four-finger salute (Cmd-Ctrl-Opt-Power for ten seconds while unplugged) from this list https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1781. Also noted this thread https://68kmla.org/forums/index.php?/topic/56171-powerbook-540c-wont-startup/ but nothing listed seems applicable (for example, the collar piece on my AC adapter plug is nice and tight). Would love any ideas or advice. I can take it apart, obviously, but not sure what I’d be looking for once it’s opened up!