Hi, from my new iBook G4!

[Gil]

Hello everyone! I'm very excited about my new iBook G4 that i got off ebay! I have successfully loaded OS X 10.4.11 Tiger on it, as well as Office '04.

I have not used Mac OS X in probably 4 years, so i've never used Tiger, or even Panther for that matter. Whenever I install a program, it asks me for my admin account name and password. I guess this is refered to as the Keychain or something like that. Is there a way to skip this automatically, instead of having to enter the password and click OK? I just want programs to install without making me enter my info. Thanks.

 

[alk]

Nice!

I don't think there is a way to bypass the requirement for a password when installing some applications. This is probably a good thing because it prevents some unwanted applications from gaining root or admin access to your computer.

Hey, if you don't mind answering, what were the specs and price for the iBook? I'd like to buy an iBook G4 in the GHz range...

Peace,

Drew

 

[Gil]

800MHZ, 640MB RAM, 40 GB HD, 10.3.3 (Upgraded to 10.4.11), APX.

I got it from PowerON for a great price.

 

[Gil]

Another iBook question. Everytime i close the lid, it either goes to sleep, or shuts down the hard drive/network. I couldn't find a way to disable it. can it be disabled?

 

[juan123]

yes it can ...an app called insomnia X or something like that...... my ibook g4 stays "awake" for like 5 minutes with the lid closed then it goes to sleep..... weird....

 

[equill]

... Is there a way to skip this automatically, instead of having to enter the password and click OK? I just want programs to install without making me enter my info.

Look at it this way: you are asking how to disable a mechanism that is designed to protect you from yourself. After you click on an Install instruction, the OS should automatically enter the admin name associated with your account into the authentication window, leaving you to enter only the relevant password. Given the stakes (ie what is at risk), this is hardly an onerous chore. The admin name and password are then scrutinized by the combination of Netinfo and Kerberos. They authorize the task if the name and password pass the examination by those software guards. No software can be installed by stealth, and if you do not make a conscious choice to install every software package that you do install, you will give real meaning to your screen name.

de

 

[Christopher]

yes it can ...an app called insomnia X or something like that...... my ibook g4 stays "awake" for like 5 minutes with the lid closed then it goes to sleep..... weird....

Be glad yours even sleeps when yours closes. Mine won't sleep unless I tell it too. I doubt there is a magnet in here to tell it its lid is closed because there is marks all around the edge like the guy cracked it open to replace a few things.

 

[alk]

Another iBook question. Everytime i close the lid, it either goes to sleep, or shuts down the hard drive/network. I couldn't find a way to disable it. can it be disabled?

Bad idea! These things are marginal on cooling, and running it in "clamshell mode" is almost certain to fry something (or cause the video chip to come away from the motherboard as is common on these models).

If you have to, however, take a look at Extended Desktop (http://www.rutemoeller.com/mp/ibook/ibook_e.html) which enables operation in clamshell mode.

Once again, I advise against it. Doing so for extended periods of time is almost guaranteeing yourself a hardware failure.

That PowerOn guy has a TON of these iBooks. I bought a similar iBook from him (800 MHz 12" G4) in early December. I absolutely love it, but it is just a little slow. I want something compact that can play videos hosted on the network back at full screen without ever dropping frames. My PowerBook G4 1.33 GHz and 1.67 GHz models can do this fine, but the iBook G4 800 can't. I'm thinking the 800 MHz is just on the hairy edge...

Peace,

Drew

 

[~tl]

Another iBook question. Everytime i close the lid, it either goes to sleep, or shuts down the hard drive/network. I couldn't find a way to disable it. can it be disabled?

Bad idea! These things are marginal on cooling, and running it in "clamshell mode" is almost certain to fry something (or cause the video chip to come away from the motherboard as is common on these models).

If you have to, however, take a look at Extended Desktop (http://www.rutemoeller.com/mp/ibook/ibook_e.html) which enables operation in clamshell mode.

Once again, I advise against it. Doing so for extended periods of time is almost guaranteeing yourself a hardware failure.

While you're right about the heat thing, the Extended Desktop hack will only allow clamshell mode when an external monitor, keyboard and mouse are plugged in. I got the impression that the OP was wanting to just have it so that it didn't go to sleep when the lid was closed. The best way to achieve that is to open up the machine and remove the magnet that activates the sleep switch. IIRC it's on the left hand of the machine above the optical drive. Unfortunately, getting to it means disassembling basically the whole machine... although it's not too difficult, it's not for the faint of heart!

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/iBook-G4-12-Inch/Top-Shield/83/11/

You can actually see the magnet in this photo:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/83/images_large/44.jpg

It's the squint little metallic rectangle in the bottom right corner, above the battery bay. It's moved out of place in that photo, it should be aligned with the side of the case IIRC.

Still... I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to risk overheating your iBook.

 

[Gil]

Wow, not only is that a lot of work, I don't want it to wreck itself! Thanks for the heads up! I'm curious to know more about the hardware issues prone to this model.

 

[Christopher]

Most of the 16MB vram graphics up to say 1.2GHz iBooks had the video problem, it gets too hot the chip's solder points get warm and the chip lifts off the board and you lose video.

 

[Gil]

Is it fixable?

 

[Gil]

That PowerOn guy has a TON of these iBooks. I bought a similar iBook from him (800 MHz 12" G4) in early December. I absolutely love it, but it is just a little slow. I want something compact that can play videos hosted on the network back at full screen without ever dropping frames. My PowerBook G4 1.33 GHz and 1.67 GHz models can do this fine, but the iBook G4 800 can't. I'm thinking the 800 MHz is just on the hairy edge...

Peace,

Drew

Really? I don't find it slow at all. Then again, the fastest Mac I ever owned was 300MHz, so that makes anything else seem blazing fast I love this thing so much, though. I truly believe its one of the best purchases i've ever made.

Though i can't wait till I get my MacBook Pro in June!

 

[68Kollector]

Hi, from my first mac ever! iBook G4 1.33GHz 12" with combo, 1GB RAM, AP, and 10.5.1. It's a frick-wonderful computer, NTM it looks good too.

iBook oWners uNite!!!!

 

[moodi]

It's so nice to meet who use ibook G4 800mhz, the same stuff that i m using now.

It's awesome stuff. Although It is old, It's still powerfull!!

I'm using it very well now. So nice machine!!

 

[Franklinstein]

Is it fixable?

Yes, it is fixable... if you're either a. willing to take some risks, or b. spend loads of money.

If you're going for choice A, you can use a tool (such as a heat gun) to attempt to reflow the solder of the video chip's BGA package. It's not too difficult to do, but there are definite risks.

First, you could run the gun too hot and blow something, or melt the solder too much so that it becomes displaced and shorts things out. I've done both (both on 14" 800MHz G3 models). Of course, I've also resurrected three of them, though one I've had to do more than once. So yeah, definitely a risky operation.

Second, you could screw something up during the disassembly/reassembly process. I've never had a problem with that, but some people without several years of experience (or with a lack of patience or improper tools) can potentially have some problems.

For choice B, you could send the malfunctioning computer off to either an Apple service centre for a logic board replacement, or to a specialty centre that would be able to professionally reflow the BGA on the current board. The former option is generally more expensive than the latter, and many times a replacement board from Apple will exhibit the same failure down the line (I've bought iBooks that were on their fifth logic board!).

Some specialty centres may make you send them just the bare board to reflow (so they can't be held responsible for damage from, and avoid the hassle of, taking the computer apart), so you may still run into assembly issues if you're not comfortable with the process.