PowerBook 5300c / 5300cs Restoration (Lid Fix)

[jmacz]

There were stock inserts although some of mine were missing, not all. Broke off previously and original owner didn’t include them or lost them.

The stock inserts had a larger outer diameter and because of that, there was less plastic surrounding it.

So I just grabbed a pack of standard insert sizes. So the models are using new inserts, not the stock ones.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

So, if I'm understanding right: The holes in the 3D prints are made with smaller inserts in mind than the originals?

 

[jmacz]

So, if I'm understanding right: The holes in the 3D prints are made with smaller inserts in mind than the originals?

Inner diameter is the same (same stock screws can be used), outer diameter is smaller.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Alright. I'll add that clarification to my page.

 

[jmacz]

Let me know if you get any feedback on whether it worked or not. I have used half of the new pieces on a 5300c and 5300cs, and it worked and is holding. But quite possible the models may need some adjustments as more people try them.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

I'll be trying them myself whenever the mounts on my 5300 decide to break. They can't last too much longer! I've had the thing for 2.5 years now and while the base side mount broke on the left, the LCD side mounts shave been fine. I have no clue how they haven't broken yet.

If I get any feedback, I'll be sure to let you know.

 

[jmacz]

Found an issue today with my 5300c. It came with a VST branded internal Zip drive. But the drive seems to have some issues or is not getting along with my 5300c. I have the driver from the VST package on Macintosh Garden installed. The issues:

If I leave the Zip drive out of the laptop and/or use an internal floppy drive instead - system works perfectly.

If the Zip drive is installed in the laptop but there is no zip disk in the drive - during boot, after all the extensions have loaded, and the Finder is about to show up (control strip has popped up already), there's a 30-60 second hang before Finder finally shows up and I see the drive icons. Also after the Finder shows up, I get these weird hangs every once in a while. It will hang for about 5-10 seconds (cursor moves but the rest of the Finder doesn't respond including windows, menus, etc). If I was in the middle of dragging a window, the window gets frozen on the screen until the hang goes away and then everything catches up.

If the Zip drive is installed in the laptop and there is a zip disk in the drive - everything seems to work ok.

The only version of the VST enabled Zip driver I can find is versioned 1.0. I couldn't find any other driver for it. Either something is wrong with the drive or something is wrong with the driver. The standard iomega zip driver doesn't seem to work as with those standard versions, the drive isn't detected (I know because the iomega drive options CDEV says there's no zip drive) and also inserting a zip disk does nothing.

The Zip drive magically started working today (knock on wood). I had not tried it since around the time I posted this... could be the PRAM battery replacement resolved it? Not sure. The stall happened once today when I first tried to use the drive, but after that one time it's been working fine. I don't think it's fixed but I'm hoping it just keeps working.

 

[jmacz]

New rear port cover for the 5300 series. I made some adustments.