Recent content by Shaddam IV

perhaps it's the battery...?

Might be the caps on the inverter. From https://wiki.console5.com/tw/index.php?title=Macintosh_PowerBook_100&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop: Polymer caps, list for reference only (not included in kits) C1 15uF 16v C4 47uF 16v

I buy 5 1.2 V NiCd batteries with solder lug and solder them in line. Source e.g. https://www.akkuman.de/shop/Mexcel-Akku-AA-12V-800mAh-NS80AAI-LFU. I have several old Powerbook batteries that I cut open; i put my new NiCds in there, connect my new pack's end lugs to the Powerbook battery's...

The fluorescent tubes of the powerbooks' screens dim over time. Get a new one and solder it in. Then you'll have a brighter screen, and you'll be able to dim it (somewhat).

mouse click?

and if you remove the track ball and move the roller with your finger?

Is the trackball's flex cable plugged in? It's a flex cable that comes from the keyboard and needs to be slotted into a small connector on the trackpad. I've forgotten to do that several times when dis- and reassembling 1xx powerbooks. Might be worth checking.

Hi, thank you. The diode you mentioned looks good to me. I cleaned the board thoroughly with compressed air and IPA - so far it boots up nicely. Maybe it was dirt somewhere? Odd.

Merci!

Hello, yesterday my PowerBook 180's motherboard died. Luckily I had a replacement 160/165/180 motherboard and the machine itself is running again. But the motherboard is dead. This is what happens: I plug the power in and turn the machine on; it emits the beginning of the startup chimes and then...

I don't think your adapter can be used for SCSI mode. I have an adapter that can be used for SCSI mode, and it has a physical switch on the top. That said, I'm not sure if you will be able to achieve what you're planning to do. SCSI mode is to use your Powerbook as an external hard drive of...

have you tried a replacement inverter board from a different 145 or 160/165 machine?

I have a PB 180 that showed relatively mild tunnel vision when I got it: Left side only, Apple symbol and lower left corner turned pretty dark, the left screen edge for maybe 15 px turned somewhat dark. I turned the metal prongs on the reverse side (where the screen was dark) and lifted the...

don't trash it! it's got what looks like a 120 MB hard drive (hard to find), what looks like 12 MB of RAM (hard to find) and a screen that, while its caps may have leaked, will very likely be at least salvageable. Depending on whether the drive works, these parts alone should yield > 100 USD on...

The 170 does have both buttons (little holes at the back, near the power supply). Try them by all means (use a pen). If the hard drive does not spin up then my guess is that the mother- or the daughterboard have died. Either can be had on Ebay occasionally. You might also check the power supply...