Powerbook 145

[highlandcattle]

I was on a fleamarket in our capital (Brussels) this morning and saw a powerbook lying around. I asked the price and the guy said 20 euro. I was able to haggle it down to 6 euro! Cosmetically it looks great but I doubt it will work (I've heard the horror stories about failing hd's and screens that don't show), but seeying as I don't have any PSU I can't really test it out. Can anybody tell me what psu specs i need. I see that it need 7.5v DC but is it like this -o)+ or like this-(o+?

If anybody got a spare psu please contact me. Seeying it is my first Powerbook (appart from wy wallstreet). Any tips about restoring this beauty are also welcome :approve: :approve: :approve:

 

[TheIanMan85]

I don't have a power adapter to offer you, but this Apple KB article will tell you what model Apple power adapters work. It doesn't get into deep specific specs like you were asking about but someone else will come along with that info I'm sure. Of course there are aftermarket ones made that will work as well. If nobody here has one to spare, eBay is probably your next best bet.

Good luck on your search! A PowerBook 145b was one of the first PowerBooks I played with as a kid at someone's house. That lead to me getting a 180 soon after I started collecting Macs. Keep us up to date...hopefully with an adapter it'll fire right up!

 

[MidnightCommando]

it's 7.5V 3.0A Centre-Positive. I'm working on a drop-in replacement in the vein of my (nearly completed testing!) Newton Replacement Power Supply

 

[highlandcattle]

Thanks, what is the minimum ampere that it needs? Are you sure that it is 3 A ? Because the manual says max 17 watt and 7.5 V x 3 A is = 22,5 Watt? Isn't the maximum then 2,267 Ampere?

I find it amazing how hard it is to find this information online.

Does the P145 require the battery to be present when booting? And does it also need a replacement Pram batttery to work. The original battery leaked pretty badly

 

[highlandcattle]

Got a PSU in today. It works. HD is dead though. It has four mega bytes of ram,could have been worse could have been two . Sometimes the screen seems inverted (especially before it goes tot he finder what is up with that? Going try to get the HD working again. If that fails I don't think I have many options left instead to search an expensive old hd drive. Oh also the open/close hinge button is missing in the front. ANybody got a spare?



POWERBOOK 145 by Psionista, on Flickr

 

[TheIanMan85]

I might be able to help with the latch, but not soon. I have a FrankenBook with a 145b screen and 170 base (if I remember right). I took a quick glance at it when I went to my storage room a little while back. Hasn't been tested in years and would most likely have to be sold as-is. (Except that it's pretty obvious if the latch works.) I would only sell the complete unit, but I'm pretty sure it has a hard drive, and if you're lucky it'll work...and if you're really lucky it's a good size. I do recall powering it up when I first got it like ten years ago. I don't think I have a working power adapter now.

I have others to take care of first. Been busy filling spare time with testing things that people have already called dibbs on. So if you're interested PM me and I could probably have it shipped in 2-4 weeks. For others waiting I should have shipping quotes out by Friday.

 

[beachycove]

Others have reported that the screen can be fixed by replacing the capacitors within the screen assembly itself.

 

[highlandcattle]

Huzzah, I got the hard drive working by opening the case up and the manually moving the the read head as explained by mactjaap here on the forum that post should be stickied!

the system was apparently last used on 21/03/2000 that is pretty recent! It apparently also has a built in modem. Are there still telnet servers around where you can actually dial in ?

@TheIanMan85: I actually just mean the little button on the front of the Powerbook to open the top from the bottom.

Thanks Beachycove I was suspecting it to be caps xx(

I'll do a proper photo shoot tomorrow

 

[TheIanMan85]

The "slidey thing" on the top center of the screen that keeps it latched shut? That's what I was talking about, not sure if we're on the same page. It appears broken in the picture. Either way, it probably has what's needed.

Judging from the fact that you mentioned pricing in euros, shipping the entire unit may be pricey if you did want it anyway.

 

[highlandcattle]

Jup it is that waht I need. The metal part is still there but the plastic is gone. I was hoping to only find the latch. But maybe if the price is alright for the entire unit I might take it.

 

[Bunsen]

that post should be stickied!

Got a link?

 

[highlandcattle]

Yes sir!

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=15324&p=146757#p146757

 

[techknight]

oh yea... I remember that thread.

 

[highlandcattle]

Hi guys,

I quick update to this thread!

The hd keeps getting it's head stuck when I'm not using this unit for a while, So it is kinda annoying have to open up your computer and hard driver every time you want to use it ) . I have lubricated the drive head twice but that doesn't seem to help. I installed the Hard Drive Toolkit and ran the HDT benchtest multiple times so that I could coax the hd in to working smoothly again but I leave it off for a while the head gets stuck again. Anybody got any different tips?

I have two different questions: has anybody ever bought this battery? It seems to be advertised on a lot of sites. Is it any good?

http://www.replacedirect.be/apparaat/1961027/d000116215-apple-powerbook-145/p/P0002351/laptop-accu.html?kwd_id=14717-12EBAD33-6A7F-4ADA-B26C-DE318047E530S13034623345&gclid=CJewqq6a8bECFcyHDgodfxEA8Q

Is there a picture related guide on how to replace the caps on the screen and how to open up the screen carefully? I looked here but didn't find a guide. I did found this thread, but it is not really complete:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=15991

Als still looking for the plastic latch slider to open up the powerbook!