iFixit - Answers With Device "iBook G4"

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: How to fix a broken metal frame?

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:06:45 -0700

It's a beautiful machine but it has a broken metal frame. I want to fix it but it is a big job and I have no experience.

The break is below the battery, so I can see it. Normally the rigidity of the frame keeps the battery in place. At the moment the flexing of the frame means I have no battery connection.

I am considering using a solvent, but really not sure.

Any ideas?

Also I need a good list of tools I would have to use for such a repair.

Thanks

Valan

⟐ Answered Ağustos 09, 2010 at 12:06 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: Why won't ubuntu work?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:15:32 -0700

Thanks for the help so far, here's what's happened:

I downloaded 'ubuntu-9.10-desktop-powerpc.iso' from the link given by David. I was surprised to find it was 705.3MB (5.3MB too big for a CD) so I followed the instructions on the site word by word but used a DVD instead, Disk Utility says: 'could not be completed'.

I have now downloaded 'ubuntu-6.10-desktop-powerpc.iso'. It fits on a CD and now I can boot from it, thanks for all the help with getting it to work.

If you want Ubuntu for PowerPC, Click here and it's the second one from the top.

⟐ Edited Kasım 17, 2009 at 16:15 GMT-7

iBook G4 14" 1.42 GHz: Can I fix the power button Connector?

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 15:44:49 -0700

Just replaced the fan and Optical Drive. When I pulled out the blue/white wire it looked like the connector was loose. I kind of pushed it back in, but of course the power button does not work. Can I fix it? Or is there another way to turn the computer on?

⟐ Answered Nisan 09, 2023 at 15:44 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: Won't run off power adapter, but charging light is orange?

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 20:42:01 -0700

My iBook sat for a few months and completely drained the battery. It won't turn on, regardless if it is plugged in. No power/lights/signs of life.

I bought a new battery that came with a half-charge, and the computer will boot-up normally with that installed.

The power adapter light is always orange, even if there is no battery in the computer. The battery does not get charged, nor does the OS show that it is getting charged.

Based upon research, I suspect it is the power adapter, except that the light is orange. The diagnosing steps state that the charging light stays green if it is a bad power adapter.

Thanks for your help.

-Cory

⟐ Answered Ağustos 12, 2017 at 20:42 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 1.33 GHz: Replacement LCD Not working

Sun, 03 Nov 2013 08:12:24 -0700

I bought a 12" 1.33ghz iBook. It works perfectly but has a cracked LCD. I bought an LCD from an earlier model iBook off of here to replace. The only thing I replaced on the 1.33ghz iBook was the panel. I used all the existing cables and housing. The problem is that when I put the non-cracked panel in, the LVDS cable gets burning hot. I thought these panels were interchangeable. What gives?

⟐ Answer accepted Kasım 03, 2013 at 8:12 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: Upgrading the memory to 1GB

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:48:52 -0700

I wanted to ask if upgrading the memory to 1GB is best if were are also upgrading to Leopard from tiger and running mircosoft, we just wanted your input before we purchase the PC2700 1GB ram chip from you $54.95 our ibook G4 has 256MB currently model A1054.

Thank you for your help we look forwrd to hearing from you soon,

Jarry, Trisha

⟐ Answered Eylül 06, 2010 at 11:48 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 1.33 GHz: "Kernel Panic" message on screen

Tue, 08 Mar 2016 20:35:41 -0700

I have a used iBook G4. It's been working great for 2 months. One morning I booted it up and this screen came up with a message that states that I must restart the computer now. So, I turn the power button off and restart the computer. The screen is still frozen. Later another message appears under this message. After further investigation, I learn that this is a "Kernel Panic".

According to Wikipeida, a "kernel panic is an action taken by an operating system upon detecting an internal fatal error from which it cannot safely recover."

What can I do to fix this? I've tried holding down the shift key just before the grey screen comes up upon reboot, but it didn't work. The screen is still frozen.

I haven't added any software or removed any. I haven't downloaded any software. I was on Safari prior to it crashing.

Are there discs available to repair a "kernel panic"? Should I take out the OS and replace it? Should I add more RAM? Or, should I take it in and get it looked at by a professional? Would it cost a lot of money? Is it even worth taking it in and repaired, or should I buy another mac?

I hope somebody out there can help me 'cause this is really bothering me. I've been without my Mac now for 2 weeks. Using my husbands IBM PC and really miss my Mac. Thanks. Rose

⟐ Commented Mart 08, 2016 at 20:35 GMT-7

iBook G4 14" 1.42 GHz: DC-in board keeps blowing

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:47:20 -0700

Hi guys,

After being exposed to rain, my iBook could only run of battery and would not charge, with the connector light staying off. AC plug works fine on other Computers. Diagnosed that DC-in board was dead, bought a new one and installed it. All went well, till I plugged the mac in. First light on connector went Green for about 1/2s, then Amber, then Red. Then a little explosion sound followed and the smell of burnt electronics rose from the DC-in board. Took Mac appart and sure enough part of the DC-in Board (where the DC connector connects to the actual circuit board is gone) is fried.

Now I'm out of ideas... Anyone?

⟐ Answer accepted Kasım 20, 2013 at 14:47 GMT-7

iBook G4 14" 1.42 GHz: why does my wireless stop transimitting and my mouse freeze up?

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 09:57:07 -0700

Sometime it happens only a few seconds after turning on the machine, other times, it happens after using the machine for several minutes or up to an hour. Eventually, the wireless icon goes blank, as if it has stopped transmitting. If it doesn't freeze up at the sometime, shortly thereafter, the mouse freezes up.

The machine is running on the original battery (which does not hold a charge any longer)and I replaced my broken charger with a "MacCharger" from MacWizzards.com. The machine has never had any other problems in the four and a half years I have owned it.

I have already swapped out the DC-in on the recommendation of a friend. Obviously, that didn't resolve the problem. Anyone have any other ideas?

⟐ Answer accepted Kasım 11, 2013 at 9:57 GMT-7

iBook G4 14" 1.42 GHz: Broken Power Socket on Logic Board

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:41:13 -0700

I sent my iBook G4 14inch, 1.42GHz in for repair under insurance. I was told that it was beyond repair despite it operating when taken in. [I had dropped it and the disk drive wouldn't work]. However, I finally bought it back off the Insurance Company and decided to see what was the problem. I found that the power socket had been ripped off the Logic Board and when I bridged the contacts the computer started up with no problem. It's a long story, so won't bore you with all the details, other than to say that the little pads have broken off the LB and I can't solder the socket back on. I can start it up by shorting the contact. My question is; is there an alternative point to which the blue/white cable can be connected [with or without a socket]?

Regards,

Warren

⟐ Commented Haziran 01, 2011 at 22:41 GMT-7

iBook G4: kernel panics on a dozen different machines / models

Sun, 28 Sep 2014 08:28:14 -0700

I maintain 120 Macs & have had very few kernel panics over the years. Over the past few months, I now have a dozen iBooks that won't work or will work only in single-user mode. Five of these are 1.33 Ghz. I've read much on iFixit about iBook KPs, including the Airport-on-logic board problem. Thus far I've tried only software fixes (applejack / disk repair / memtest), with little/no success.

My questions:

1. The 1.33 Ghz machines KP right after login unless in safe boot. In safe boot Airport is disabled but only until next boot. Can I 'permanently' turn Airport off somehow in safe boot (or otherwise)?

2. the other machines (1.0 & 1.2 Ghz) - despite my reading, I'm clueless how to proceed. Suggestions?

Thanks in advance - this is a great site/service!

⟐ Commented Eylül 28, 2014 at 8:28 GMT-7

iBook G4 14" 933 MHz-1.33 GHz: My iBook G4 is not recieving power

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 20:56:28 -0700

It will power up from a battery (charged from another iBook) but will not power up, or charge the battery, by the power cord. Is this an issue with the DC-In Board?

⟐ Answer accepted Kasım 24, 2013 at 20:56 GMT-7

iBook G4: I want to fix my own logic board

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 08:53:15 -0700

I'm getting a question mark folder and the repair shop said I need the costly new logic board repair job. It would cost more than another laptop. I hate to just toss it. Has a new hard drive! Can I fix it myself and, if so, where can I find a good diagram of which part is the logic board when I open the case up? Also, I need specific layperson descriptions of the points I need to repair. I can do anything with instruction -- help!

⟐ Answered Kasım 19, 2013 at 8:53 GMT-7

iBook G4 14" 1.42 GHz: Can I replace retention "washer" for battery screw?

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 04:27:21 -0700

I have an iBook G4 14" laptop I bought used to give my 8 yo granddaughter for Christmas. I replaced the battery and power adapter. In replacing the battery, the plastic "washer" that keeps the screw from falling out of the case fractured. This doesn't seem to affect the ability to lock the battery in place, since that appears to be accomplished by a metal latch with a hole in it at the bottom of the "screw hole" that slides horizontally (the battery screw has an off-center "peg" in the bottom that engages that hole and slides the latch). However, the battery screw itself can fall out fairly easily as it is now (and it's ugly). I'd like to replace the "washer". I wouldn't mind buying the battery screw as well, or even a screw set, if it came to that, but I have been unable to find the washer or screw alone, and also unable to determine the contents of the screw sets. I can think of a number of practical work-arounds that would allow safe use of the laptop without replacing that "washer", but I prefer to do the correct repair if possible. Any advice? Thanks in advance.

-Sam

⟐ Answered Aralık 26, 2012 at 4:27 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: screen flickers, then system crashes

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:49:25 -0700

For the past day my laptop has been crashing. It will run for about 5-30 mins just fine. All of a sudden, the screen will fail (it will sort of "swipe cut" with a rainbow trailing edge). With a few attempts, i can get it to come back on, but only after turning my laptop off, then back on (sometimes it does nothing but run the fan for awhile without turning back on)

⟐ Answer deleted Eylül 04, 2012 at 16:49 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 1.33 GHz: Laptop constantly goes into sleep mode

Mon, 16 May 2011 09:12:06 -0700

Hi! I've got a 12" 1.33GHZ G4 which boots up fine, but then constantly goes into sleep mode. You can wake it up, but within seconds it goes back to sleep. Occasionally it works longer, but without fail it ends up asleep again, and it is therefore unusable. Thinking it was a reed switch issue, I replaced the entire screen assembly/cabling twice with known good units, and both times it had the same result. I've also reset the PRAM and PMU, removed the RAM and battery, tried a different topcase, etc. This model does not have a magnet on the right side by the optical drive, so it's not that. It seems to be something with the board. Anyone have ideas? Thanks!

⟐ Answered Mayıs 16, 2011 at 9:12 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: USB ports don't work

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:45:59 -0700

Hi! I've acquired a number of 1ghz and 1.2ghz 12" g4 iBooks, and while trying to connect webcams, I realized that the USB ports on a few of them don't work. I proceeded to try mice and USB drives and piles of other USB devices, which didn't work either. The mice occasionally showed the red light underneath, indicating they were receiving power, but they were never recognized by the computer. FireWire works fine. All machines have leopard, and other similar machines from the same batch as these do not have any problems with USB ports. I've reset pram and pmu, removed all accessories, re-imaged the machines, and all the obvious stuff. Anyone have any ideas? Out of many hundreds of iBooks, I don't think I've had this issue, and now I've got three of them all at once. :-)

⟐ Answer accepted Ağustos 15, 2010 at 9:45 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 1.33 GHz: Repair Speaker Connection to Logic Board

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:35:55 -0700

I truly hope someone can help. I've carefully made it through the replacement of my internal HD per iFixit instructions. However, at step 25 (removing speaker connection) the connector on the logic board separated. Is there any way to repair this connection without taking this to an expensive repair shop?

Thank you!! / Curtis

⟐ Answer accepted Temmuz 14, 2010 at 18:35 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: Where does small rectangular magnet with residue go?

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:36:18 -0700

Hello,

I recently used your guide to take out and replace the hard drive of my laptop. When re-assembling it, I came back to step 29 and got all of the screws back in, except for the lowest of the three all the way to the right, looking down. They are the 2mm phillips screws, circled in red on that step.

I unscrewed the others and popped off the plate to find a small rectangular magnet with one side having a sticky residue on it causing the block, having been wedged between the metal inner plate and the base. Now that I removed it, the screw should take, but before I screw it in, I want to know where this piece goes in the machine, as I imagine it was a part of it, and not something that randomly fell into it, as I was working.

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

-Zach Woliner

⟐ Answered Şubat 01, 2010 at 10:36 GMT-7

iBook G4 12" 800 MHz-1.2 GHz: No or very low airport signal at home

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:07:07 -0700

I have an iBook with an Airport Extreme card inside. When at school it is fully functional but when I get home the airport is either very weak or not detected. Why is this?

⟐ Answer accepted Aralık 08, 2009 at 10:07 GMT-7