Powerbook Problems
Well, I’m sitting here right now, installing Debian on a dekstop computer at my place. Why? Because, for about the last year I’ve been using an Apple Powerbook as my main development machine and it just died.
I opened the lid on Thursday morning ready to start work, expecting to be greeted by it’s warm glow. Nothing. I pressed the left arrow key (this usually wakes it up). Not this morning. It was working hard last night. Sure, but this is ridiculous. It got a few good hours of rest! I pressed the power button. Nothing. Ah, maybe the battery had drained over night? Hadn’t suspended properly, maybe? Plugged in the power cable. Pressed the power button. It starts. Sort of. There are three tones, then the clasp light flashes four times. Nothing more.
I drove to Uni and spent some time seeing if anyone had a firewire cable to see if I could start it in target mode to get a copy of my Inkscape SoC workspace off it. Everything on there is backed up, but the copy of the Inkscape stuff was a little out of date. Anyway, noone had one so of I went to the Apple service people. I told them I really wanted som of the data off there if possible. He suggested they try replacing the RAM first. Did this, the computer started fine. Problem fixed.
I drove back to Uni and worked for the rest of the afternoon hours. Drove home. Opened the lid, made a small change to some code to try something else. dropped back to a shell, typed “make”, and the computer froze. Rebooted it and found three beeps and the four flashes again. So I guess the problem is the logic board after all. *sigh*
The computer is back with the Apple service people. I’ll probably get it back in a week and a half. I got my workspace off it though, and it looks like my Debian install is finished now, so back to it…
August 16th, 2005 at 11:07 am
I’ve had my powerbook about 4 months and I am having the same problem - three beeps and four flashes from the clasp light on startup. What was the problem and did Apple fix it?
August 16th, 2005 at 1:25 pm
The problem is either bad RAM, or a problem with the logic board. In my case it was both. The RAM and the logic board were replaced under warranty by Apple. It’s a common problem with PowerBooks apparently, so just take it to your local Apple service center and they should fix it for you.
September 25th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
My computer just did that. I’ve had it for less than two months. Did they make you pay for the repair at all? It’s pretty expensive for me to get to the apple shop too. So i need some advice.
April 6th, 2006 at 2:08 am
The same problem here. Did you successfully get your Mac fixed?
April 6th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Yes, it was fixed. They replaced the logic board. I didn’t have to pay a thing. It was all fixed completely under warranty.
May 14th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
I have a 17″ powerbook purchased 23/12/03 that is about to have its 3rd logic board installed [under warranty] . The 2nd board installed in Feb lasted only 3 months, I believe this machine is a lemon but Apple Aust are not interested in replacing the machine. They appear to be happy to keep repairing it until the warranty runs out on 23/12/06. I am concerned that a
$4500.00 computer should have a longer and more reliable run than this. What sort of life can I reasonably expect from this machine and has anyone any advice on how to deal with the situation and Apple customer service?
September 5th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
I have a 17″ Al Powerbook G4. Bought 15/04/2005 and last week it packed in. I tried to turn it on one morning and as it attempted to boot up, the screen went a grey colour and a message poped up saying;
“You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button for several seconds or press the restart button”.
Does this every time. Ive taken it to my local mac store, they tried replacing the RAM. Then did a full hardware check and informed me that the logic board had failed. Replacement around £600 pounds!
What a joke for a machine 17 months old. Apple have to issues!
December 11th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
I got 2 Powerbook 17″ & two G5 in my office… All my PBs had LCD problems. After i’ve spent almost 20k’s for those “unworth” machine no one in Apple response my problems. …im swtch to PC soon. GOODBYE JOBS…
August 30th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
I also have power problems with my brand new powerbook G4 since two days I keep getting a message like You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button for several seconds or press the restart button
I tried this a 100 times but it wasn’t helpful, Now I don’t have any idea how this problem can be solved, despite the fact that I live in a country where most of the people don’t even know anything about Mac computers,
Not even a authorized apple store so I can try and solve my problem, what a shame a new computer and already kindda broke up?
Well I hope not, any one with any clue please email me I will be glad to hear something at least a good news,