Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions PowerBook G4 diagnosis and fix

Okay, so I've decided to fix my laptop. It died on me a while back and instead of fixing it then, I thought it was a good time to buy a Mac Mini (really, just a flimsy excuse to go to an actual desktop set up).

I'm not entirely sure, but I have a strong feeling that my hard drive went bad. I went to start it up one day and all I heard was a *clunk clunk clunk clunk*. So I'm thinking of putting in a new hard drive myself. I'm not going to worry about data transfer--whatever was on the old hard drive can stay lost forever.

I've never really done anything like this before, but I'm not gonna let that deter me. For some weird reason, I'm looking forward to doing this. Anyway, I'm looking at this and hope I can manage to install it in the laptop and get it up and running again.

Is there anything else I need to know before jumping in and ordering a hard drive? Anyone try anything like this before?

Anyone wanna say, "Sean, don't be a knucklehead and fancy yourself a computer geek because you are not."

Yeah, that's generally a really bad sound to hear from a computer. Your hard drive controller went bad or the heads are just having trouble tracking. There's not much you can do at that point.

This site has great step-by-step instructions. I recommend using an ice cube tray to sort the screws as you take them out. It'll make it much easier when you have to put them back.

Thanks for the link, Peter.

Soon, I'll place an order for a new hard drive and let you guys know how the install goes.

newegg for the hd, right?

I'm trying to find it. . .the correct hd, that is.

i had to replace the HDD in my G4 titanium about a year ago. Its a really simple procedure. Although my buddy who gave me the laptop and used to work on them alot did the software stuff as I do not have any software for it so I cant vouch for how easy that is.

I've still got the software for it, so that shouldn't be a problem.

From a previous effort, I think the toughest part will be getting the casing apart.

Just about any PATA hard drive will work, but I'd suggest a 7200 RPM one. Like Peter said, go for newegg.com.

Do you have a titanium or an aluminum? The titanium is way, way easier to take apart (9 screws, all on the bottom). The aluminum is more of a challenge, but still do-able.

What does PATA stand for?

It's an aluminum one, and I think it has 2,365 screws. Roughly.

What is the difference in RPMs do? It spins faster, but what does that mean performance-wise?

PATA: parallel ATA, as opposed to SATA: serial ATA. Different drive spec.

Aluminum, you're going to have fun. Definitely use the ice cube tray.

The faster spinning drives can get the data in position for reading faster, basically. 5400 RPM would be laughable on a desktop. Servers generally use 10000 or 15000 RPM drives. Desktops generally use 7200 RPM, laptops generally use 5400 RPM, but the 7200s are available and provide a definite speed advantage.

Do they run a lot hotter because of the faster speed? Will I need to make any other changes to accomodate that?

Sorry for all the questions, Ken, I just don't know a whole lot about 'puters.

Not particularly. I wouldn't worry about it. I believe my Macbook Pro has a 7200 RPM drive, and it's slightly thinner than your AlBook. You won't have to make any other changes. Stay away from the really high capacity drives, like 320GB and above, (I suspect they're not available in PATA anyway) because sometimes those can be thicker than laptop spec.

Uh, nevermind. Newegg doesn't even carry any 7200 RPM PATA drives. So... nothing to worry about.

Okay, I'll look at the 7200 RPM drives.

Yeah, I won't be needing that high of a capacity. Probably just 120GB, or so.

Check my edit... there ain't none.

Oh.

Well, that stinks.

KEN!!!!!!!!

Will something like this work? I think I'm going to be stuck with 5400rpm, which is fine. I just don't know much about hard drives, or computer stuff in general, for that matter.

Sure. That should work just fine.

Whoo hoo! Thanks!

Hard drive--check

Anti-Static wrist band--check

T6 Torx screwdriver--check

Spudger(?)--uh, check

Confidence that I can do this without permanently damaging my laptop--working on it.

Just be gentle but firm. Kinda like that other first time.

Wow, this should just take a sec then!

Comedy gold!

Indeed, I be chuckling.

IT ACTUALLY WORKED!!!!!!!


thanks for your help guys!

Did you remember to take a shower after?

No, I made up some excuse about working early and left.

So you went in to work smelling of spudger?

On today's agenda:

Avoiding people.





(I'm not sure what spudger smells like, but I'd like to avoid uncomfortable questions)

I've heard the u in that word is pronounced "oo"

Perfect time for me to be eating yogurt. Thanks Peter.


Thanks a lot. . .

Just went out a bought an Airport Extreme card, plugged it in and here I am--posting from my newly fixed laptop!


I don't know about you guys, but I'm excited!!!

Time to pack things up and go hang out at the pool.

Hey, congrats! I never had any doubts. Err...kid.

Not literally, I hope.

that one took a few seconds to drop into view.


Ewww.

Why, thank you!!!

Ken may have had the perfect avatar (Bert), but Sean is trying admirably for a perfect sig line, at least as far as this thread hijack is concerned.