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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Powerbook G3 (pismo) Issue Attack
Skanoza - Jun 21, 2005 - 2:09 am
my Powerbook G3 has been plagued with issues recently. i think it all began after the 10.3.9 upgrade. (i even tried reinstalling the combo upgrade subsequently, with little change).
at first, the CD-ROM/ DVD drive stopped working (my external iOmega CD writer works fine though). however my CD-ROM drive just doesn't work at all. if a CD or DVD is inserted, i just hear some drive noises and then nothing happens or in some cases, the CD is ejected with/ without a dialog box that claims "i have inserted a disk with no volumes that Mac OS X can read ..".
also several app's crash unexpectedly, most of which i resolved reasonably enough by downloading and reinstalling the corresponding app's and upgrades separately.
and now, all of a sudden, my (original) Li battery doesn't hold any charge at all. so now my laptop is useless without the AC adapter plugged in.
further, my USB mouse goes off several times while working (the cursor just freezes and won't detect any clicks from the mouse). however it works again, after i disconnect and reconnect the mouse.
these issues have cropped up for the first time. does any one know why these problems happen or what i could do to rid my fav' workhorse of these problems?
i am not very tech savvy but i guess i can follow instructions reasonably well. i will be grateful for any help/ suggestions/ advice that anyone may have.
at first, the CD-ROM/ DVD drive stopped working (my external iOmega CD writer works fine though). however my CD-ROM drive just doesn't work at all. if a CD or DVD is inserted, i just hear some drive noises and then nothing happens or in some cases, the CD is ejected with/ without a dialog box that claims "i have inserted a disk with no volumes that Mac OS X can read ..".
also several app's crash unexpectedly, most of which i resolved reasonably enough by downloading and reinstalling the corresponding app's and upgrades separately.
and now, all of a sudden, my (original) Li battery doesn't hold any charge at all. so now my laptop is useless without the AC adapter plugged in.
further, my USB mouse goes off several times while working (the cursor just freezes and won't detect any clicks from the mouse). however it works again, after i disconnect and reconnect the mouse.
these issues have cropped up for the first time. does any one know why these problems happen or what i could do to rid my fav' workhorse of these problems?
i am not very tech savvy but i guess i can follow instructions reasonably well. i will be grateful for any help/ suggestions/ advice that anyone may have.
Cheryl - Jun 21, 2005 - 9:23 am
Srikanth,
My name is Cheryl and I will be assisting you. Some people have experienced trouble after the 10.3.9 update. The bad news is that the only way to correct the problem is to do an archive and preserve install of 10.3, then install the 10.3.8 combo update. (do not use the 10.3.9).
First, use the power adaptor before you do the following.
Start up from your Mac OS X 10.3 Panther Install Disc 1.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Make sure you select your printer driver under customize install.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.
You will also need to recalibrate your battery. You can follow the instructions from here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284
There are tips for maximizing your battery life here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50666
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
My name is Cheryl and I will be assisting you. Some people have experienced trouble after the 10.3.9 update. The bad news is that the only way to correct the problem is to do an archive and preserve install of 10.3, then install the 10.3.8 combo update. (do not use the 10.3.9).
First, use the power adaptor before you do the following.
Start up from your Mac OS X 10.3 Panther Install Disc 1.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Make sure you select your printer driver under customize install.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.
You will also need to recalibrate your battery. You can follow the instructions from here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284
There are tips for maximizing your battery life here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50666
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
Cheryl - Jun 21, 2005 - 10:56 pm
Sirkanth,
A fellow tech has given a hint that may help.
Go to Applications>Utilities and open System Profiler. When that opens, click on hardware to see the CD drive model.
There were some PowerBook G3's (Pismos) came with one of 2 brands: the Matshita and the LG. The LG has a high failure rate. I need to know what model is reported in System Profiler.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
A fellow tech has given a hint that may help.
Go to Applications>Utilities and open System Profiler. When that opens, click on hardware to see the CD drive model.
There were some PowerBook G3's (Pismos) came with one of 2 brands: the Matshita and the LG. The LG has a high failure rate. I need to know what model is reported in System Profiler.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
Skanoza - Jun 22, 2005 - 11:05 am
At the outset, thanks Cheryl, for the detailed and lucid responses.
It's unfortunate though that i cannot use any of the suggestions given.
the reasons are as follows.
1. i can't boot from the Panther Install Disc 1 since my CD-ROM drive won't detect anything at all (likely a dead drive?).
2. i followed your links for the battery. however it appears i am unlucky here as well as i have tried all those hints mentioned without happy results. so i guess i have a dead battery after all.
(
i guess life, as regards the Pismo, is probably on it's very last stretch, if not over already. Pismo owners might just as well derive solace from the fact that Apple hasn't decided to shut the door on us with the release of the Tiger OS.
once again, thanks a great deal for the great responses at MacOSX.com!
easily one of the best forums i've signed up for.
It's unfortunate though that i cannot use any of the suggestions given.
the reasons are as follows.
1. i can't boot from the Panther Install Disc 1 since my CD-ROM drive won't detect anything at all (likely a dead drive?).
2. i followed your links for the battery. however it appears i am unlucky here as well as i have tried all those hints mentioned without happy results. so i guess i have a dead battery after all.
(i guess life, as regards the Pismo, is probably on it's very last stretch, if not over already. Pismo owners might just as well derive solace from the fact that Apple hasn't decided to shut the door on us with the release of the Tiger OS.
once again, thanks a great deal for the great responses at MacOSX.com!
easily one of the best forums i've signed up for.
Cheryl - Jun 22, 2005 - 12:48 pm
Srikanth,
I am sorry that I could not help you in resolving your problems. As like everything else, it is time to replace the PowerBook, unless you want to replace just the parts - CD drive and battery.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
I am sorry that I could not help you in resolving your problems. As like everything else, it is time to replace the PowerBook, unless you want to replace just the parts - CD drive and battery.
--------
Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !
Cheryl
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