Fixing Apple Macs

[Yoshi]

Does anyone on here fix, or know someone who, fixes mac laptops?  Mine has stopped working and there is no local mac specialist and i need it fixed quickly as i use it very often!

[strapping young lad]

wassup with it?


weve got mac specialists here on-site, if you can describe the problem then i can relay it

[Yoshi]

It just suddenly stopped charging up, i think its hardware, but i dont know how to test the power lead first before buying a new one, as i dont know if its that or not, as there is a slight dint in the side of the case.

[strapping young lad]

maybe the battery has given up? i shall ask though

[Yoshi]

Cheers, the battery is less than 6 months old, it was exchanged under their exchange program as there were some faulty ones.

[strapping young lad]

spoke to him..

says if the laptop is an old one then the battery is likely to  be... broken..

he used another word but mc filters naughty words!

let me know more bout the laptop in question (spec) so he can gauge a more accurate answer

ive had nearly new batteries die on me though so its not unheard of

or

the contact points inside the case may be bent or damaged

[Yoshi]

its a powerbook g4 aluminium, 1.25ghz, 512mb ram, 15" screen, 80gb hdd circa end of 2003.

the battery was replaced less than 6 months ago, but this time it just wouldnt charge, was fine up until then, it just carried on going til it had no power left

[TDi90]

macs... tut tut. hate the things!!
i dont know how to help btw. sorry.
R

[thermidorthelobster]

Have you tried resetting the power management unit.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

Have you been through the troubleshooting options on the Apple Support website?  You can often find simple fixes there.  If not, try posting a message on the Apple Support Forums.

[KevinStorr]

First things first

It might not be the battery. If I remember the chargers  have a light on the connection which goes into the mac. Does this light up? Also if you connect the charger will it run of the mains connection?

We have had a number of chargers which have failed. In fact we have a little grave yard for them.

Does the battery have a charge indicator, press the button 3 or 4 lights come to some how full the battery is.

Speak to Apple on some of the newer Mac-books they have had a battery manufacture problem. Your battery as it is only 6 mths old might be part of a faulty batch.

If you have a multi meter you could check what current is been feed from the charger. It might power the laptop but not have enough to charger it.

It is a while since I was a mac engineer but I might be able to get some more if if you can give me the serial number of the mac and the model number.

Cheers Kevin

[Yoshi]

Well at this point we think its the connector, its not a mac one as my mac one died (like these ones do cos they are a poor design), so got a new one arriving tomorrow which will check.

The battery indicator light has only got 1 flashing green light which indicates not alot of power!

I put a multimeter on the connector when plugged in, put the black on the on the outer ring thing and the red on the jack in the middle.

[KevinStorr]

Cross fingers. The only power adapters we haven't had problems with both PC and Mac where the older big bricks.

So I think it is just the price of getting a small package.

Good luck.

Cheers Kevin

[Yoshi]

Well the new adapter arrived today, and hurrah! i have me laptop back again!

Never again will i hurl abuse at it!

I found the problem, the outer ring on it split apart which was why it wouldnt work, so therefore now am sending it back and then the company are sending me out a replacement, so i shall have 2!!! lol

[KevinStorr]

Great news

The power adapters on the new Macbooks are cool use magnetism  so no plug. If the cable gets a tug it just comes away no damage.

I am just lusting after a the new Macbook Pro. I really must get a computer for home.

[Yoshi]

I am thinking of going completely mac here, there is a chance i could get me hands on a g5 :D

[Mudlark]

I am thinking of going completely mac here, there is a chance i could get me hands on a g5 :D

Well if you get one with intel you can historize PCs  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Yoshi]

I know, the macs do run so much better, they never crash, the powerbook g4 i have is 4 years old and still runs faster than most modern pc's i see

[KevinStorr]

The Intel macs are fast.
Speed though depends on what apps you run.
I run a number of graphics packages.

One things to note is PC's and most PC apps can't take advantage on the new dual core technology and so don;t really see a big advantage.

I love macs for consumer machines and think they are the best option for most home computers. PC's do have there place if you are a hard core gamer or as servers and RIPs. But for most computer owners are way to technical for there knowledge IMHO.