OSDev.org

I've been using this iBook from work for a while to compile the PPC port of pedigree, and today it just died on me.

I was fiddling in openfirmware, just changed a setting "setenv load-base 0x1000000", which could break stuff but shouldn't completely destroy everything.

Anyway, now when I press the power button I get the "chime" sound and a bit of HDD activity and that's it. Nothing else. Nada. Nothing on the screen, and I've manually backlit it to see if the backlight had gone but there was stuff showing... nope.

Tried the standard stuff, resetting NVRAM (that didn't work, did the keycombo suggested but the book is supposed to reset itself - didnt' happen)

and I've tried resetting the PMU, which emitted a nice (different) sound, but no change.

It's a bit weird. I've been getting funny clicking sounds out of the CPU fan for a while, I figured I'd just ignore it for the moment.

I can only think of 2 things wrong with it:

a) The CPU fan stopped and the chip cooked itself, or
b) The mainboard failed - the serial number for my ibook is within the "faulty logic board" range on apple's website

Anyone got any other suggestions I can try?

Cheers,

James

I would send it back under warranty, if that'd be possible

No warranty, it's old. Old enough to be a PPC mac

The third option that I think may be the case (as I can hear some moving parts whirring inside the machine) is that I reset the box at an inopportune time when the bios was doing something funky and killed the MBR.

I'd have *thought*, that openfirmware would show me some boot screenies before checking the HDD but it's possible it's not.

So tomorrow at work I'll find a paperclip (to open the CD drive) and stick a debian disk in and hope for the best

Changing the load-base variable can brick an OF mac. It didn't on early PowerMacs, but if you set it wrong on a NewWorld machine, like the iBook, it will corrupt OpenFirmware. It's a mistake a lot of people make when they're new to LinuxPPC. I know you used to be able to send them back in to Apple to be reflashed, and there was a minimal charge if it wasn't under warranty, but I don't know if they do that any more.

If it won't take you to the OF prompt via Cmd-Opt-O-F on the built-in keyboard, it is, indeed, bricked. In this case, your best bet would be to contact Apple support and possibly pray. Or just start searching eBay.

inx wrote:Changing the load-base variable can brick an OF mac. It didn't on early PowerMacs, but if you set it wrong on a NewWorld machine, like the iBook, it will corrupt OpenFirmware. It's a mistake a lot of people make when they're new to LinuxPPC. I know you used to be able to send them back in to Apple to be reflashed, and there was a minimal charge if it wasn't under warranty, but I don't know if they do that any more.

If it won't take you to the OF prompt via Cmd-Opt-O-F on the built-in keyboard, it is, indeed, bricked. In this case, your best bet would be to contact Apple support and possibly pray. Or just start searching eBay.

Bloody hell, I had no idea that a load-base change could destroy OF. I thought it took effect when a client was loaded! In fact, that's exactly what the OF PPC binding spec says.

Grr.

Ah well.

I'm sitting at work with nothing to do today, so I tried looking around again just to make sure I didn't miss any obscure ways to fix NewWorld bricking, but I couldn't find anything. However, I did find a site that sells tested logic boards for iBooks. http://www.ifixit.com

I couldn't give you a direct link, since you didn't state what model iBook you're playing with, but they carry the boards for 12 and 14 inch G4s and G3s, and the board for the old clamshells.

I guess it depends what it's worth to you, though. eBay and lowendmac.com's Deals sections are both good places to find a cheap replacement, and if you just want a G3, I'm sure you could find a G3 iBook for less than the $150 G3 logic board on iFixit. $150 was the cheapest I could find one outside of auctions, though.

Sorry for your loss,
Yoshi

EDIT: It might be worth a try to rip it apart and see if you can find a backup battery. I can't remember if the newworld laptops still have one or if they just use flash, but it's worth a shot. If there is one, pop it out and let it sit for a couple hours. It takes forever to discharge Apple NVRAM, but it does help if you short the terminals of the backup battery with either a random metal object (e.g. paperclip) or the backup battery inserted backwards (if the bracket will accomodate it). If you can get a good short, it'll only take a few minutes.

Hi inx,

Thanks for the help. I've actually ordered a new (ish) ibook from ebay for £150 inc. p&p - the battery's a bit dead and there's a key loose on the keyboard but...

I have a fully functioning ibook right here beside me (well, the mainboard is screwed, obviously), and a screwdriver. So I'm sorted!

Thanks for your help,

James