G4 PB 15" - 4 Beeps Issue

M

mcm30114

Registered
I have a 1.5Ghz Powerbook G4 15" that I was going to upgrade the memory in. I disconnected the power supply but forgot to remove the battery (DOH)?

I popped out the 512M module to replace it with 2 modules that I bought on Ebay. The two other SODIMMS were PC2-2400 modules (has a cut in a different location on the SODIMM on the pin side as opposed to the PC-2700 SODIMM). After mumbling about bad descriptions in ebay, I went to put the 512M SODIMM back in the PB 15 -- and I get 4 beeps (*$#@@#$#&)

I took the memory out of the PB 15, and I happen to have a PB 17 G4 that I put the new SODIMM into (fortunately, the PB 17, you HAVE to remove the battery before you get to the memory door -- would have been nice to do that same design on the 15" to protect me from myself -- but that's another story). The 512M SODIMM out of the PB 15 works fine in the PB 17. So I'm guessing that it's the MBRD in the PB 15 that's frotzed.

Seeing that it stops immediately after power on with 4 beeps (within 10 seconds of applying power) I am going to guess that the Boot rom got messed up somehow. Is there any way to recover this?

If not, where's the best / cheapest place to get a replacement MOBO for the PB 15 (This is a recent form factor PB 15 -- probably within the past 16 months. Can I replace the MBRD with a 1.67Ghz Mobo?)

Should i just part it out and get a new Mac Pro PB?

Thoughts?

*fuming at myself*

Mike

PS -- no, this unit is outside of the "3 beep" mbrd replacement program -grrr
 
Still no go ..

Thanks for the pointer to the PMU reset .. Keep in mind that within a few seconds of hitting the power button, I get the 4 beeps -- so I really cant get to the screen to mess with the Open Firmware as it never even gets to the point of lighting the backlight on the screen or keyboard.

As far as the PMU reset goes, as soon as I did the shift-ctrl-opt Power on button, all the fans spin up and I get a long beep with the front LED flashing rapidly about 10x . then it goes quiet and tries to boot -- and back to 4 beeps.

Seems stuck ..

I'm using 2 sticks of 512MB ram from the G4 17" that work fine in there, and both give the same indication.

Silly question -- do you think I could talk someone at Apple into honoring Applecare on this unit? I happen to have a non-used Applecare for powerbooks form that I bought with the PB 17" and havent used to date..

Thoughts?

Thanks for your help!
 
Eric,

Thanks for the tip on the Applecare situation -- I guess I'll save it for the next machine I buy (which is looking like it might be soon).

Per your direction to that page on the docs.info.apple.com site .. the way I read it, I have two choices depending on the 1.5Ghz model of G4 I have ..

It says:

PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5GHz), PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.67GHz), PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD) and PowerBook G4 (17-inch Double-Layer SD)

1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2. Disconnect the AC Adapter and remove the computer's battery.
3. Press and hold down the power button for 5 seconds and then release the button.
4. Reconnect the battery and AC Adapter.
5. Press the Power button to restart the computer.


PowerBook G4 (12-inch)
PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI)
PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHz)
PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5GHz)
PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800)
PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz)
PowerBook G4 (17-inch)
PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHz)
PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHz)

1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2. Reset the power manager by simultaneously pressing and then releasing Shift-Control-Option-Power on the keyboard. Do not press the fn (Function) key while using this combination of keystrokes.
3. Wait 5 seconds.
4. Press the Power button to restart the computer.
Click to expand...

The top one has no effect .. the bottom one "does something" as in as soon as the SD recalibrates within a second of power on (and you keep these keys depressed) you hear the fans come up to full speed, then after about 10 seconds of that, you get one long beep, followed by a pause -- and then you get the 4 beeps again.

Hopefully, I'm reading this right.

*sigh* .. I really appreciate your help on this .. unless I'm being more than a little dense here, I think I have it, and it seems that no amount of chicken blood and holy water will ressurect this. I just wish there was a better way to get these things out of the mud (and I'm sure I'm a rare exception to what's going on here).

Thanks again ..

I was given some advice by a peer that had some other issues with an iBook and he pointed me to www.macservice.com .. they seem to have a reasonable Logic Board replacement cost .. (although I'm gritting my teeth, trying to decide whether to spend another $700-$800 on this thing (logic board, shipping, 2 sticks of 1G ram) or put into a MBP .. which is where I'm leaning now)..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top