iFixit - Answers With Device "iBook G3 14""

iBook G3 14": Video shows strange "high contrast" display upon boot

Thu, 27 May 2010 20:01:40 -0700

Hi! A customer returned an iBook G3/800MHZ...it booted fine, and looked great upon booting, but about 10 seconds after the desktop appeared, the video suddenly switched to an odd mode that I can only describe as looking like the contrast was cranked all the way up, or possibly switched to 16 color mode, or something similar. It did not seem that there was a defect with the screen, and it did not behave like the common G3 "video issue" that is so prevalent. Again, immediately upon boot everything looked fine, option mode looked fine, the Apple icon while booting looked fine, etc. It's just upon completion of booting that this weird mode kicked in. The video preferences did not show any altered settings, and the computer showed that it was in the highest resolution mode with full color.

The user stated that the strange mode suddenly kicked in while watching YouTube. Granted, a G3 is not going to be the best platform for YouTube viewing, but is it possible that the video chip "blew a fuse", so to speak, dealing with video that it couldn't handle?

I re-imaged the laptop, and now it's fine again, and I'm watching YouTube with no problems. I'm just curious though if anyone else has run into this bizarre issue.

Thanks!

John

⟐ Answered May 27, 2010 at 20:01 MST

iBook G3 14": How do I put the operating system on my mac ibook?

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:01:05 -0700

I bought two mac ibooks model M8413, but they came without the operating system.

What operating system is recommended for this mac and how do I install it onto the computer?

⟐ Answer accepted September 16, 2019 at 20:01 MST

iBook G3 14": I bought a laptop,but don't know the password

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 13:20:52 -0700

I bought a labtop,but dont no the password

⟐ Commented July 16, 2019 at 13:20 MST

iBook G3 14": Can't see hard drive after re-assembly

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 21:08:37 -0700

I completed the re assembly after replacing logic board but can't see hard drive or cd drive to start up. I've checked it with an external start up drive and the display is fine. Is this a power supply issue?

Out with the spludger ...

⟐ Answer accepted October 19, 2013 at 21:08 MST

iBook G3 14": Auditing an old iBook for remote management?

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 01:20:48 -0700

I purchased a 14” iBook G3 as a toy, and it has the school’s old install of MacOS Panther 10.3.9 on it :(. Seller did the Terminal command instead of properly erasing the thing and reinstalling MacOS.

However, as finding an image of 10.3 to reload back onto this “new to me” iBook will pretty much be a games machine (as well as for old applications), I’m torn. To quickly clean it up as best as I can within 15 minutes, I deleted the user accounts to quickly remove the student data (which I did not look at, as I believe the students who used it deserve the respect of knowing its new owner doesn’t know) for now, but I may look into auditing it for remote management. I know it has Sophos AV installed, but I doubt it has management capabilities.

While I will need to look for a 10.3 image, would I be better off wiping the HD out or trying to audit this iBook? I am already seeing signs of trouble as it has Apple Remote Desktop installed :(.

Well, the deed is done. OS9 is next.

⟐ Answer edited September 15, 2022 at 1:20 MST

iBook G3 14": Can I use the keyboard from a 12 inch on my 14 inch?

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 20:25:34 -0700

Hey all! I have 2 Ibook g3's. One needs a new keyboard and is a 14 inch. I have a 12 inch with no backlight and I want to know if I can use the keyboard from my 12 inch on my 14 inch? Thanks!

⟐ Answer accepted December 30, 2017 at 20:25 MST

iBook G3 14": Screen resolution resets on its own

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:13:02 -0700

My iBook is set to a 1024x768 screen resolution. After a few minutes, the screen will flash all blue (like the default background color) and then reset the resoultion to 640x480 and does not give me a choice to increase it in the settings panel. Sometimes a reboot will not correct this. I have reinstalled OS 10.3 twice and it keeps happening. Thanks for your help.

⟐ Answer accepted November 12, 2010 at 3:13 MST

iBook G3 14": Problem

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 20:56:12 -0700

Hi my name is leandro i have a Ibook G3 14 and i was having a issue with the display so i tried to fix it puting a shim in the diplay chip but now after all my computer doesnt turn on after I finish and i dont no why. it was all ok before that i had problem with a blue and white cable near the Modem that was conecte to the keyboard palm rest or the turning on button the socket was out and i put it again i dont no why it does not turn on you think i forgot something else? thank you!!

⟐ Answered April 02, 2021 at 20:56 MST

iBook G3 14": Need install Disk to restore iBook

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 12:55:34 -0700

I installed realplayer on ibook now have a gray screen and spinner, i was told to restore but don't have the disk. Trying to find out what disk it takes. Can anyone help me?

⟐ Answered March 13, 2020 at 12:55 MST

iBook G3 14": Battery will not fully charge

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 08:46:41 -0700

Have a iBook G3 900mhz 14 inch. Was working fine, but the battery gave out. I replaced the battery with a cheapie from ebay. The battery would only charge for a few minutes, then my charger would glow to green, even if the battery was not fully charged.

I reset my PMU and it would charge again for a few minutes, but then it would stop charging. If I keep re-setting the PMU, I can fully charge the battery and the iBook runs fine on the battery.

I thought it could be the DC in, so I replaced it, but same problem. Is this likely a problem with the battery of with the logic board. I do not want to spend more on another battery if that is not the problem.

⟐ Answer accepted June 10, 2018 at 8:46 MST

iBook G3 14": The locking screw on my iBook's keyboard got damaged

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 08:35:54 -0700

While reassembling my iBook G3 14”, the 800MHz model, I couldn’t lock the keyboard onto the chassis with that little screw in the top middle of the keyboard (between the F5 and F6 keys). It was actually getting very stripped, despite the fact that I always used the right kind of screwdriver to lock/unlock the keyboard ever since I got the iBook a few moths ago used. In the end, trying to fix up this little issue, the little plastic screw got pushed towards the screen and got stuck under the plastic of the keyboard which was holding the screw in place. Now the Numlock light, which is situated under the screw, still works, so that’s good, but the plastic of the screw is stuck. Luckily, the screw got damaged and stuck in the unlocked position rather than the locked position, so I can dissassemble the iBook if I need to, but a constantly unlocked keyboard still drives me nuts.

Do I need a new keyboard, or is it possible to repair my existing keyboard?

Thanks!

⟐ Answered August 19, 2019 at 8:35 MST

iBook G3 14": How do I transfer the information from one g3 to another g3?

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 10:42:29 -0700

I have two ibook g3. I am replacing that harddrives in each. I have completed the first replacment. How can I transfer the information from the one that is still working to the g3 with the new hard drive? I did not need to kept any old data, just get the system sofeware moved.

⟐ Answer accepted June 09, 2018 at 10:42 MST

iBook G3 14": Screen went black, Apple Icon off

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:00:30 -0700

Why did my screen go black? I can see the screen when the computer is placed in direct light.The Laptop still works fine

⟐ Answer accepted August 03, 2010 at 15:00 MST

iBook G3 14": iBook M8413 Screen Problem

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 03:57:37 -0700

My old iBook G3 14” M8413 Laptop starts normally, but soon the screen develops closely spaced vertical purple lines.

Is this fixable?

If so, how do I go about achieving this?

Many thanks for any advice.

iBook G3 14": Airport is conected but it won't load anything

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 07:58:49 -0700

My iBook G3 connects to my router but when i open safari i am getting

" Safari can't connect to the server"

Safari can't open the page "http://google.com/" because it could not connect to the server "google.com"

My internet loads perfectly if i connect it via ethernet

I am wondering it the problem my airport card

Any ideas?

⟐ Commented August 30, 2016 at 7:58 MST

iBook G3 14": External mice fail after a few minutes.

Tue, 31 May 2016 13:52:01 -0700

Like the title says, my old iBook is having issues with external mice not working after some amount of time. The issue has occurred with multiple mice and while running under OS 9, 10.2, and 10.3. The problem is isolated to mice only though, if I pull up the system profiler, in any OS, while I have a working mouse, it will show up in the USB section. To test, I plugged a small flash drive in and the computer never loses it, even after the mouse has stopped working. A refresh of the system profiler will show the flash drive still connected, but no mouse.

I have tried a fresh reinstall of the OS(s), but that made no difference. This is such a strangely specific issue, I can't really nail down where the problem is.

Thanks in advance.