Skip to main content

Hard drive and Optical drive power on, but nothing else?

I recently followed the step by step guide on how to replace the optical drive in my G4. Everything went perfectly, except for when I put everything back together and tried to start the computer. The ac adapter light is green, and when the power button is pressed the optical drive and hard drive start up. The keyboard lights also work. Aside from that, the computer stays dormant. The white light in front doesn't come on, and the computer remains in this state until the power button is held for 10 seconds, at which point you can do the whole fun cycle all over again!! Any suggestions?

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Score -1
1 Comment

I would like to thank all of you for your help. I am going to try a few more things; including checking the optical ribbon cable and starting in target mode, before I call it quits. I spoke with someone from apple once again and they told me that unfortunately this sounds like a textbook logic board failure. I'm not going to give up just yet, so any further ideas are greatly appreciated. Once again thanks for all the help.

by

Add a comment

2 Answers

Chosen Solution

Make sure your optical drive ribbon is well inserted in the logic board socket. I've seen iBooks G4 having problem to boot with a faulty or incorrectly optical drive cable installed. The white optical ribbon cable is tricky to insert in the socket. Double check the connection or if you want to troubleshoot the ribbon simply disconnect it from the logic board and try to boot the iBook.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 2

2 Comments:

Would this cause the computer to fail to start up? I spoke with an apple expert and they told me that if the optical drive didn't have the same firmware it would essentially cause the mac to get "stuck" in its power up phase. Would the ribbon not being inserted properly have the same effect?

by

Yes, if the ribbon cable is not well seated or faulty you could have problem to boot. Just disconnect completely the ribbon and try to boot. It's just a trouble shooting test... If the iBook boots OK with the ribbon disconnected then you'll know the problem is there.

by

Add a comment

Start up holding the option key down and see if it gives up a startup disk.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

10 Comments:

Nothing. There is a disk in the drive that won't eject, and holding the option button doesn't make a difference. The disk in the drive just continues to spin for a few minutes before stopping.

by

How to Clear the PMU

1.

Step 1

Quit all of your active applications and shut down your Mac.

2.

Step 2

Once your computer is completely shut down, disconnect the computer's AC power Adapter and remove the battery from your Mac.

3.

Step 3

Press and hold down the power button on your MacBook or MacBook Pro for at least five seconds and then release the power button.

4.

Step 4

With your Mac still shut off, reinstall the battery in your MacBook or MacBook Pro and reconnect the AC Adapter. The PMU/SMU has now been reset on your computer.

by

Next we'll zap the PRAM. Hit the start button, hold down the option & command --P & R keys wait till it tones three times then try to start up

by

Tried it in the order you suggested. Couldn't get it to make the three tones. Just continues to spin the hard drive and optical.

by

OK, we'll keep trying start up holding down the F12 ket then try starting up holding down the eject key in the upper right hand corner

by

Show 5 more comments

Add a comment

Add your answer

Andrew will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 1

Past 30 Days: 1

All Time: 891