Case Mod: A whiter shade....
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- Parent Category: FAQ
The first non-firewire iBook Clamshell colors in Tangerine, Blueberry and Graphite had a translucent polycarbonate plastics case which enables you to see the subjacent silver-gray shielding plates. A white spray paint on these metal shields generates a discreet color upgrade and a crisp new look. Keyboard and Power Button came from a indigo iBook.
Booting from a USB drive
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- Parent Category: FAQ
Modern Intel-based Macs can boot from USB, but you will encounter some difficulties when you try this method on a iBook G4 or PowerBook G4. When you buy a OSX Panther or Tiger license you'll get DVDs by default - this is a problem when you have to install 10.3 on a 300MHZ machine which has only a CD-Drive and no firewire port. But the Clamshell iBook is able to boot from USB if you've got the right drive:
Beep Codes at startup
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- Parent Category: FAQ
If you hear several beeps instead of the startup-chime - this is an error code:
1 one beep: There is no RAM installed
2 Two beeps: a EDO-RAM module installed The iBooks only works with SDRAM SO-DIMMS.
3 Three beeps: The built-in RAM / The extra RAM module have errors.
4 Four beeps: Checksum error in the boot-ROM.
If after the start a dialog box appears with the message: "Built-in memory test has detected an error"
try to remove the RAM in the slot located underneath the keyboard and restart. A "default catch!" Error and a boot into open firmware is caused by an incompatible RAM-Module.
Apple Hardware Test
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- Parent Category: FAQ
An important tool for hardware problems is the Apple hardware test CD. Unfortunately the test for iBook models 300Mhz and 366Mhz without Firewire is not available.
Since the test CD supports only certain models, one should pay attention for to the correct revision number. iBook hardware test CDs with the numbers 1.0 to 1.2.4 should function on the 366Mhz and 466Mhz Firewire models. If one wants to go safe, one selects the extended test routines with continuous loops.
Some RAM errors are identified after some dozen runs. A free Download from Apple (Wayback machine) of the hardware test for older Macs is available. You can also look for a original CD at ebay.com or contact an authorized Apple dealer who has access to these resources.