Apple powerbook firewire User Manual

							 
Symptom Charts / Modem -  
17 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) TCP/IP control panel is not configured correctly, it may 
connect but won’t be able to access any sites.
4. Sometimes online services use different servers for dial-up/
authentication and for services. If one server is down, users 
may be able to login but not access any services. Contact the 
online service for help.
The dialup software 
will not initiate a 
connection1. Use the Modem Country Selector utility to make sure the 
modem is set to the correct country.
2. Make sure dialup software is fully installed and all required 
extensions are enabled. If necessary, reinstall the dialup 
software and provide the necessary information for setup.
Modem is dropping its 
connection1. Use the Modem Country Selector utility to make sure the 
modem is set to the correct country.
2. Try another cable and phone jack.
3 . The phone line may be too noisy to handle the higher modem 
speeds. Try connecting at a slower speed or use a generic CCL 
file. (If you are familiar with the CCL script language, you 
can edit the modem script to force a connection at a lower 
speed.) If the problem continues, contact the phone company 
to report the bad phone line.
4. Verify that the user has call waiting on that phone line. With 
call waiting active, an incoming call can interrupt the 
connection. Disable call waiting using AT commands placed in 
the init string of the dialup application. Usually the string is 
*70.
5. There may be a problem with the server to which you are 
connecting. Servers sometimes develop problems that 
disconnect users without explanation. Try calling back later 
or use an alternate number if one is available.
6. Check with the Internet Service Provider.
7. Reseat the modem. If the problem persists, replace the 
modem. 
						

							 
Symptom Charts / USB and FireWire -  
17 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) 
USB and FireWire 
After you connect 
external USB or 
FireWire device, 
computer does not 
start up1. Disconnect all external devices and start up computer. Then 
plug in devices.
2. Eliminate chain by plugging in only one device.
3. Try  
another 
 port.
4. 
Start up system with extensions off. 
 
5. If device is self-powered, power on external device before 
starting computer.
6 . Check cable connections.
7. Try known-good cable.
8. Try known-good external device.
9. Replace I/O logic board.
Computer starts up to 
a floating FireWire 
icon (similar to SCSI 
Disk Mode) 
1. Reset computer.
2. Replace keyboard.
3. Replace I/O logic board. 
In target disk mode, 
computer does not 
display FireWire icon 
until host is started 
up, or computer 
crashes when host is 
shut down1. Verify  
FireWire 
 cable is good and check the connection. 
2. Make sure host computer is running FireWire 2.3 or later. Use Apple 
System Profiler to verify.
3. Make sure no other FireWire devices are connected.
4. Verify computer was started up with the T key pressed. 
5 . Check the keyboard connection.
6 . Replace keyboard.
7. Replace I/O logic board. 
						

							 
Symptom Charts / USB and FireWire -  
18 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) USB or FireWire 
device, such as digital 
camera, not 
recognized by 
computer 
Note:  
If you are trying to use a serial device with a USB/Serial 
adapter, check with the manufacturer for compatibility.
1. Verify current driver for the device is installed.
2. Turn on camera before launching desktop video (DV) 
application.
3. Try different USB  
or FireWire 
 device on same port.
4. Eliminate chain by plugging in only one device.
5. Try the other USB  
or FireWire  
port. 
6. Replace I/O logic board.
I/O devices are 
unrecognized, or 
garbage is 
transmitted or 
received1 . Check cables.
2. Check with vendor for current drivers.
3. Try other USB  
or FireWire  
port.
4 . Reset PRAM.
5. Test device with known-good computer.
6. Replace I/O logic board.
Cursor does not move 
when using trackpad 1. Shut down computer, unplug power adapter, and remove 
battery. Let computer sit for one minute before restarting.
2. Reset power manager (press the reset button behind the I/O 
door).
3 . Check trackpad connections.
4 . Connect USB mouse and try to move cursor. If 
  
trackpad does 
not move cursor but external USB mouse does, replace 
trackpad (included in top case). 
5. Replace I/O logic board. 
						

							 
Symptom Charts / USB and FireWire -  
19 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) Cursor moves on 
screen with external 
mouse connected, but 
clicking or double-
clicking the mouse 
has no effect1 . If the mouse is connected to an external keyboard, connect the 
mouse to one of the USB ports on the computer.
2. Try the other USB port.
3. Try another mouse.
4 . Reset PRAM.
5. Start up from the CD that came with the computer. If the 
mouse works, reinstall the system software.
6. Replace I/O logic board.
Cursor moves, but 
clicking trackpad 
button has no effect1. Reset power manager (press the reset button behind the I/O 
door).
2 . Remove top case and manually press trackpad button on power 
supply with a nylon tool or other non-metal object. If button 
activates cursor, check top case seating.
3. Replace power supply card.
4. Replace trackpad button actuator (included in the top case).
Cursor does not move 
on the screen with an 
external mouse, but 
USB external 
keyboard works1. Verify the mouse is connected securely to the USB keyboard or 
port.
2. Check inside mouse for buildup of dirt or other contaminants. 
Clean mouse if necessary.
3 . If mouse is connected to the keyboard, connect it to a USB port.
4. Try the other USB port.
5. Try another mouse.
6. Replace I/O logic board. 
						

							 
Symptom Charts / USB and FireWire -  
20 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) Cursor intermittently 
does not move or 
moves erratically 
Note: 
 User must touch trackpad with the surface of only one finger 
at a time and point directly down on the trackpad surface.
1. Clean trackpad surface with computer off, using a non-static-
inducing material.
2. Reset power manager (press the reset button behind the I/O 
door).
3. Turn off clicking in Trackpad control panel.
4. Try unit on battery power. If problem goes away, replace 
power adapter.
5 . Check trackpad connections.
6. Replace trackpad (included in top case).
7. Replace I/O logic board.
No response to any 
key on keyboard1. Reset the power manager (press the reset button behind the I/
O door).
2 . Check keyboard connection by disconnecting and reconnecting 
keyboard cable.
3 . Replace keyboard.
4. Replace I/O logic board.
Known-good Ethernet 
  
network printer does 
not print1. Verify Chooser and networking control panel (AppleTalk and 
TCP/IP) settings are correct.
2. Reinstall printer drivers.
3. Check printer cables.
4. Attach computer directly to printer using Ethernet crossover 
cable, and retest. 
5 . Reset PRAM.
6. Replace I/O logic board. 
						

							 
Symptom Charts / USB and FireWire -  
21 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) Known-good USB 
printer does not print1. Verify computer has correct driver installed. Check vendorÕs 
Web site to download current driver.
2 . Reset PRAM.
3. Verify printer is selected in the Chooser.
4. Run Apple System Profiler to see if it recognizes the USB 
printer is connected. If it does, it is a software issue.
5. Try the other port. Make sure the printer is connected 
directly to the computer.
6 . Check cables.
7. Replace I/O logic board.
Power-related error 
message appears1. Plug the device into an electrical outlet if it has a power cord.
2. Unplug the device and plug it into another USB port on the 
computer or another device plugged into a power outlet such 
as a USB hub.
After sleep, a USB 
device is sometimes 
not recognized1. Restart the computer.
2. Contact device manufacturer for latest driver update. 
						

							 
Symptom Charts / Miscellaneous -  
22 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) 
Miscellaneous 
Sleep light doesnÕt 
turn on1. Verify computer is in sleep mode and not off.
2. Reset power manager (press the reset button behind the I/O 
door.
3. Replace inverter board.
Screen goes blank and 
computer shuts down 
every few minutes1. Computer is going into system sleep to conserve battery 
power. Adjust sleep delays in Energy Saver control panel or 
connect power adapter.
2. Verify the appropriate power adapter is being used.
3. Try a known-good power adapter.
Application seems to 
run slower after a few 
secondsComputer is in processor cycling mode. If this interferes with 
operation of application, turn off Allow Processor Cycling in the 
Energy Saver control panel.  
Note: 
 This feature conserves energy 
when running off battery power.
Hard drive is slow to 
respond, or screen 
goes blank too oftenAdjust sleep delays in Energy Saver control panel or connect power 
adapter.
Fax software is not 
workingThe PowerBook (FireWire) comes with FaxSTF software installed. 
Apple does not provide support for this software. Contact Smith 
Micro at 949-632-5810 or send email to 
[email protected]. 
						

							 
Symptom Charts / Miscellaneous -  
23 
Troubleshooting 
PowerBook (FireWire) Intermittent 
operating problems 
such as not starting 
up or initialization 
errors1. Remove the microprocessor EMI shield and check that the two 
screws over the microprocessor unit and the screw on the left 
side of the heat exchanger are installed.
2. Verify microprocessor board is properly installed. 
3. Press on microprocessor board a second time to make sure the 
board is fully seated.
Important: The microprocessor board can be partially inserted and 
the computer will still function. However, over time, heat will 
cause a partially seated microprocessor board to lose contact and 
cause intermittent system problems. The connection of these 
boards is checked and double-checked at the factory.
4 . Remove the heat exchanger and examine the black thermal 
transfer material over the microprocessor chip. Follow the 
procedures in the Take Apart chapter of this manual to replace 
the heat exchanger. 
						

							Symptom Charts / Miscellaneous - 24Troubleshooting
PowerBook (FireWire)
Startup Problems Flowchart
START
Reset the
power manager.
Press power button to
begin startup sequence.  
Do you
hear the
startup
tones?No
Yes
Are the 
startup tones
normal?
YesDoes any 
video
appear?No
Yes
See Startup  in the 
Symptom Charts.
No
1. Check display/inverter cable 
    connections.
2. Replace the display and 
    backlight cables.
3. Replace the inverter.
4. Replace the display.
5. Replace the I/O logic board.
1. Check the volume.
2. Check the keyboard and 
    display cables.
3. Replace the sound card.
4. Replace the speaker.
5. Replace the I/O logic board.
Does a
gray screen
appear with
pointer?
YesNo
1
1. Check the display cables.
2. Replace the power supply
    card.
3. Replace the sound card.

 
						

							Symptom Charts / Startup Problems Flowchart Troubleshooting
PowerBook (FireWire)
Startup Problems Flowchart (continued)
1. Start up with extensions off.
2. Start up with the CD that
    comes with the computer
    (press the C key).
3. Replace the hard drive.
4. Replace the I/O logic 
    board.
END Does
the
PowerBook continue
to start up to the
desktop?No
YesNo
Yes
No Do the
trackpad and
keyboard
function?1. Reset the power manager.
2. Check the trackpad and
    keyboard cables.
3. Replace the trackpad and
    keyboard cables.
4. Replace the trackpad.
5. Replace the keyboard.
6. Replace the I/O logic board. YesDoes
the flashing
question mark
appear?
1Go to
Start
Insert a known-good 
CD-ROM or DVD disc
and see if it mounts.
No Does the
disc
mount?
Yes
1. Reset PRAM.
2. Start up from the CD that comes with the computer.
3. If hard drive appears, reinstall system software.
4. If hard drive doesnt appear,see if Drive Setup 
    can reformat it.
5. Replace the hard drive cable.
6. Replace the hard drive.
7. Replace the I/O logic board.
1. Check for proper software drivers.
2. Reseat the module.
3. Replace the module.
4. Replace the I/O logic board