Dropped PB still clinging to life

[EverybodyBeCool]

I've been hanging around these forums since I got my Mac a couple of years ago, but this is probably my first post.

Anywho, the other night someone tripped over the power cable dropping my PB about 3 feet off the table, denting the front left corner (where the battery is). It was still on and working when I picked it up, but after trying to restart it, I get what looks like a kernal panic (says I need to restart in like 5 languages) just before the the transition between grey startup screen to the login screen. At this point I figured I was screwed, but it still seems to have some "life" in it.

I tried rebooting from my external, same deal. I then took the internal HD out and was successful at booting it externally on my friend's mac (yeah, the HD survived). I was then able to run the hardware test, everything passed. I've zapped PRAM plenty of times, I've run disk utilities and fsck. I just tested the memory, the memory slots, even tried some memory I had lying around. Nothing, same freeze after about 30-60 seconds of grey screen.

At this point I figured I've done as much as I can do, but I don't have the money to have Apple fix it (is there anywhere else BTW?). I even wonder if it can be fixed (if not, darn, I'll have to get a macbook in August or something). I'd very much like to fix it tho, anyone got any ideas?

BTW, its a 15in 1.25ghz PB, lastest version of Tiger

 

[jsfpa]

Ouch! But what an advertisement for he MacBook Pro MagSafe connector.

 

[Compatiblepoker]

Sometimes its actually cheaper and a smarter decision to just get a new one. I once spilled a cup of water on my laptop. It was the worst feeling. It didnt work for a week and then I guess the water dried up and it started working again. Maybe you need to drop it again. Lol. Just kidding. Good luck with the fix.

 

[California]

I'd send it into Daystar for a CPU upgrade and let them figure out if anything on the logic board needs to be repaired at the same time.

That's what I would do. Then you'd not only get it fixed, you'd have a 2.0ghz PB that is under warranty again.

 

[killuminati]

That sucks.

The other day I also tripped over my power cord knocking my powerbook 3 feet to the ground. However it actually fixed my powerbook. For the last 2 years my powerbook wouldn't close probably because of a problem with the clasps not matching up. Well this drop fixed it and now my powerbook works better than ever.

It might actually be cheaper if you just get a MBP, you should consider it. Well good luck with the fix.

 

[crazycat]

the other night someone tripped over the power cable dropping my PB about 3 feet off the table,

Magesafe, thank god i have the macbook pro.

Yesterday i friend tripped oh my MBP power cord and nothing happend.

 

[jadekitty24]

That sucks.

The other day I also tripped over my power cord knocking my powerbook 3 feet to the ground. However it actually fixed my powerbook. For the last 2 years my powerbook wouldn't close probably because of a problem with the clasps not matching up. Well this drop fixed it and now my powerbook works better than ever.

It might actually be cheaper if you just get a MBP, you should consider it. Well good luck with the fix.

That's great! How often can someone say they dropped their Powerbook and now it works better?

To the OP...rip your PB open and make sure everything is seated correctly. Quick story, my bro threw my PB in anger, at first I didn't know. I kept getting kernal panics and whatnot. Once I noticed the dents on the outer casing, I took the PB apart and sure enough, the airport card was not entirely connected. I was quite lucky that it didn't fry something. I don't know if you have the same problem but it's worth a shot.

 

[gman71882]

if your feeling lucky: take the computer apart and just play around, making sure everything is together.
The Kernel Panic is evidence of a physical Hardware problem(obviously). It just may not be worth the time & effort of figuring out exactly what part is not working properly.
You might just want to consider selling the Computer for parts to help aleviate the cost of a new computer.
The Display is worth about $800 by itself. if you have a superdrive its worth about 80 - 100. Ram worth a bit as well. You could sell them on Ebay or there are a few places online that will buy these parts back:
ifixit.com

 

[EverybodyBeCool]

It made it

Earlier this week I was able to boot up in Safe Mode, which lead me to reformat the HD (I backed up everything, there wasn't much else to do). It still froze with a fresh HD, but still booted in Safe. I then noticed that there was no mention of my airport card anywhere, so I played with that and after I took it out... everything worked. Since then I've had no problems and I bought another airport EXTEME (haha, sorry, but we all know how played out "extreme" is today) on ebay for $45. HOPEFULLY that's the problem, and not the actual socket it plugs into, otherwise I'll have to find a wireless pcmcia card that works with Apples.

Thanks for all the replies, I was planning to sell the parts if I had to, but I'm much happier with a working computer. I wouldn't have been able to get another one till at least August, if that.

I encourage (well, if you have to some idea what you're doing) to not give up on your fallen laptops, I thought I was screwed. But now, I'm typing from that dropped computer, with a nice dent on the left corner and a piece of tape to keep the latch out... Hey, it works.

 

[gman71882]

I work at a university and had a student walking out to her Car, place her Ibook on top, forgot about it and drive off... BAM - shatterd her screen, HD didnt work, mess of other things...
i had her Buy an Ibook for parts off ebay for $100, a new HD, and using the two computers... i fashioned a FrankenBook of sorts... came out better than i even expected.
She didnt get her data back... but for $100 and a few hours of work on my part she got a working computer back in her Hands.

hehe im proud of that if you cant tell