>There have been a number of posts recently about 2400's dying. I'm
>starting to get worried. I'd hate to lose my PB. [...]
My unconfirmed (and not easily confirmable) suspicion is that the main
problem with the 2400 is the tendency of the CPU daughterboard to work
loose from the main logic board. At some point while this is happening that
large, rather important connection between the two is going to become
marginal (as does the operation of the computer), and it's also possible
that continued operation in that state eventually damages one or the other.
I base the latter assumption on the observation that people have reported
dead logic boards (ie. mine) and CPU boards in about equal numbers, but
with remarkably similar symptom reports beforehand. When mine went it took
a weekend of intermittency before it was completely dead, and I suspect it
could have been saved by fixing this relatively simple physical problem. It
might be useful to seal the screw connection with some nail polish or glue,
though it's remarkably difficult to prevent a screw from popping out under
repeated heating and cooling (damn you Archimedes).
It's also possible that those screws that work completely loose (as they
eventually will) bounce around and short something out on one of the
boards, doing the damage more abruptly. I'm less convinced of this variant
on the theory, partly because my PB had the rattling noise inside for at
least six months before dying (and without any problems while I was
carrying it around to job sites), and was ironically stationary on a desk
for a couple of weeks before it did die. Even so the noise could have
served as an early warning - if I'd been less lazy I might have opened it
up sooner to snoop around, replaced the screw and tightened the board
connection, and possibly saved myself $500 and three weeks of inconvenience.
If any of this is correct, it does at least suggest a response to early
hardware problems - stop using the machine and unpower it, open it up (or
have it opened) and check the screws that attach those two boards,
retightening them if necessary (and possibly those to the I/O board as
well). It also makes clear that a rattly noise is not to be ignored, at
least in the case (no pun intended) of the 2400.
--
Marc Sira | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"If you can't play with words, what good are they?"
----------
Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net!
A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables.
FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml>
Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400>
X-Router | Share your DSL or cable modem between multiple computers!
Dr. Bott | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/MIH120.html>
Midwest Mac Parts <http://www.midwestmac.com> | After-market parts
for Macs. Fix your ticking dock for $59 w/ trade-in of PS. 888-356-1104
PowerBook Guy is | Click here!
Everything PowerBook! | http://www.powerbookguy.com
