Since the ol’ iBook G3 700Mhz machine died two weeks ago, I’ve contemplated a few options for getting it fixed and/or getting the hard drive out of it, to get the data off of it.
First, understand that this is still a useable computer, and it’d be nice to have another laptop in the family. The addition of the iMac G5 is sure nice, but I know that at times, my stay-at-home mom wife, might want to use a laptop again. That, or I think I could sell this thing on eBay, or give it to the in-laws or my own mom to use… those being the case, I think it has some value as a laptop, not just as a machine that has some important (my Quicken) data on it.
So, I’m heavily leaning towards getting it fixed. But…
I saw a link to this USB 2.0 -> IDE adapter review, and the adapter only costs $35. (The going rate for “data backup and recovery” from an iBook hard drive is about $100). Hell, for $35, I thought it might be worth it to pull the hard drive out of the machine myself, backing up the data, then sending it in to get it fixed…
However, I just read through this 16 page guide for “replacing/removing the iBook G3 12″ machine’s hard drive, and you’ve got to be kidding me. To get to the drive, I’d almost have to be a brain surgeon, and/or have 3 hours (that’s my SWAG on how long it’d take me to remove the drive, get the files off, put it back together, and hope I didn’t lose any screws in the process, estimate).
Fuck that. Fuck that big time!
I’m not touching the innards of that machine after reading that guide. (Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great guide, but 16 page with 3 steps on each page? You gotta be kidding me).
So, now I’m heavily leaning towards dropping the Machine off with an Apple Genius this Friday. Apple will do a good job fixing the machine – of that I’m sure. And their flat-rate fix it policy sure does make it an easy decision, because once I pay their $180 for parts/$100 for labor fees, they’ll fix whatever the problem is… and with some other service providers, there’s a “diagnosis fee” then you pay for the parts and labor to fix it… that’s too uncertain.
One quote I got for a logic board repair was $400. Right now, I could but a replacement machine for around that same price on eBay so Apple’s got my business at this point… I just need to make the decision that it’s worth it… it’s either fix it completely, or get the data off… either way I’m out at least $100 at this point.
you should see if your logic board is still under warranty.
Hey there. What did you end up doing? having apple fix it?
I have an older G3 ibook 600mhz 20 gig – it’s over 3 years old at this point, so it’s probably time to just get a new one.
But I’m wondering how much it would cost to buy a new hard drive and try to install it myself -
that is, if the hard drive is the problem.
When I run disc utility I get a message saying “this drive has reported a fatal hardware error… replace it with a working drive.”
it makes a clicking noise while it’s starting up. and I can’t let it go to sleep – or it has trouble waking up.
It works except for the clicking – but I live with the fear that one day it might just stop working completely…
I had an iBook G3 that went as well. I have no idea on how to retreve the data from the damaged hard drive. Please send me any and all solutions. Thank you very much,
OT
When our G3 died, we used the firewire cable and hooked up to a host computer and saved everything we wanted on the host. You can do a google search for FireWire Target Disk mode
The hard drive in my iBook G3 has also died. I’m printing the 16 page hard drive replacement guide as I type, and am off to the hardware store in a few minutes. I’ve already bought a 40G Fujitsu HD (MHT2040AH) to install. But, I’m also having trouble getting the data off the broken HD.
I’m not sure if this is related, but when I accessed the console (on the rare occasion that I could get that far), I kept seeing the following log entries repeated over and over:
Looking for Devices matching vendor ID=1193 and product ID=8718
Looking for Devices matching vendor ID=1193 and product ID=8717
This is apparently caused by the Canon LiDE 30 scanner software. If it can’t find the scanner, it keeps logging this, making a huge log file.
for kimie up there… i have that same model and the same exact problem..eventually the harddrive just went down the drain so i got one of ebay for like 50 bucks and installed it my self
Had the exaact same problem last week. 5 years and its still a great computer. Replacing the HD took over 3 hours and I literally lost hair doing it. The new HD’s cheap enough, but between this and taxes i’ve lost my weekend.
You’d think people would eventually wise up and quit buying Job’s junk. I thought the coupany went to hell when he left it certainly has since his return. He’s just poddin’ his pocket these daze. They’re puttin all their time and design effort into their pod.
Mikey…my 800mhz G3 iBook is going under the screwdriver tonight to slip in a faster 120 gb hdd…everything still works. What Dull/HPiss/Microslug shite made in 2003 is still running software released in the last year? Keep yer made in China by ex-manure coolies crap hardware and ‘supported’ by Third World ‘college grads’ (Thesis: How Haji was the real brains behind Johnny Quest) in a Dull call center in Bangalore (“Reinstall Windows…”). I have to use XPiss at work…when I grimace hearing the ‘Microsoft sound’, there is the good feeling that I don’t have to face that bitch at home. Cheers!