Setting up Wi-Fi on my powerbook

I know this will probably seem like a dumb question, but I live in a place with lots of "Free Wi-Fi hotspots" and have no idea how to use my Mac to access them. Is this something I have to buy, or is it built-in? Can I set this up myself, or do I need to hire a computer geek to do it for me? Is it somehow connected to my current ISP, or different? Even though I have been using Macs for over 18 years (I used to install my own internal hard drives!) I feel like a total idiot on this subject. Help!

Hi.
If I remember correctly your model of Powerbook comes with an airport extream card installed, so if it doesn't then it will need this. Take a look in the system profiler and see if you have anything listed under Airport.
If you do then do you see a little wi fi icon in the menu bar to the left of the volume? if not open System prferences > Network and select 'Airport' from the 'Show' menu, then select the checkbox for 'Show AirPort status in the menu bar', now that wifi icon will be on your menu bar.
If you are within a wifi network then selecting the menu will list the available networks, generally when one is available the computer will tell you and ask if you want to add that network to your reliable network list.
Some times this doesn't work like I have explained, that is generally because the Network setting for 'Location' in the System preferences > Network' window is not set to 'Automatic' and 'By fault, join' is not set to 'Automatic', under the 'Airport' tab selection, correcting this generally solves the problem.
Hopefully this is helpful or solved your problem. Consider rewarding some points!
Please see the "helpful" and "solved" button's on top off this message.

Similar Messages

  • I've forgotten my Wi-Fi password for a network set-up years ago and am trying to include a new iMac on the same network. How can I do this?

    I've forgotten my wi-fi password for a home network set-up years ago on a Powerbook. I'm now trying to add a new iMac to the same network so I can have 2 hooked up. How can I retrieve my password for the network I created or can I set-up a new one? I did try the latter, but it didn't seem to work on the new iMac for some reason. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

    HI, Welcome to the Forums...
    The password may be stored in your keychain on the system you set up the original PowerBook.
    Run KeyChain access in the utilities filder and see if you have a Airport base station password entry, from this you can reveal the password.
    Regards,
    Shawn

  • Using a second computer with an ipod set to manual update

    I want to prevent my ipod 60GB video which is set to manual update on my G5 from being updated when I plug it into my powerbook. The powerbook assumes the ipod is available for auto update. How do I mount the iPod without iTunes automatically replacing its contents. I can't "preset" iTunes in its preferences to treat the iPod as a manual drive as it just says: "no iPod connected. As soon as I attach the iPod the auto update starts. Are there keystrokes to interrupt the update so I can set the iPod preferences on my Powerbook?
    Thanks
    Paul
    G5 Dual 2Ghz   Mac OS X (10.4.5)   iPod 60GB

    Hold down the ⌥ and ⌘ keys while connecting your iPod. Keep them down until iTunes has opened and your iPod shows in the Source list.

  • How can I re-install OS X on a PowerBook when the DVD drive is dead?

    I'm trying to reload my operating system on a PowerBook with the disk drive dead.
    I've tried starting the the laptop as a target disk and plugging it into my Mac Pro and using the disk drive from the Mac Pro. It loads everything on the PowerBook fine. I can restart the Mac Pro using the PowerBook as the startup drive and it looks good, but when I try and restart the laptop by itself, it can't see the start up drive. Any other suggestions?

    I'm not sure Apple still has replacement system disc sets for older Macs like a PowerBook available -- various consumer protection laws generally require that manufacturers maintain replacement part stocks for a "reasonable" amount of time but eventually those stocks will run out. Plus, a lot of PowerBooks can barely run Tiger, much less Leopard, making a $129 retail disc a potentially poor investment for a 5 or more year old one.
    If the system discs are not available from Apple, if it was my PB I would look for used discs sets, keeping in mind whatever rights I still had for any OS version I still owned. EBay is a possible source for such things but a local Apple user group is probably a better one….

  • Joomla! on OS X: How to install and set up?

    Hi All,
    I am wanting to install/set up Joomla! on my PowerBook, and can't seem to find any clear, concise information on how this is done. What I want to do is set it up on my local machine, build a site using Joomla! and test it locally, then eventually publish it to a remote server.
    I'm not too experienced in web design/development so I don't know much - bear with me. Would anyone here mind breaking it down as step-by-step as possible?
    What do I need to download, what needs to be installed; where. If there are any Command Line commands, could you walk me through them?
    I do/did check out the Joomla! forums but no one seems to be able to provide a clear answer (or perhaps are more PeeCee oriented and don't feel confident in guiding a Mac user?).
    Thanks for your patience and time, I hope this isn't asking too much.

    Hi, M.
    1. Your question belongs on the Joomla Installation Forum. I presume you've read their Installation Guide which, in the typical fashion of Open Source projects, is rather terse and geared to either Linux or Windows users.
    You said you "did check out" their forums, but have you tried posting this question on their forums? I'd suggest that and, if you don't get an adequate response, then perhaps you'd be better served by using a different product.
    I don't mean to send you somewhere else, but you should be able to find help from Mac OS X users who've installed Joomla on their Installation Forum.
    2. You wrote: "I'm not too experienced in web design/development..."IMO, Joomla is not a product for you to begin with.
    You can try the following apps for free:
    - Site Studio It's only US$30.00 to purchase. It's designed for coding in HTML.
    - Freeway Express. It's US$89 to purchase and takes a graphical approach to Web design. <a href="http://www.softpress.com/products/freewayprointerf.php"">Freeway Pro</a> offers more functions, but Express may be enough if you're just starting and, if memory serves, you can upgrade from Express to Pro.
    If you are a student, you can get pro-level Web Design apps such as <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/golive/main.html">Adobe GoLive CS2 and Dreamweaver at deep educational discounts, e.g. US$100 or less.
    Good luck!
    Dr. Smoke
    Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

  • PowerBook 15" - Hard drive gone bust. HELP!!!

    Hey guys,
    I've got a MacBook Pro and a PowerBook 15" Al 1.67ghz.
    The hard drive in my PB has just gone bust, and I don't have the restore disks for OS X 10.5.
    Seeing as my MacBook Pro has 10.5, would it be possible to move (via CCC or the like) the OS X from my MacBook Pro onto the new hard drive I've just replaced in my PowerBook? If so, how would I do this? Is it possible to boot from an external hard drive on a PowerBook?
    By the way, just so you know, I have paid for both Mac OS X licenses.
    Thanks for your help!
    Andy

    Hi, Andy. No, the OS from the Intel MBP won't run at all on the PowerPC Powerbook. And yes, you can boot the Powerbook from a FireWire (not USB) external drive, provided it contains a suitable PowerPC-native OS version.
    You'll need a retail Leopard installer disc set to put Leopard on the Powerbook's new drive. There is no way you can use the MBP's installer discs or its installed OS, directly or indirectly, for that purpose.
    You can, however, use the Install/Restore disc(s) that originally came with the Powerbook to install Panther or Tiger (whichever was originally installed on it at the factory). Model-specific discs that came with any other Mac model are very unlikely to work on it.
    Message was edited by: eww

  • Powerbook and Linksys print server

    Hello All,
    I have a question which I believe I know what he answer is. I have a new Powerbook. right now, I am using a Linksys Print Server connected to a Epson inkjet printer. This is networked in my home windows environment. When you add a new pc etc, the Epson drivers are installed first than the Print server drivers. However, it seems there are no Mac driver etc for the Print server per Linksys. So basically, am I stuck with adding a dedicated printer to the powerbook or taking the print server out of the equasion here and letting one of my windows pc be the print server. No an option that I really wanted.
    Thanks,
    AlRoz

    Al,
    Before you do all that, try some of the options Tiger gives you. In the Applications folder there is a Utilities Folder. In there there is a Printer Setup Utility. Open it, and click Add. At the top there is a Default Browser and IP Printer. Click IP Printer. In this window you should be able to set up the connections so your powerbook can talk to your printer thru the ethernet printer server.
    Hope this helps
    Bill Kline
    The MacFanatic

  • Lots of questions about PowerBook 5300

    Hello.
    everybody knows that Apple computers are the best machines.
    At home i've got an iMac 21' and old PowerBook 5300.
    i've got some problems with the last one.
    First - when i turn on it i see a smiling Mac, but after Mac is sad and there is two mistakes (i think so) 0000000F and 00007FFF.
    i try to install a sistem on it mac os 7.5. but have some problms with it.
    i find it here   http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/System/Older_System/System_7.5_Version_7.5.3/   but what to do with it i can't understand, even using some topics on apple site.
    on the Mac's HDD i found folders with images of 7.5 but i dont know how o make a flopy disc of it.
    I really want to regenerate him and i hope you can help to me with this problems.

    Because the PowerBook 5300 does not have a CD-ROM drive, it can be more difficult to install the system software on the hard drive.  With only a floppy drive, you need to find a Mac OS installer on floppy disks having the capability to boot the computer.  Unlike an Apple retail boxed OS 7.5.3 installer set on floppy disks which can boot the computer while you install the software, the 19-part Mac OS 7.5.3 download that you found is used to create 19 floppy disks to install the OS, but it cannot boot the computer.  Each of the 19 segments will fit on a Mac-formatted 1.44 MB floppy disk, and then you insert each of the floppy disks to copy all segments to the computer's hard drive.  Double-clicking the 1st partial file segment will create a folder with the Mac installer program, but while you are doing this, the hard drive must already have a working OS installed on it, to run the computer.  I don't know where you live, but you might check for a Mac User Group in your area and see if they have an older Mac OS installer set on floppy disks.  The PowerBook 5300 can also run OS 7.5.5, 7.6, or 7.6.1, any of which do not require a lot of installed memory to run.

  • Problems installing OS X 10.3 on my PowerBook

    I have a 12'' Powerbook but lost my inatallation cd with os x 10.3! I bought a retail version of os x 10.3 but the powerbook won`t install. after booting from cd the installation stops by displaying the apple and hangs. i have to restart the powerbook then.
    i need os x 10.3 for my music programms. the apple support says, i am only able to install 10.3 with the installation cd which came with the powerbook! why? i bought a retail version and it won`t install!
    does anybody have a installation cd of os x 10.3 for a powerbook 12'' for me? i really need it!
    thank you!
    Greethings from Heidelberg (germany)
    kai

    Hello,
    Welcome to the Apple Discussions!!!
    Do the discs you are using to install look like these:
    Full Retail Install Discs
    or do they look like these:
    OEM Discs
    If they are the black discs in the first link, the system build may be earlier than what shipped with your Powerbook. For example, my PowerBook shipped with OS 10.3.7, so I would not be able to load 10.3.5 on it.
    If they are the grey discs, they may be for a computer other than your PowerBook (i.e. eMac, iMac). These types of discs generally wreak havoc with computers that they were not designed for.
    If you try calling 1-800-MY-APPLE, you may be able to get a set of replacement discs for your PowerBook for a reasonable price.
    HTH
    Jeff

  • How to Create a New Admin Account and Change Original to Standard Account?

    I have a single user admin account that I set up when I got my PowerBook. Now I want to have two accounts with the new one being the admin account. This way I can leave most of the data files, email accounts, etc. with the old account and use the new one for personal data and admininistration. Then I could give out the password for the original account without fear that a user could change permissions and get access to the new account with the personal data. Can I create a new admin account and then change the original account to "Standard" instead of "admin"? What problems will this create?
    PowerBook G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

    i2:
    Not sure if you are asking if or how. Templeton has
    answered if. Here's how.
    Apple Menu > System Prefs > Accounts. Click on the +
    under User Options to create new account. Go to
    Security and check box at bottom to make account
    admin. You can take care of the other items, picture
    etc, login options etc.
    To make the other account Standard select the
    account, go to Security and deselect box "Allow User
    to Administer".
    Hope this answers your questions.
    Good luck.
    cornelius
    PismoG4 550,
    100GB 5400 Toshiba internal, 1 GB RAM; Pismo 500 OS
    (10.4.4)   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   Beige G3 OS
    8.6
    Thanks, I'm tying to find out if I will run into problems, such as not being able to use the new admin account to change permissions in the old.

  • How do I find the symbol for the Japanese Yen?

    I'm trying to add the Japanese Yen symbol to a document written in English. I have a US purchased MAC set to English.
    G5 and Powerbook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

    Option/alt + y. ¥
    Keyboard Viewer (activate in system prefs/international/input menu) lets you see which key does what.

  • Striped RAID not recognized by Macbook Pro

    I have a pair of external firewire 250GB drives that I had configured into a striped RAID set on my Powerbook Titanium. I recently purchased a Macbook Pro. When I plug the drives into the new machine, they are not recognized and the array (and I use the term loosely since it only refers to a pair of drives!) will not mount. When I launch DIsk Utility, the drives appear in the list and are offline. I cannot find a way to bring the thing online.
    When I created the RAID, I used Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. The disk set still works fine on my Powerbook and checks out fine with Disk Utility on that machine.
    Does anybody have any suggestions on how to use my striped set on my new machine?

    Hi, P. J.
    Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you, but — seeing as how your question has gone unanswered — I thought I'd offer the following hypothesis: I suspect it may have something to do with the different partitioning schemes used by PPC and Intel-based Macs.
    Theoretically, "Any Macintosh computer running Mac OS X 10.4 and later can mount GPT-partitioned disks," per "Technical Note TN2166, "Secrets of the GPT." However, the RAID you created on your PPC-based Mac used the APM (Apple Partition Map) scheme.
    Perhaps all the bugs haven't been worked out, esp. concerning RAID. For example, there is a known issue that some Intel-based Macs cannot boot from RAID volumes.
    You may want to try your question on the MacBook Pro Discussion to see if others with your same Mac have had better luck. I'd also suggest providing more details (manufacturer, make, model, etc.) of the FireWire drives you've used in the RAID. If both are from the same manufacturer, then you might also want to check with the manufacturer to see if they've had similar reports.
    One option, albeit a good bit of work, would be to backup the contents of the RAID to another drive, then recreate the RAID on your Intel-based Mac, restore the data, and see if that works on both your PPC- and Intel-based Macs.
    Good luck!
    Dr. Smoke
    Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

  • Connecting to any TV always letterboxed - why?

    It seems that when I connect to a TV set, whether it's through the DVI (My sony TV has a DVI input), s-video, or RCA, the image is alway letterboxed, so stuff that should play full screen has black bars on the top and sides, making the image smaller. Letterboxed video is double letterboxed, making it even smaller. This happens on any TV set. My boss's 15" Powerbook does not do this.
    Is this a common 12" PB problem? I've fooled around with all the external monitor settings, and nothing seems to fix it. It's a little annoying, as I like to play alot of things off the computer, and I don't have the budget for a Mac Mini right now.

    Kenneth - I think we have the same problem but I don't think Emperor understands it. At least for me my TV is 16:9 and I would like to be able to fill up the screen without stretching the image. The TV is 1366 X 768 but that choice is not available when detecting and setting up the "second display". (Nor anything in that exact ratio). No matter what I pick there are reversed letterbox lines on the sides of the TV (unless I stretch the image to fill the TV with the remote).
    So like Kenneth when I watch a "letterboxed" movie, instead of filling the screen it gets letterboxed within the reverse letterbox and is pretty little. Get it? Can the 12 inch powerbook just not support a 16:9 monitor? Looks like the new minis can (based on photos I have seen of it driving a TV).
    Thanks!

  • 10.5 and Canon ImageRunner 6870U: No Landscape Printing!

    A while back (see here), I got my office's Canon ImageRunner 6870U all set up to run on my PowerBook G4 running Tiger. Recently, I got a new computer (MacBook Pro) running 10.5.4, and set up the ImageRunner, and all seemed great.
    Until I wanted to print in Landscape.
    The Print Preview appears to work correctly. When I print to PDF, it generates a landscape-oriented page and everything looks right. But when I send to the printer, it seems to have put the page into landscape orientation, but printed it onto the page in portrait orientation (i.e., there's a big top and bottom margin, and the right side of the page is cut off). I looked on the ImageRunner itself, which can display a preview of the page to be printed, and it displays exactly what it eventually prints (the wrong orientation), which implies to me that it's a problem on the Mac end.
    The problem was previously reported by another person back in January at MacOSXHints. However, it sounds like they were printing (to a different iR model) using SMB, which I'm not (I'm using Canon IP). In any case, it doesn't seem like the problem was resolved for them.
    Any ideas? Any help would be much appreciated!
    --Mike

    Based on John's reply about the Page Setup > Orientation not being saved within a preset, which I totally agree with, I was wondering how your preset would be showing the document preview in the correct orientation. The only thing I can conclude is that the file must have been created as a landscape document, because the preset will not influence the orientation if this is set via Page Setup. So how is your landscape document printing on portrait paper?
    I did some testing with our iRC6870. I created a landscape document in Word and then saved it as a pdf. I then opened the pdf in Preview, which showed the document in landscape orientation, and printed it using a preset that have stapling and two-sided set. This document printed fine.
    I then took the same document, and chose to print it to a cassette that had the paper loaded as A4R. This was the only way I could get the landscape document to print the same as your result, with the large border on the top and bottom.
    So, could the presets also have a tray selection saved, and this tray currently has the paper loaded in a rotated (short-edge feed) orientation?
    If this is not the case, you also mentioned that you can preview the document on the 6870, which shows the output you are getting. Since there is no ability for the Canon board to do this, then I believe you do have the imagePASS-G1 print controller, as this RIP does give you previews of printed jobs. I also believe that you may be able to select orientation via the Printer Features and this was set in the preset. Can you confirm this please.
    PaHu
    Message was edited by: PAHU

  • Spinning beachball on login/authentication, but only when connected

    Since installing a new router (Linksys WRTP54G) and Airport Express (in WDS mode), I get the spinning beachball of death when logging in after sleep, switching users, or authenticating on a wireless iBook G4 (OS X.3.9). I've waited for many minutes, but the beachball doesn't go away. If I turn off Airport, everything works fine. I don't have this problem on my other wireless laptop (Powerbook G4).
    Below is an excerpt from the iBook system log in case it's helpful.
    Thanks in advance for any help.
    Thad
    iBook system log excerpt:
    Jun 11 09:39:30 localhost /Applications/Utilities/Keychain Access.app/Contents/MacOS/Keychain Access: Couldn't create temp file /Library/Keychains/~asRN8RnnIF6YGvNL: Permission denied
    Jun 11 09:40:15 localhost kernel: AirPort: Link DOWN (Client disAssoc 0)
    Jun 11 09:40:19 localhost configd[84]: executing /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/Kicker.bundle/Contents/Resources/set-hostna me
    Jun 11 09:40:19 localhost configd[84]: posting notification com.apple.system.config.network_change
    Jun 11 09:40:19 localhost mach_init[2]: Server 0 in bootstrap d03 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd": exited as a result of signal 1 [pid 911]
    Jun 11 09:40:19 localhost lookupd[936]: lookupd (version 324.13) starting - Sun Jun 11 09:40:19 2006
    Jun 11 09:40:20 localhost set-hostname[941]: setting hostname to mac-tpolk07.local
    Jun 11 09:40:27 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/SecurityAgent: Kerberos authentication result:220; ERR (stderr:Cannot resolve network address for KDC in requested realm (error=-1765328164) )
    Jun 11 09:40:28 localhost KeyAccess: local login
    Jun 11 09:40:30 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/SecurityAgent: Kerberos authentication result:220; ERR (stderr:Cannot resolve network address for KDC in requested realm (error=-1765328164) )
    Jun 11 09:40:30 localhost /etc/login.hook[960]: Not using iHook.
    Jun 11 09:40:30 localhost KeyAccess: local login
    Jun 11 09:40:30 localhost LoginHook: Executing /etc/hooks/LI80.afshomelinks...
    Jun 11 09:40:30 localhost LoginHook: Executing /etc/hooks/LI99.email_config...
    Jun 11 09:40:33 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting netOctopus Agent
    Jun 11 09:40:35 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/ARD Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARD Agent: ******Launched Agent******
    Jun 11 09:40:51 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/ARD Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARD Agent: ******Launched Agent******
    Jun 11 09:40:55 localhost /etc/logout.hook[1013]: Not using iHook.
    Jun 11 09:40:55 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting netOctopus Agent
    Jun 11 09:40:57 localhost KeyAccess: local login
    Jun 11 09:40:59 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/ARD Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARD Agent: ******Launched Agent******
    Jun 11 09:41:01 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting netOctopus Agent
    Jun 11 09:41:04 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/SecurityAgent: Kerberos authentication result:220; ERR (stderr:Cannot resolve network address for KDC in requested realm (error=-1765328164) )
    Jun 11 09:41:05 localhost KeyAccess: local login
    Jun 11 09:41:05 localhost KeyAccess: local login
    Jun 11 09:41:08 localhost /System/Library/CoreServices/ARD Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARD Agent: ******Launched Agent******
    Jun 11 09:41:09 localhost ConsoleMessage: Starting netOctopus Agent
    Jun 11 09:41:10 localhost kernel: AirPort: Link Active: "Polk Household" - 00145171117d - chan 11
    Jun 11 09:41:12 localhost configd[84]: executing /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/Kicker.bundle/Contents/Resources/set-hostna me
    Jun 11 09:41:12 localhost configd[84]: posting notification com.apple.system.config.network_change
    Jun 11 09:41:12 localhost mach_init[2]: Server 0 in bootstrap d03 uid 0: "/usr/sbin/lookupd": exited as a result of signal 1 [pid 936]
    Jun 11 09:41:13 localhost lookupd[1056]: lookupd (version 324.13) starting - Sun Jun 11 09:41:13 2006
    Jun 11 09:41:14 localhost set-hostname[1061]: setting hostname to mac-tpolk07
    iBook/Powerbook G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   Linksys WRTP54G router, Airport Express

    You might have to update your Airports Firmware and
    your OSX.
    Thanks for the suggestion. I haven't updated my OS, but I did update the Airport Express firmware (to v6.3). Unfortunately, I still get the spinning beach ball.
    Any other thoughts?

Maybe you are looking for