Pismo Powerbook G3 - won't start! Fan just sounds like a vaccume cleanener!

Question

Hi everyone,
I was running Photoshop under OS 9 for the first time today (Sunday April 30th 2006) when a severe error occured.
When the battery OR the A/C are plugged in, it doesn't startup or respond - only the vaccume-cleaner like fan kicks up again.
::: How this occured today:
It was sitting, plugged in with an open .jpg image of my mother and I onscreen. The powerbook was alone on a table, plugged into the wall.
I sat down listening to my iPod, and without having touched it, watched the screen glitch out (turn a shade of green, and tile in 3" wide vertical bands). Numerous strangled and frantic beeping sounds emit from the speakers, and the internal fan (on the left side) continually rev up and down. The screen went black after about 10 seconds of this - and would not respond to anything until I unplugged it and pulled the battery.
I've only had this powerbook for two weeks - is there any reason or solution for this issue?
Thanks in advance everyone!
-Blayne Scott
Peterborough, Ontario

Answer 1

Blayne,
Does this powerbook have some kind of a return policy from the buyer? If so, you may want to consider it.
As Tom suggested, you may want to try reseating the microprocessor card, but first...
- A partitioned HD would not cause this issue.
- The white screen with black text is either a kernal panic in OSX or it has for some reason booted into Open Firmware, then quickly shut down or crashed.
I would first try this:
- remove the main battery, disconnect the power adapter, remove the DVD-ROM drive from the media bay and disconnect all peripherals; be sure the display is vertical or the 'book will want to tip backwards;
- reset the power manager; press the reset button for 10 seconds on the back panel;
- now connect just the power adapter and try starting.
If you get the startup chime with the white screen/black text/quit as before, make sure the 'book is shut down (just unplug the power adapter, then reconnect it), then reset the PRAM. Assuming the 'book will start as before with a startup chime, you may be able to reset the PRAM. Press/hold the four keys for two startup chimes, then release.
If no change in the behavior, I would follow Tom's advice and reseat the microprocessor card. Here's what to do:
Remove all power > lift off the keyboard (do not disconnect, just lay it face down on the palm rest) > remove the aluminum heat shield > remove the top memory module > press down •VERY• hard on the right side of the microprocessor card next to the HD and closest to the palm rest. Do not be afraid to press hard.
Now, before any reassembly, plug in the power adapter, wait a few seconds, then press the power button. If it starts, allow it to finish booting, then press/hold the power button until it shuts down. Reinstall the top memory module and try the same startup process.
There are many other troubleshooting suggestions but let's see what you get to this point.
This link shows the aluminum heat shield to remove and the microprocessor card with the memory module in the top slot. If you enlarge the bottom picture, you can see the module to remove. Do not remove components than I have not mentioned...the takeapart guide describes a full disassembly.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/6.7.2.html
Here is the whole guide:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/6.0.0.html
Reset power manager:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449
Reset PRAM:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238