PowerBook 1400 Ethernet Expansion Card

I was wanting to put an ethernet card in my old PowerBook 1400c to make it communicable with the new world. The only thing is that I'm not sure what to get and where I could get one. Any suggestions on a PCMCIA Cars that will work with Mac OS 8 will do fine too. Could anyone give suggestions of where and what to get? Thanks!

Here are some links to possible suppliers. It is becoming harder to find stuff fot these older PowerBooks.
Good Luck.
http://www.wegenermedia.com/
http://noappleistoooldforus.com/
http://lowendmac.com/lists/powerbooks.shtml
http://myoldmac.net/SELL/applemacintosh-powerbook.php

Similar Messages

Powerbook 1400 cs pc card slot + battery

they don't work!
i need help

You may look at(troubleshooting):
http://www.whoopis.com/computer_repair/#portable
for both your PB's pdf service manuals.
Also on
http://www.info.apple.com/support/manuals.legacy.html
for Powerbooks Troubleshooting Manual
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50595
and more manuals

PowerBook 1400 and PCMCIA Ethernet card

I have some problems to find out list of supported PCMCIA Ethernet cards by MacOS 7 (B1-7.5.3) on PowerBook 1400. I would be very please to receive driver for 3Com OfficeConnect 572B what I own. Is it available?
regards,

Hi,
A quick Google search indicates that 3Com XJAEM3336 Mac drivers were available for at least some PowerBook computers. However, it is unclear to me whether the files here are needed, appropriate or sufficient in your case. Perhaps you could look further into this.
If you cannot locate a suitable Ethernet PC Card with Mac drivers, another solution could possibly be to use a 16-bit wireless card (typically, 802.11b speed and WEP security). See, for example, this web page.
Jan

Can I convert a PB 1400's PC card port to a ethernet port for file sharing?

My plan here is to connect a PowerBook 1400cs/133 running OS 8.6 to an iBook G4 running OS 10.4 by means of an ethernet crossover cable, and move my important files (ClarisWorks 4.0 docs and games mostly) to the new computer. But the PB 1400 has no ethernet port! Is there something I can put in the PC card slot that will convert it to an ethernet port?

jpl, Denis, here's my setup:
The PB 1400 is connected to the iBook via a Farallon EtherWave/EtherMac Ethernet PC Card (with a blue arrow, PCMCIA 2.1, PC Card Standard). I have the Farallon software installed and the Farallon extension turned on. A "Farallon EN Card" icon appears on my desktop, and the little light on the cord where it connects to the card is green. I used to use the card to connect to the internet back in the day when the 1400 was my primary computer, so I'm confident it works.
The PB 1400 (name: Ben's PowerBook 1400): AppleTalk, configured to connect via alternate ethernet. File sharing, on. TCP/IP, connected via AppleTalk (Mac IP). I've tried configuring that both "Using Mac IP server" and manually by entering in the iBook's IP address and router address (the 1400 is not connected to the internet). As far as I can tell, Users/Groups is configured; it has "Ben" as "user" and "Guest" as "guest user."
The iBook (name: Ben's iBook G4) is set up basically identical to the way jpl describes his iMac above. Like his, the services panel of sharing on the iBook says "Other Macintosh users can access your computer at afp://x.x.x.6." I also manually entered the iBook's IP address, subnet mask, and router. Under my shared location, under Built-in Ethernet, TCP/IP is configured and AppleTalk is active.
Still, file sharing is not working. When I try to access the iBook from the 1400, I go to the Chooser, click the AppleShare icon, and "Ben's iBook G4" in the file server window. When I select it and click OK, I go to a screen to enter my name (Ben) and password as a registered user. I'm not sure if the password it wants is the file sharing password I set up for the 1400 or the administrator password for the iBook, so I tried them both. I also tried connecting as a "guest." In all cases, after I hit the "Connect" button, I got the error message "The connection to this server has been unexpectedly broken."
No luck going the opposite direction either. When I go to Go: Connect to Server: Browse on the iBook, "Ben's PowerBook 1400" appears in the Network area, but when I select it and hit the "connect" button, I get this error message: "The file server uses an incompatible version of the AFP protocol. You cannot connect to it."

How to connect Powerbook 1400 to macbook with Gigabit ethernet

I have a wonderful Powerbook 1400, system 8.6, no cd drive only floppies 2 PCMCIA card slots (which may be both not working, a SCSI HDI-30 ethernet slot.
How can I recover the date on this computer, as i just realised after buying a new Macbook dual core that it has a Gigbit ethernet which is a different slot.
Can anyone help?
thanks, Maria

Maria,
I also still have my 1400; it's in beautiful shape but I never use it anymore.
Since the 1400 did not come with Ethernet or modem, you had to add them via a PCMCIA PC card or install internally an Ethernet card (no internal modem card). I believe there is also a SCSI > Ethernet adapter but this is all more work than necessary. None of the ports on the 1400 are compatible with the MacBook.
I think by far the easiest method for retrieving data is to buy a PC Card Adapter (this fits into the PCMCIA card slot) for $10, then buy a small flash memory card. After you put the memory card in the PC Card Adapter and the Adapter into the card slot, the flash memory card mounts on the desktop as just another "HD" and you drag-copy the files to the "HD". There is no software to install.
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Default.aspx?CatID=1139
However, you will also need a USB card reader for the MacBook. Possibly you know someone with a card reader and they could burn a CD for you.
You could also use your 1400's floppy drive to copy data, then buy a USB floppy drive for your MacBook, but if you have a lot of files, this is cumbersome.
You can buy a used Ethernet PC card but you require the correct Ethernet software plus it may be difficult to get file sharing working with the MacBook, not because your MacBook has Gigabit, but OS 8.6 and Tiger have a difficult time talking to each other.
Here is a similar question:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=673947&tstart=0
Message was edited by: jpl

Powerbook 1400 do any wireless PC cards work with it?

Hi I have a Powerbook 1400 (most of you know that by now!) anyway I just got it more RAM (it now has a total of 48MB) and installed OS 9.1. Ive been seeing wireless PC Cards on eBay real cheap for only 10 bucks Buy it Now. Will these cards work with this powerbook? And is it true that the PB 1400 only supports 16bit PC cards?
Thanks

Apple Rules
Yes. It is true that the 1400s are 16-bit NuBus machines. Internally, they lack any means of 32-bit translation, and it cannot be added. Their only means of 'wireless' communication is through the IR port, and that is not easily adapted to your purpose. They are capable of ethernet 'wired' communication through an internal NIC, or a NIC PC card in a PCMCIA slot. And that is it.
Apple IIe; 68K: 11DT + 4PB; PPC: 5DT + 3PB; G3: 6DT System 6.0.8 to OS 10.4.x

Powerbook 1400 PC Card Compact Flash

I'm hoping to get a Compact Flash PC Card adapter and 1.0 GB CF card for my 1400.
Here are my questions:
1. Is there any types of restrictions on the PC Card (e.g. 16bit)? Where is the best place to find a cheap PC Card?
2. Can the system be bootable from the CF card?
Justin

Justin,
Is there any types of restrictions on the PC Card (e.g. 16bit)?
Yes, it will have to be a 16-bit model, but that is not a problem with a normal PC Card adapter (e.g. from SanDisk). The adapter can be used directly in your PowerBook 1400, without any driver software.
Can the system be bootable from the CF card?
Yes, provided that the CF card has been reformatted to Mac (this can be done via Drive Setup 1.7.3, or by inserting the adapter/card after the PowerBook has been started with Extensions Off). The card will have to contain a valid system folder. It is possible to bypass the internal hard disk by pressing Command (Apple) + Option (Alt) + Shift + Delete (Backspace) immediately after the startup sound.
Jan

Wireless internet card for powerbook 1400

Can anyone recommend a wireless PC card for the Powerbook 1400? (I know...an anchient machine but I want to throw it in the kitchen for looking up recipes and other light futy stuff.) I think it needs to be a PCMCIA card or something like that. Thanks.

Richard,
You can run an 802.11b 11Mbps PC card on the 1400 with the correct wireless drivers and this is dependent on which version OS you have installed on the 1400. The card you want is the WaveLAN or Orinoco wireless PC card. And if your 1400 were running OS 9.1, you could use Apple's AirPort 1.2 software.
Here is a more extensive guide to your wireless setup:
http://www.penmachine.com/techie/airport1400.html

Powerbook 1400 info please!

Hello,
After just yesterday buying a new logicboard for my PB 1400 and installing it (since the old one wouldnt charge or run the batteries) I have decided to do some more for this PB and have a few questions (I guess I can call this thread Powerbook upgrade questions Version 2 since these questions are new and not asked in the previous version)
1.) Where can I get Powerbook 1400 RAM VERY CHEAP? (Ive checked eBay but there to expensive)
2.) There is this wierd problem with the power management whenever I charge the battery it works fine off it but then when it gets down to level 6 or level 5 from level 8 it jumps down to level 3 or below and says that your powerbook is running on reserve power. why? Also when I put it on charge it will start jumping up from a level 1 to a level 3 or 4 and then in 20 mins or before be full.
3.) How do I reinstall OS 9 with only 24 MB of RAM?
4.) This is a very important question that Im very suprised hasnt ever been asked here before. How do you use CD-RW disks which I burn from my iMac on my PB 1400 8x CD-ROM drive? It run CD-R disks fine except when I try to listen to music off a disk it will sometimes in the middle of the song just stop and go back to the beginning of the disk as if I hit the stop button on Apple CD Player.
4.) Did they ever make a G4 processor upgrade card?
5.) What are the benifits of upgrading to a G3 card?
6.) Everytime I attempt to play a Quicktime movie in QT 6.0.3 it will either completly freeze up or go very slow. Why?
7.) Where can I get a new 2005-2006 (or for time travlers 2006+) made battery for this old PB? I heard there are some companies that still make them. Is this true?
8.) On a scale of 1-10 in how fast this Powerbook will be with maxed out RAM and an white iBook G3 (not clamshell) is a 7 what would this pb be?
9.) Can I buy a book cover with the lightup white Apple logo in the middle like on the iBook and the Powerbook G3+?
10.) How can I tell how much VRAM is installed?
11.) How much VRAM can be installed?
12.) How do I use a USB printer with my PB 1400 (I know it dont support USB but what about through a wired or wireless network)?
13.) I ordered a Global Village pc card which runs at 10Base-T. Whats the main difference between the 10Base-T and 100Base-T?
14.) How long does the screen last?
15.) How do I get the screen up to more then 1000 colors?
16.) Are there DVD-ROM drives for the PB 1400?
17.) Are there internal CD burners for the PB 1400?
18.) Are there external CD-Burners for the PB 1400?
19.) What will it be compared to my iMac DV 400MHZ running OS X 10.4.6?
20.) What will it be compared to my PM 8600 300MHZ running OS 9.2.2?
21.) Now I know everyone will say "YOU CANT INSTALL OS X ON A PB 1400" but I heard that you can install the original OS X. How?
22.) Will it ever be possible to install OS X 10.2 or up?
23.) Do companies still make accesories for the PB 1400 or hardware components (like a G4 processor)?
24.) Where can I get an internal ethernet card?
25.) What kind of wireless card will I need to conect to my wireless network?
26.) How do I make the IR port and IRDA complient port?
Thankyou for reading and responding and happy 4 of July holiday for those of you who celebrate it!
P.S. You dont have to answer them all just answer the ones you know. Thanks again and be on the lookout for Version 3 in early December or before!!

Apple Rules
In order:
1) Not in many places. It's nearly a decade since RAM card producers will have had any incentive to offer cards. Most of the larger-value expansion cards will have found permanent homes, and do not change hands cheaply even when they do change hands. Small cards, even when they are cheap, are not much use.
2) You describe the classic symptoms of a failing battery. Its storage capacity is now small. The battery is rapidly charged and rapidly exhausted because only a portion of the original capacity is accessible. The rest of the battery just makes up package weight. The cure is a new, new battery, as opposed to new, old stock, or an old, old corpse. Good luck in finding or affording a new, new battery.
3) With only 24MB of RAM (base 16? expansion 8?) you are faced with using virtual memory, which will carry the penalty of slower processing as data are swapped to and from the HDD. However, OS 8.6 is far better suited to the 1400. Even that OS will need that you use VM when only 24MB of physical RAM is present.
4.1) The 1400 was supplied with a 6x, 8x or 12x CD-ROM to read CD-R discs. The world of CD-ROM has continued to 'develop', but the 1400 has not changed to keep up. With CD-R (data or audio) blanks as cheap as chips, there is little point in challenging older Macs with CD-RW discs, and a challenge it is. The challenge is something to avoid, because it is unlikely to be overcome.
4.2) The architecture of the 1400s is 16-bit NuBus. Using a 128-bit 3-gigaflop supercomputer with a subprocessor ('velocity engine') that can process up to eight floating point calculations per cycle, the G4 processor, in a board designed for NuBus would have been akin to putting lead boots on a sprinter and expecting him to sprint up a sandhill. It was sad enough to put G4 processors on G3 boards, as happened to the initial 400MHz G4 model.
5) The processor will run faster, and, perhaps, more efficiently. There may be enlarged cache memory. The data path between processor and cache may be fast. Everything else will be as original. Instead of a pint a minute through a small-bore tube, the processor will be trying to shove a gallon (or more) a minute through the same drinking-straw. There will be an observable and worthwhile lift in total performance, but a 466MHz processor will not produce a 14x lift in benchmarked performance, because the drinking-straw is inelastic. And 14x the sytem bus speed is bordering on ridiculous. (Says he who uses 233 and 400MHz upgrades in 1400s.)
6) At this point I shall use Father William's riposte: "I have answered six questions, and that is enough". There is a WWW, and there are books, magazines and libraries, and you will retain what has been written for you before much better if you discover it for yourself.
Apple IIe; 15 x 68K; 7 x PPC; 5 x G3 System 6.0.8 to OS 10.4.x

File Sharing between Snow Leopard MacBook Pro and Mac OS 8.6 Powerbook 1400

well ok, for some this might sound ridicule. Why should I still be using a 13 year old PowerBook. Let me tell you, this is writing/typing heaven, Zen-like; no distractions at all, no twitter, no internet (although possible), no emails just pure you and your text and if you spin down the HDD, absolute silence. as said before pure Zen writing heaven. and on top of that you're typing on the best keyboard ever on a laptop.
As you might see I love my vintage masterpiece of a laptop and use it on a regular basis. Just one Problem.
Since I Installed Snow Leopard on my MacBook Pro 17" I just haven't been able to establish a connection between the two machines.
I have to admit, I'm not that versed with OS 8.6 but with 10.5 I had absolutely no problems accessing the shared folders on my MacBook Pro and vice versa.
My first thought was to activate Appletalk on the ethernet on my Macbook, which I failed to find anywhere. The Apple Discussions Forums revealed that Appletalk has been dropped with the introduction of Snow Leopard but all the entries where regarding printing issues with shared printers, I didn't find anything about actual file sharing and thus did not get any clues how to share files between my two machines.
My PowerBook 1400cs/166 runs on 8.6 and I use a Global Village Platinum PCMCIA card (modem and Ethernet combi card). this setup worked perfectly with 10.5 but I have not been able to make establish a connection since running 10.6 on my MBP.
I am really desperate since I heavily depend on being able to exchange files between those two machines through an ethernet connection.
So I kindly ask anyone who might be able to help me to please consider posting any solutions or at least ideas which could help me with my problem. I really would greatly appreciate any effort whatsoever.
Thank you very much for your time.
EDIT:
What I forgot to mention: strangely enough, when I enable Internet Sharing on my MacBook Pro (through Airport) to Ethernet, my PowerBook 1400 can connect to the internet without any problems.
Message was edited by: Apolloss

First of all let me thank you very much. It actually works (partially).
There seems to be a problem though. While I can connect perfectly from my MBP 10.6 to my PowerBook 1400, the other way round doesn't work.
My MBP does not show up in the Network browser of OS 8.6 but I could life with that.
The problem is that if I try to connect to my MBP from my PB1400 by entering the IP directly a alert message appears reading that the "User Authentication Method required by this server can't be found, please check the AppleShare folder in the Extensions folder and try again".
Do you have any clues what I'm doing wrong or where the problem may lie?
PS.
Even if you may not be able to further help me with this problem, I ow you a great deal of gratitude and am very thankful for your help so far. At least I can exchange files between the two machines and that's what I needed in the first place.

Powerbook 520 RAM work in a Powerbook 1400?

hi,
After reading both the Powerbook 1400 and the Powerbook 520 Technical information manuals it says that they both use the same type of RAM (low power DRAM). My Powerbook 1400 has 24MB of RAM and my Powerbook 520 has I think 12MB of RAM. Can I add those 12MB of RAM to my Powerbook 1400?
Thanks

Apple Rules
From any practical vantage point, no. The PB500 expansion cards are a different size (wider than the space available in the 1400, and not stackable), and have different connectors from PB1400 cards and connectors. That both kinds of card use low-power DRAM is the only similarity.
PB500 series 'Books use PSRAM. PB1400s use TSOP lowprofile RAM chips.

Powerbook 1400 Mac OS 8.0 (Newbie Questions)

I just got myself a powerbook 1400 to try out mac OS and come across your site.. I have some questions about the battery reconditioning program.. I tried running it and some buzzing sound appeared while the screen turned fuzzy..Is it supposed to be like that?
Also, I have not been able to connect to the internet? I am using a "powerport platinum pro" pcmcia card. Do you know how I should set the settings to make it connect to my router (which is connected to a cable modem)?
Thanks..

prologik
The Extensions Manager is a control panel so see if it is in the Control Panels folder or the Control Panels (Disabled) folder. If in the Disabled, drag it to the "active" control Panels folder. The Extensions Manager is actually an application and should always appear under Apple > Control Panels even if all extensions and control panels are turned off. Does it now appear correctly?
The EM Extension enables a startup feature...press the space bar as starting, the Extensions Manager should open. You can then make changes in the Extensions Manager without restarting. (I have not had good luck with it...sometimes it works or occasionally causes a freeze so I never used it.)
I would try these steps (remove the PC card first):
1. Go to the System Folder > Preferences folder and drag these items to the Trash (you may not have all of these):
AppleShare Prefs
AppleTalk Prefs
Internet Prefs
Location Manager Prefs
TCP/IP Prefs
You will not be able to empty the Trash until you have restarted. New pref files are created at startup or when the application or control panel is first used. I would not use the Internet Assistant; you only need to make a few settings and these can be done manually.
2. Open the Utilities folder and run Disk First Aid; if it finds a problem that it cannot repair, boot to your MacOS 8.x CD and run the Disk First Aid located on the CD.
3. Restart and press the shift key...this will prevent the control panels and extensions from loading. Keep an eye on the display...when you see 'Extensions Off' under the MacOS logo, release the shift key and immediately press the 'option + command(Apple)' keys and release when you see 'Do you wish to rebuild the desktop file?' Select yes, then restart after the powerbook finishes booting to the desktop. This will sometimes help after installing new software.
If you have everything turned on in the Extensions Manager and the PC card installed and connected to the router...
- set AppleTalk to Alternate Ethernet;
- set TCP/IP to Connect via: Ethernet and Configure: Using DHCP Server.
These are the settings I use because I only have an ADSL modem and my ISP provides all the other settings automatically. Since you are using a router, I cannot help, but possibly this tech article may help:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106877

Powerbook 1400 bus error (with extensions) error type 10 (without ext.)

i have a powerbook 1400. bus error (with extensions) error type 10 (without extensions)
no cd. floppy is dead
the computer i put os 9 on it was a friend's 3400 witch is dead. i will see if i can get his hd.
there are no pc cards in the slots and it has os9 so removing all the ram possable including the factory ram (i only have 16 mb noram in the expansion slot eather) it will not boot. (sad mac)
the 1400 is my favorite computer
I only have a dead pb 165 (no video only sad mac sounds) and a dell (i dont like pcs so i really need to get the 1400 working) and the dell has a very bad keyboard. it likes to repeat keys alot
powerbook 1400cs/117 Mac OS 9.0.x i want a newer mac

macintosh lover
It isn't what you believe that you need in the Mac so much as what its ROM tells the 1400 that it should have. Its software is integrated with what the Mac 'thinks' of itself as being, whether you use video mirroring, HDD spindown, persistent RAM Disk or any other feature that applies to PBs rather than to DTs. Why handicap the machine by omitting parts of its persona? It will be less stable, be given to unpredictable episodes of petit mal, and be downright unreliable as a result, especially if it also lacks the physical parts of its person that you mention. That is why it needs a System for its kind of PowerBook.
Grant has outlined the best method of getting a handle on the PB, which will be much aided by its having a working HDD, a functional trackpad and so on.
Apple IIe; 68K: 11DT + 4PB; PPC: 5DT + 3PB; G3: 6DT System 6.0.8 to OS 10.4.x

KT4 Ultra: conflict w/ expansion cards

This is my first post, so please be gentle. I recently built new PC for photo editing and want to keep this old KT4 Ultra computer for general usage right beside. Both are running Windows XP Home SP3.
My KT4 computer had HDD crash and after replacement and fresh istallation of XP I initially had following expansion cards inside:
USB Expansion card (w/ 4 USB ports) on Slot 2 (INT B#)
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC on Slot 3 (INT D#)
Terratec EWX 24/96 Sound Card on Slot 6 (INT C#)
Everything was OK until I wanted a LAN connection for sharing of files (mostly) and Internet (via cable modem) between these two. Instead of a broadband wired router I opted for a Gigabit Ethernet card installing it on slot 5 (INT B#).
USB Expansion card (w/ 4 USB ports) on Slot 2 (INT B#)
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC on Slot 3 (INT D#)
D-Link DGE-528T Gigabit Ethernet Adapter on Slot 5 (INT B#)
Terratec EWX 24/96 Sound Card on Slot 6 (INT C#)
Somehow didn't want to have it on slot 1, so close to video card. Unfortunately after this the sound card was dropped by the system, a yellow question mark in Device Manager.
Further I failed to instal my Bluetooth Dongle which I earlier had used succesfully for communication to my mobile phone. Now my Broadcom USB Bluetooth Device is put under Unknown in Device Manager.
I did experience problems with the sound card several years ago in this very same PC. That time I knew little about system and BIOS setting and had to use another PC for audio purposes (digitalizing of tapes and vinyl).
As reference I used the PCI Interrup Request Routing table, found on page 2-32 in KT4's manual. Funny thing is that Sandra XI tells now that my two Ethernet cards having both INT pin A# while by their slots they should be B# and D#. I don't have true understanding what this means though. In BIOS the PNP/PCI Configurations has all slot IRQs on Auto.
Is this conflict easily cured by re-positioning card(s) on other slot(s) or addressing IRQ settings manually, and if so how and in which order? Or should I remove all the cards and install them in certain order...?
I'm quite exhausted as I had some component issues with my new PC and now this KT4 once again rejects my sound card. Maybe I'm better off by installing it on my new PC, but then this failure with Bluetooth dongle, (which I put on the USB port of KT4, not on the USB exp. card.) Oh my, why can't sound card and ethernet card live together!?!
I would appreciate your help very highly.

Hope you get things like you want them!
Eh, made this in 2003, but I'm not sure if it isn't more confusing than anything else:
"The use and sharing of IRQs aren't mentioned in my MSI manual, (due to the APIC function I think), so I had to go to some ASUS manuals. As standards are standards, I believe things can't be to different. If someone has any addings or suggestions please come forward, so I can adjust the table.
*Please note that this is generally speaking and mainly for ASUS boards a few years old!
**Please note that you should not have any sharing with the IDE controller or similar!
***Please note that it is a good thing to have expansion PCI sound cards in slot 3!
****Please note that surprisingly enough it looks like PCI slot 2 would be free for any device, but AGP cards get hot and bigger so it is not a great idea.
IRQ sharing table
PCI 1 shares with PCI slot 5
2 shares with AGP and PCI slot 6, or sometimes with onboard IDE
3 shares not, or sometimes with onboard audio/modem
4 shares with onboard LAN
5 shares PCI slot 1
6 shares with AGP and PCI slot 5
AGP slot shares with PCI slots 5 and 6
USB 1 shares with USB 2, 3 and USB 2.0
2 shares with USB 1, 3 and USB 2.0
3 shares with USB 1, 2 and USB 2.0
USB 2.0 shares with USB 1, 2, and 3
Onboard audio/modemshares not, or sometimes with slot 3
Onboard LAN shares with PCI slot 4
Onboard IDE shares not, or sometimes with PCI slot 2 "
Normally it is best to let Windows or whatever OS you run do the job. Setting IRQ:s yourself is a (too) big assignment.

Wiping Hard Drive on PowerBook 1400 that won't boot from CD

A colleague has a PowerBook 1400 and would like to erase the hard disk drive. The problem is that I can't get another drive attached to the machine, Startup Disk crashes whenever I try to start it, and command-alt-shift-delete doesn't enable booting from the CD (the 1400 doesn't work with the C key on startup).
So, I can't get it to boot from the original media (which has OS 8.6, I think); I also tried booting from DBAN, but that didn't work.
I also can't get the installer on the original media to run. So I tried to create the Disk Tools disks using the original (CD) media, copying the folder to the desktop and then removing the CD and putting in the floppy drive, thinking that Disk Tools might very well have a formatting tool, but that failed, claiming that the image for Disk 1 is bad (I imagine it's not the image, but a problem with the computer).
We're not interested in getting the computer running, really (though it runs ok), just in wiping the HD. Any suggestions? Are the Disk Tool images something that Disk Utility on an OS X machine will recognize as a floppy disk image?

Well, I thought that wouldn't work. Guess what? It did. After zapping the PRAM, had no trouble booting into the CD. However, the disk tools didn't seem to include a secure wipe tool, so I finally ended up removing the hard drive and plugging that into my MacBook with a 2.5 in. USB enclosure and using Disk Utility to do a secure wipe, then putting the drive back in the machine and reinstalling OS 8.6.
In case anyone else is looking for a solution to this problem, to remove the drive: unplug the laptop, remove the battery, unscrew the three phillips screws on the edge of the battery slot, then the screw nearest the PCMCIA card slot, then remove the speaker grill, slide out the keyboard, unscrew the two screws at the top of the hard disk drive tray, separate the case slightly from the left front corner just enough to slip the hard drive ribbon out from underneath the top of the case, unplug the drive, then unscrew it from the drive tray.
Thank you all for your help.

PowerBook 1400 Ethernet Expansion Card

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