Apple Technical ProceduresPowerBook 140/170Section 7 International Troubleshootingo CONTENTS7.2 Introduction7.2 Startup Chords7.3 Display Characteristics7.3 Before You Start7.4 Things to Remember7.5 Symptom Chart7.5 How to Use the Symptom Chart7.5 Power Problems7.6 Video Problems7.8 Floppy Disk Drive Problems7.8 SCSI Hard Disk Drive Problems7.9 Peripheral Problems7.11 Internal Modem Problems7.12 Miscellaneous Problems7.13 Troubleshooting Flowcharts7.13 How to Use the Troubleshooting Flowcharts7.13 Before Beginning7.14 Troubleshooting Flowchart 17.15 Troubleshooting Flowchart 27.16 Battery Verification7.17 Adapter VerificationIMPORTANT: U.S. and international service strategies for PowerBook computers differ. U.S. domestic service providers should not use the information in this section; instead refer to Section 4, Troubleshooting. Note: Detailed instructions for underlined steps can be found in Section 2, Take-Apart or in Section 6, International Take-Apart. o INTRODUCTIONStartup Chords When you switch on the computer, the computer runs a series of self-tests. If any part of the self-test fails, a sequence of chords will sound. Normal Startup During a normal system startup, a single, soft chordSequence plays; then a disk icon appears on the screen. The disk icon will have a flashing question mark (if a startup disk is not found) or a smiling face (if a startup disk is found).Error Chords Two sets of chords (a startup chord and an error chord) will play when an error occurs during startup. Depending upon the type of failure, you will hear either a two-part error chord sequence (eight tones) or a shorter, four-tone error chord sequence.Refer to the list of failure areas below. The list includes a description of each error chord, the problem it indicates, and what to do to correct the problem.When a RAM failure occurs, you will hear a two-part error chord sequence (eight tones) after the startup chord. To correct the problem:1. Replace the RAM expansion card.2. If replacing the RAM expansion card does not work, replace the daughterboard.3. If you still hear the error chords at system startup, replace the motherboard.When a hardware failure occurs, you will hear a startup chord and the shorter, four-tone error chord sequence, with a brief pause between the two sequences. To correct the problem:1. Disconnect the hard disk drive SCSI cable and reboot the system. If the startup sequence is normal, replace the hard disk drive.2. Disconnect the floppy disk drive cable and reboot the system. If the startup sequence is normal, replace the floppy disk drive.3. If you still hear the error chords at system startup, replace the motherboard.Display PowerBook 140/170 uses one of two backlit flat-panel Characteristics liquid crystal display (LCD) technologies. PowerBook 140 uses the Film-compensated Supertwist Nematic (FSTN) display, and PowerBook 170 uses the transmissive active-matrix display. Characteristics An active-matrix display offers several benefits over an FSTN display: faster response time, better contrast, broader viewing angles, sharper image, and less sensitivity to environment. Excessive temperatures (exceeding the operating range 5°C40° C) may temporarily reduce FSTN display performance.Slight fuzzy afterimages, or ghosts, are often apparent on the FSTN display. Ghosts are the result of pixel crosstalkwhich occurs when pixels adjacent to "on" pixels do not shut off completely. Crosstalk can be minimized by adjusting the brightness and contrast, but crosstalk is inherent in the FSTN technology and cannot be eliminated. On the PowerBook 140, the user manually controls the screen contrast and brightness. The contrast control affects both display contrast and brightness. The brightness control affects the brightness of the backlight.On the PowerBook 170, screen contrast is factory set; no adjustment is necessary. The user manually controls the brightness level.Before Check the battery and power adapter before You Start beginning a troubleshooting procedure. A low battery, a bad battery, or a bad power adapter can mimic the symptoms of more-serious conditions.The parameter RAM battery does not support system RAM. Save RAM contents before removing the main battery. CAUTION: The power adapters on the Macintosh Portable and the PowerBook computers are not interchangeable. You will damage the computer if you try to use the power adapters interchangeably. Check connections on internal and external cabling and on option cards. Improperly connected cables and cards can produce symptoms of serious failures. If the correct version of system software is not present, install it and verify the failure before beginning troubleshooting. The PowerBook 140/170 requires system software 7.0.1 or later. Many times software causes problems that appear to be hardware related. Remove all option cards and disconnect external devices (printers, SCSI devices, additional ADB devices, and disk drives). Test the internal cables with known-good systems. The internal cables on the PowerBook 140/170 are small and fragile and may be the source of the problem. After the PowerBook 140/170 is fully operational, install and test each option card or peripheral. Install one device and test the system before adding another device. Repeat the install-and-test process until you have installed and tested all devices.Things to When running the Hard Disk Test diagnostic to testRemember the hard disk, be sure to operate the computer from the power adapter and do not select looping. Be sure to follow all electrostatic discharge precautions when working on the PowerBook 140/170. The notebooks are very sensitive to ESD. Refer to the You Oughta Know tab in Apple Service Technical Procedures for additional information. A low-power dialogue box appears when the power adapter is attached to the computer but not plugged into a power source. The battery desk accessory is a general indicator of the battery charge level. Use a voltmeter to determine the actual charge.o SYMPTOM CHARTHow to Use the To use the symptom chart, first find the symptom that Symptom Chart most nearly describes the problem; then perform the first corrective action on the solution list. If that corrective action does not fix the problem, go to the next action. If you replace a module and find that the problem remains, reinstall the original module before you continue.Power Problems Solutions The screen is blank; 1. Press the reset switch. computer doesn't 2. Connect the power adapter and try the computer respond again in three or four minutes.3. Try a known-good, charged main battery. If the computer now works, replace the main battery. 4. Verify that the interconnect board, daughterboard, and motherboard connections are secure.5. If the computer is in sleep mode, replace the keyboard.6. Replace the interconnect board.7. Replace the daughterboard.8. Replace the motherboard. After removing the 1. Replace the interconnect board. main battery, some 2 Replace the daughterboard. Control Panel 3. Replace the motherboard. settings are different Power adapter is 1. Verify that the charger is connected properly. plugged in and 2. Try a known-good main battery. If the battery now connected, but charges, replace the main battery. the battery DA 3. Try a known-good adapter. If the battery now does not indicate charges, replace the power adapter. the charger is 4. Verify that the battery thermistor cable connected connection is secure. 5. Replace the motherboard. A low-power 1. The battery needs recharging. Attach the power warning appears adapter. soon after starting 2. Make sure peripherals are low-power type. to use the computer 3. Reduce use of floppy or hard disk, modem, sound, backlight, or other power-consuming devices, or connect the power adapter. 4. Verify that the battery is good. 5. Verify that the power adapter is good. 6. Verify that the motherboard is charging the battery.Video Problems Solutions A pixel never If more than five pixels do not come on, replace the comes on display. A pixel is always Replace the display. switched on A row of pixels 1. Replace the display cable. never comes on 2. Replace the display.3. Replace the interconnect board.4. Replace the daughterboard. A very slight white This is normal for the FSTN screen in the line is always PowerBook 140. If the screen is active-matrix in the middle (PowerBook 170), replace the display. of the screen A partial or 1. Replace the display cable. complete row of 2. Replace the display. pixels is always on 3. Replace the interconnect board. 4. Replace the daughterboard. 5. Replace the motherboard. The display is 1. Adjust the screen contrast setting (on the very light or PowerBook 140 only). totally white 2. Verify that the display cable, inverter board, interconnect board, daughterboard, and motherboard connections are secure. 3. Replace the inverter board. 4. Replace the interconnect board. 5. Replace the display cable. 6. Replace the display. 7. Replace the daughterboard. 8. Replace the motherboard. The display This effect is normal for the FSTN screen in the shows rainbow PowerBook 140. colors from extreme side viewing angles No display, but the 1. Adjust the screen contrast setting (on the computer appears PowerBook 140 only) and the brightness setting. to be operating 2. Check the display cable, inverter board, correctly interconnect board, and daughterboard connections. 3. Replace the inverter board. 4. Replace the interconnect board. 5. Add shim to display cable. 6. Replace the display cable. 7. Replace the display. 8. Replace the daughterboard. 9. Replace the motherboard. Screen flickers; 1. Press right side of display bezel. If problem two black horizontal worsens or improves, add shim to display cable. lines appear; screen 2. Replace display cable. intermittently goes dark 3. Replace the display. 4. Replace the daughterboard. 5. Replace the motherboard. The image on This effect is normal for the FSTN screen in the the display is PowerBook 140. The effect can be diminished by not uniform adjusting the contrast and brightness. If the screen is active-matrix (PowerBook 170), replace the display. The display If the temperature is under 5° C or over 40° C, stopped working such a reaction is normal for the FSTN screen (or dimmed) in the PowerBook 140. but shows no problems now Backlight doesn't 1. Check display cable, inverter board, interconnect operate board, and daughterboard connections; check that none of the cables is pinched or severed. 2. Replace the inverter board. 3. Replace the inverter display cable. 4. Replace the interconnect board. 5. Add shim to display cable. 6. Replace the display cable. 7. Replace the display. 8. Replace the daughterboard. 9. Replace the motherboard. Screen suddenly The computer has gone into system sleep to goes blank conserve battery power.Floppy DiskDrive Problems Solutions Audio and video 1. Try a known-good floppy disk. present, but 2. Check the floppy disk drive cable connection. If it's internal drive secure, replace the floppy disk drive cable. does not operate 3. Replace the floppy disk drive. 4. Replace the daughterboard. 5. Replace the motherboard. The disk ejects 1. Try a known-good system disk. while booting; 2. Verify that the trackball or mouse button is not stuck. display shows Mac 3. Check the floppy disk drive cable connection. If it's icon with blinking "X" secure, replace the floppy disk drive cable. 4. Replace the floppy disk drive. 5. Replace the motherboard. Disk will not eject 1. Shut down the computer, press and hold the trackball or mouse button, and switch on the computer.2. Eject the disk manually by pushing an opened paper clip into the hole under the disk drive slot. 3. Check the floppy disk drive cable connection. If it's secure, replace the floppy disk drive cable.4. Replace the floppy disk drive.5. Replace the daughterboard.6. Replace the motherboard. Disk initialization 1. Verify that you are using the proper type of media. fails; read, write, 2. Try a known-good disk. copy error 3. Check the floppy disk drive cable connection. If it's secure, replace the floppy disk drive cable. 4. Replace the floppy disk drive. 5. Replace the daughterboard. 6. Replace the motherboard.SCSI Hard DiskDrive Problems Solutions Internal hard disk 1. Verify that external SCSI devices connected to will not operate the computer are disconnected.2. Verify that the internal SCSI hard drive cable is securely connected at both ends. 3. Use HD SC Setup to determine whether the computer recognizes the drive. If it does, try to reinitialize the drive.4. Replace the internal SCSI hard drive cable. 5. Replace the hard disk drive. 6. Replace the motherboard.PeripheralProblems Solutions After connecting 1. Switch on the external SCSI device before starting an external SCSI the computer. device, the computer 2. Verify that the external device is connected properly. no longer boots 3. Verify that the SCSI cable is terminated properly. 4. Verify that no two SCSI devices have the same device address. 5. Verify that the internal hard disk drive is good. 6. Use a known-good device to verify the external SCSI devices. 7. Replace the motherboard. Cursor does not 1. Press the reset switch. move when using 2. Check the cable connections between the trackball the trackball and the keyboard, the keyboard and the interconnect board, and the interconnect board and the daughterboard. 3. Connect a low-power mouse and try to move the curser. If the curser moves, try using the trackball and keyboard. 4. If the trackball does not move, replace the trackball. 5. If the keyboard does not move, replace the keyboard.6. Replace the interconnect board. 7. Replace the daughterboard.8. Replace the motherboard. Cursor intermittently 1. Clean the ball and internal rollers of the trackball. does not move or 2. Replace the trackball. moves erratically 3. Replace the keyboard.4. Replace the interconnect board.5. Replace the motherboard. Cursor moves, but 1. Check the cable connections between the trackball clicking the trackball and the keyboard, the keyboard and the interconnect button has no effect board, and the interconnect board and the daughterboard. 2. Replace the trackball. 3. Replace the keyboard.4. Replace the interconnect board. 5. Replace the daughterboard.6. Replace the motherboard. Cursor does not move 1. Check the mouse connection to the ADB port. when using a mouse 2. Press the reset switch.3. Clean the mouse ball and inside the mouse. 4. Replace the mouse. 5. Replace the motherboard.PeripheralProblems (continued) Solutions No response to any 1. Verify that the computer is on. key on the keyboard 2. If the screen is blank and you are trying to bring the computer out of system sleep, try resetting the power manager. 3. Check the keyboard connections to the interconnect board and the interconnect board connection to the daughterboard. 4. Replace the keyboard.5. Replace the interconnect board. 6. Replace the daughterboard. Known-good 1. Make sure the system software is 7.0.1 or later. ImageWriter, 2. Make sure the Chooser is set correctly. ImageWriter II, 3. Verify that the printer cable is securely attached. or LQ will not 4. Replace the printer cable.print 5. Replace the daughterboard. 6. Replace the motherboard. Known-good 1. Make sure the system software is 7.0.1 or later. LaserWriter 2. Make sure the Chooser is set correctly. will not print 3. Verify that all printer cabling is securely attached. 4. Replace the printer cable. 5. Try another printer. If that printer works, the computer is OK. Refer to the Networks tab in Apple Service Technical Procedures for further assistance.6. Replace the daughterboard. 7. Replace the motherboard. Device connected 1. Verify that External Modem is selected in the CDEV. to the external 2. Make sure the system software is 7.0.1 or later. modem port doesnt 3. Verify that all cabling is correctly and securely attached. work 4. Attach the device to a known-good computer.5. Replace the daughterboard. 6. Replace the motherboard. I/O devices are 1. Make sure the system software is 7.0.1 or later. unrecognized or 2. Verify that all cabling is correctly and securely garbage is transmitted attached. and/or received 3. If the device is a SCSI type, verify that it is properly terminated and has an individual address. 4. Verify that no two SCSI devices have the same device address. 5. Attach the device(s) to a known-good computer.6. Replace the daughterboard. 7. Replace the motherboard.Internal ModemProblems Solutions Internal modem 1. Try removing and reseating the modem board. options do not 2. Make sure the system software is 7.0.1 or later.appear in the CDEV 3. Replace the modem board. when the modem 4. Replace the motherboard. is installed Modem does not 1. Verify that the baud rate and data format settings of respond properly the communications application are compatible with to AT command the internal modem and the remote modem. set instructions 2. Verify that the phone cord is securely attached and working properly. 3. Try removing and reseating the modem board. 4. Make sure the system software is 7.0.1 or later. 5. Replace the modem board. A strange mix of 1. Verify that the baud rate and data format settings of characters appears the communications application are compatible with on the screen the internal modem and the remote modem. 2. Verify that the phone cord is securely attached and working properly. 3. Try removing and reseating the modem board. 4. Make sure the system software is 7.0.1 or later. 5. Replace the modem board. 6. Replace the daughterboard. 7. Replace the motherboard. Modem interferes 1. Try removing and reseating the modem board. with system sound 2. Replace the modem board. 3. Replace the interconnect board. 4. Replace the motherboard. Modem does not 1. If the system doesnt respond to an incoming call respond to incoming during sleep mode, verify that the When Phone call Rings option in the CDEV is selected. 2. Verify that the phone cord is working properly. 3. Replace the modem board. 4. Replace the motherboard. Modem has no 1. Verify that the Control Panel volume indicator is sound output set above 0. 2. Replace the modem board. 3. Replace the interconnect board. 4. Replace the motherboard.MiscellaneousProblems Solutions Screen goes blank The computer is going into system sleep to conserve and computer shuts battery power. If the computer is going into system down every few sleep too often, adjust the sleep delays in the minutes Control Panel or connect the power adapter. Some applications Computer is switching to system rest. If system seem to run slower rest is interfering with the operation of an after a few seconds application, connect the power adapter. The hard disk is The computer is powering down the hard disk or slow to respond, or going into system sleep to conserve battery power. the screen goes If the hard drive is shutting down or the system is blank too often going into system sleep too often, adjust the sleep delays in the Control Panel or connect the power adapter. No sound from 1. Verify that the volume setting in the Control Panel speaker is 1 or above.2. Check the speaker connection to the interconnect board, the interconnect board connection to the daughterboard, and the daughterboard connection to the motherboard.3. Replace the interconnect board.4. Replace the daughterboard. 5. Replace the motherboard.o TROUBLESHOOTING FLOWCHARTSHow to Use the There are two troubleshooting flowcharts for the Troubleshooting PowerBook 140/170 computer. These flowcharts Flowcharts are useful in troubleshooting startup-related problems.The troubleshooting flowcharts verify operation of the PowerBook 140/170 in its minimum configuration. Therefore, before using the troubleshooting flowcharts, remove option cards and disconnect external peripherals.Starting at the top of Flowchart 1, answer the questions and proceed down the chart. When you arrive at a rectangular box containing a list of actions, perform the actions in the sequence listed. On completion, return to the preceding diamond box. If the problem remains, reinstall the original module before you continue.Before Beginning Before beginning troubleshooting using the flowcharts, perform a quick inspection to eliminate obvious problems. Perform a check of the following items: Verify that the main battery is installed and is charged. To check the battery voltage, refer to "Battery Verification" later in this section. Verify that all of the cables and connectors between the modules and the boards are securely attached. Remove all option cards.Troubleshooting Flowchart 1 Troubleshooting Flowchart 2 o BATTERY VERIFICATIONMaterials Digital voltmeterRequired Procedure 1. Disconnect the power adapter.IMPORTANT: Save RAM and RAM disk contents (if present) before removing the main battery. Otherwise, contents will be lost. WARNING: Do not short the battery. The battery may become hot enough to burn you. 2. Remove the main battery.3. Set the voltmeter range to 10 volts DC.4. Touch and hold the positive probe of the voltmeter to the positive side of the battery.5. Touch and hold the negative probe of the voltmeter to the negative side of the battery.6. The reading for a good battery should be above 5.7 volts. If the battery falls below 5.7 volts, recharge the battery. If the battery will not recharge, replace it.o ADAPTER VERIFICATIONMaterials Digital voltmeterRequiredProcedure 1. Plug the power adapter into the wall source.2. Set the voltmeter range to 10 volts DC.3. Touch and hold the positive probe of the voltmeter to the inside of the adapter plug.4. Touch and hold the negative probe of the voltmeter to the outside of the adapter plug.5. The reading for a good adapter should be 7.57.9 volts. If the voltage is not in this range, replace the adapter.CAUTION: The power adapters on the Macintosh Portable and the PowerBook computers are not interchangeable. You will damage the computer if you try to use the power adapters interchangeably.