Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: 1.5ghz 12" PowerBook with no WIFI? Was it optional back then, maybe bad board?  (Read 4452 times)

part12studios

  • 256 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 447
  • new to the forums

Hi there, so I more recently got a seemingly good 1.5ghz G4 Powerbook that is the fastest of the three i have now.  one was free (drug dealers always give the first dost out for free) and the other two "for parts" units all seem like bootable machines..  I have

1ghz
1.33ghz
1.5ghz

The 1ghz and 1.33ghz have wifi that works fine.  but the 1.5ghz has no wifi option at all.. it's like the machine was not made to support it.  I'm thinking maybe wifi was optional back then?  so perhaps there is an empty slot where i could take the wifi card out of the 1ghz unit and put it in the 1.5hz model? 

I'm going to be opening it up soon.. likely the 1.33ghz as well to replace the backup batteries which are dead on all three..  but my priority is to get the 1.5ghz maxed out.  I have a working battery, power cord and 1gb stick for it..  i don't NEED wifi for the unit honestly, but i'm wanting to learn what i can before I open this up..  I like to do some research before I dig around.

Thanks,
Caleb
Logged

FBz

  • 512 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 666
  • Fury-Fungus FdB/FBz

Run the serial number to see how it was originally configured.
Often, such information available via:
https://appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php
Logged

part12studios

  • 256 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 447
  • new to the forums

ooooo ok cool.  i can check that when i get home tonight.  thanks for that tip.  I forgot they have a system similar to Dell computers.  Very cool. 
Logged

refinery

  • 256 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 416

wifi was standard on those models, but its still a removable card. you can access it from the battery bay. take out the battery, and there's a small door above the contacts. the wifi card should be in there, or not, as the case may be.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/PowerBook+G4+Aluminum+12-Inch+1-1.5+GHz+Airport+Extreme+Card+Replacement/541
Logged
got my mind on my scsi and my scsi on my mind

teroyk

  • 512 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 623
  • -

Is it in normal PCMCIA slot?
Logged

SDG

  • 32 MB
  • ***
  • Posts: 58
  • New Member

Is it in normal PCMCIA slot?

The 12" PowerBooks had no space for PCMCIA slots.
Logged

teroyk

  • 512 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 623
  • -

Is it in normal PCMCIA slot?

The 12" PowerBooks had no space for PCMCIA slots.

But that wifi-card inside 12" Powerbook looks like PCMCIA card.
Logged

refinery

  • 256 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 416

no it is not. similar profile, different connectors.
Logged
got my mind on my scsi and my scsi on my mind

part12studios

  • 256 MB
  • *****
  • Posts: 447
  • new to the forums

so some news on this.  great success..  1.5ghz unit now has a (working) wifi card.. i'm not sure if the card is bad or if it might have just gotten unseated but i swapped out the card in it for one from my 1.0ghz unit.  installed leopard on it (lowest version i could go to support the drivers for the profire 2626)..

Also the mSATA 64gb SSD inside of the 2.5" IDE enclosure worked great.  I don't know of the boot time is much faster but it's definitely not slower.  1.25gb ram works well.  it's a solid machine.  i do want to replace the cells of a bad battery soon..   found a good youtube video on how to do it. not too bad if you open..

Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up

Recent Topics