[DM-MUG] Reinstall or copy from clone.

[Matt W]

On Nov 16, 2004, at 8:32 PM, Ray Bowler wrote:

> Matt,
>
> Thanx for the note, especially the URL. My reading is that the problem 
> is if the computer starts but there is no display. Mine doesn't even 
> start, although the CD drive seems to be turning.
>
That's one of the symptoms of the logic board failure. It sounds like 
the HD or CD drive is spinning, but you may not hear a startup tone, 
and may get video that goes out again...or you may not get any video at 
all. On the other hand, that set of symptoms covers a few other 
problems too.

> The RAM chip could be a problem but I hate to take it out.
If your iBook is working, then I see your reluctance. If the problem 
was more regular, then removing it would be the best (and easiest) 
test.

> Then there is the problem of whether the problem is fixed because you 
> don't know when it is going to happen again. It has been up and 
> running since yesterday afternoon, including a number of restarts so I 
> don't even know if something which was done yesterday fixed it. In the 
> meantime I am doing a special backup daily (or more often) while I 
> wait for it to misbehave again.
>
Oh, it CAN start out as intermittent. Does your serial fall within the 
range?

> I have a feeling that if I do the reinstall it will be a clean install 
> of 10.3.
>
You may not have a hardware problem at all. Just be aware. I've found 
having an extra 60 GB drive around--to test install a clean system or 
backup my system as a whole--is invaluable. For $200-ish dollars, I 
have a LOT of peace of mind. Of course, I run my business from my 
PowerBook and $200 is pretty cheap insurance when you consider losing 
weeks, months, or years of personal e-mail, address books, software 
updates and registrations.

Matthew