I previously discussed how you can
sometimes fix your own Mac. This week I will extend that a bit
further; not only can you fix software problems, but you may be
able to fix hardware problems, too.
This week I am talking hardware. First, I will let you know
about a few of the components in your computer that you should know
about.
There is the power supply. This is a large metal box inside your
machine; it probably has some vents on the side and a fan somewhere
(you may not be able to see the fan). And for those of you that
think it looks like something you can easily take apart, I will
mention that the power supply is one of the "non user-serviceable"
parts; it is not meant to be opened. I assume no responsibility if
you do open it and something happens.
Then there is the logic board. This is probably one of the most
important parts of your computer, (okay, it is the computer)
because it contains things like the processor, RAM, and ROM that
are required for the computer to work. A computer without a logic
board is like a car without an engine. You won't be actually
soldering parts to the logic board; all you need is already on
there. You may be changing processors or adding RAM in the
future.
Next you have your drives. There are three drives in most
computers: a floppy drive, a CD-ROM drive, and a hard drive. The
hard drive is where your system software is and where most of your
applications, documents, and MP3s are stored. Chances are you may
already know all of this.
Chances are also you are looking all over for this thing called
a floppy drive, and maybe you can't find it. Well, some machines
don't have them. This includes PowerBook
1400 and later, because they would swap out for your CD-ROM
drive (floppy drives were optional on the "Wallstreet" PowerBook
G3). It also includes iMacs,
blue and white Power Mac G3s, any
Power Mac G4, iBooks, and the Cube. If
you think you are missing something, you can always buy an external
USB floppy drive for one of these machines. But, trust me, you
aren't missing much by not having a floppy drive.
Now that you know what's in your computer, you can begin
troubleshooting. If you are having hard drive problems and none of
the system utilities that you have can fix your disk, you may need
to replace it.
eBay is an excellent source for hard drives. Make
sure you know what type your system uses - it will be either SCSI
or IDE. Many older Macs use SCSI hard disks. Apple started using
IDE hard drives with the Performa
630 series. The 630, 640, 62XX, 63XX, 64XX, 6500, 5XXX series,
G3 series, G4 series, and all PowerPC PowerBooks use IDE hard
drives. The only other PowerBooks to use IDE are the PowerBook 150 and PowerBook 190 and 190cs. IDE hard disks tend to be a lot less
expensive than SCSI, and large sizes can be obtained for small
amounts of money. SCSI hard disks are a bit faster but are also
considerably more expensive. There are solutions which let you use
IDE in your PCI Power Mac if it does not have an IDE controller -
check out Sonnet's website for more information on their Tempo
card.
The minimum capacity you will want to get for an older Power Mac
is probably going to be 1 GB. These range from $10-$20 on
eBay. If you have a PCI Power Mac, you can take advantage of the
IDE card and an inexpensive IDE hard drive.
To install your new hard drive, all you will need to do is open
the computer's case. (There are instructions in your owners'
manual. Feel free to email me for instructions if you do not have
the manual). Remove the old hard drive and bracket, remove the
bracket from the old drive, screw it onto the new drive, place the
new drive and bracket in the case, connect the cables, and close
the case. Not too hard.
If your hard drive is okay, but you are getting frequent "out of
memory" errors, you may need to order more RAM. If you have a Power
Mac, check that Virtual Memory is on and set to no more than twice
the actual amount of RAM (e.g., if you have 32 MB, it should be set
for no more than 64 MB). If you still need some RAM, you will need
to first determine what type of RAM your Mac uses. You can check
out EveryMac.com or Newer RAM's GURU and find your
system. This will tell you what type of RAM to buy. Next you need
to buy the RAM. Check out RamSeeker to determine the lowest price
for your type of RAM.
When the RAM arrives, you can install it. Certain machines
require memory to be installed in pairs, so that means you can't
just stick SIMMs or DIMMs in any old slots. The Mac II series
requires four 30-pin SIMMs to be installed at a time, the LC, LC
II, Colour Classic, and Classic II require two 30-pin chips at a
time. The Power Mac 6100, 7100, and 8100 require two 72-pin chips
at a time. When you install RAM in pairs they must be next to each
other starting with the outside slot. If the first two slots are
filled, fill the next two.
If your system uses DIMMs, don't worry about installing in
pairs, because it is not necessary. 3.3v and EDO DIMMs are still
relatively expensive, but they are less expensive than they were
two years ago. PC66, PC100, and PC133 DIMMs are currently very
cheap, and as much as 256 MB can be obtained for as little as $50.
Check RamSeeker for prices.
Next week I will talk about adding things onto your Mac -
expansion cards, additional hard drives, and modems.
