Sometimes You Can Fix Your Mac, Part 2

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.