Greetings,

I have an urgent situation that involves helping others.

Any advice/directions or URL in MAC DIAGNOSTICS & REPAIR to inform me in order to help others in a remote location, would be very much appreciated. If any of my findings are incorrect please tell me so.

The mission critical situation is as follows:

A 3.5 year old MAC Power Book G4 17" with 1 gigabyte memory instead of 2 - 256 mb (half gig) factory RAM using OS X 10.2 'Tiger' OS in the remote location has the following symptoms:

1. One long beep upon start-up and then the traditional chime sounds.

2, Only the 1st grey apple logo start-up screen appears while the whirling progress icon underneath is in continuous motion.

3. The Apple-Care warranty has expired.

4. There is no money for expert service repair at this moment.

5. The PRAM has been zapped until 2 traditional chimes sound several times.

6. All cords to external devices have been removed and reseated.

7. The battery has been removed and reseated.

8. The original factory 2 - 256 mb RAM chips stored in a Mylar/plastic pouch can not be found.

According to research I've done on the Internet in the past 24 hours, I have found MAC DIAGNOSTIC ADVICE that 1 long beep upon start-up signifies:

"One beep—Your computer doesn't detect any memory. First, make sure that the memory card is seated properly. If you replaced your computer's memory, shut down your Mac, swap out the current memory card with the original RAM card, and restart your computer. If your computer doesn't beep on start-up, replace your new memory card. If it does beep, call in the cavalry".

The MAC REPAIR ADVICE I have found suggests the following:

"The ram goes in the small door on the bottom side of the machine (4 screws). I believe once in the steps are the same.

Fairly straight forward, underneath is a little 'trap door'. Undo the 4 screws with a size 00 philips screwdriver (DO NOT attempt to use anything else, buy the screwdriver or kit if you have to), touch the casing to discharge any static and insert the RAM.

You can see the contacts and which way around it goes... you insert the chip at around a 20º angle and then clip it down into place. Make sure the contacts go all the way in".

My MAC REPAIR INQUIRIES are:

1. Once the little trap door underneath the laptop is open, how does one unclick the holder of the 2 chips to move them into the 20º angle position?

2. Once the ram chips are in the 20º angle position will that easily come out of the holder?

3. Should cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol be used to clean the contact points of the ram chips and.or contact points of the laptop?

4. If the minor surgery of taking out & reinstalling the memory chips is successful will additional commands be needed in order that the laptop recognize the installed/reseated RAM?

5. Is there any other possible things such as internal start-up memory that might be the cause of the 1 long beep at start-up?

Thank you for your time, consideration and have a great weekend at work and play during this heatwave.

Sincerely yours,
Bob 69

"Help me Obi Wan Kenobi"
- Princess Leia holographic transmission through R2D2 to Luke Skywalker