[Today I received the following remarkable letter from reader Zulay, in California. Comments like hers validate everything we do here at MyMac.com. The URL of my original article is https://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?id=381.]
Dear Mr Nemerovski:
Thank you so much for your article on the LINKSYS Home Electrical Networking System. I too needed to have internet available via ethernet to another room for my Powerbook Aluminum G4 15″. I had lost wifi via my airport extreme card due to a kernel panic problem. I reinstalled the original system various times only to get the panic error with 10.4 so I kept it all to original disks with original OS after a deep wipe. Another story, but suffice it to say it is not working. My research to that point pointed to either software or possible physical non connection of the airport card.
I had a hard time finding my model and how it came out. The Apple site had instructions that looked like the back needed to be removed with multiple screws and so forth so I took it to my Macnexus mac users club computer triage instead. Very puzzling for those macheads. It actually popped out of the side of the battery compartment. My husband said he saw instructions in the battery compartment, but thought it was for the battery removal, not the airport card!
The triage techs took it out and out reinstalled numerous times to see if it was just a simple lodging problem. No go. They tested it in another book and that card in mine. The card IS working, but my hardware is not recognizing any card installed. The macheads thought it was the connector between the bay for the card and the logic board. They concluded it was probably a logic board problem. No one there thought it was a software problem. They gave me reputable dealer for a quote if I wanted to spend that kind of money.
The powerbook is valued for between $200 to $300 more than the cost of a new logic board so I was really pondering what to do. It did not make sense to me to purchase another one when I knew that the software was working at 10.2.7 (from original disks). I could connect to the web via ethernet both at home and at the triage center. In researching additional threads when I got home from that disappointing diagnosis I found more complaints about the new OS upgrades actually doing this damage.
I am upset that Apple knows this is a problem with 10.4.x and they are not doing anything about it. Thread posters suspected that the newer OS versions actually corrupt drivers or firmware. There are other problems with 10.5 that are just as scary. I also did not find that any fixes for previously non-working wifi connectivity was in the newest OS.
Many users have had logic boards replaced after kernel panic issues and disappearing airport cards, sometimes more than once, but they were under Apple Care. Some who were not did it anyway to resolve their wifi issues and kernel panic problems. There is a lawyer collecting information on these complaints. I refuse to buy another logic card for this older PB so I looked into this Powerline system. I had read about similar systems before and thought it was a wonderful an idea.
I used the 1-5 steps and it fired right up when I used a network cable into the adapter in my living room. I have a linksys router that I had set up previously and it was easy too. I have a DSL wireless modem that I got with the intention of using the powerbook throughout the house and prepping for eventual upgrades of new wifi capable machines. I have had older macs plugged in directly to the DSL or through the router in a network. I had already had the powerbook connected to the internet previously trying to diagnose the airport failure so I knew it could connect to the web. It was almost too easy which I did not expect especially seeing the cds for pc only. I had confidence in your information and it proved out correct.
I appreciate your writing. It has restored my roving around the house to use my powerbook although with more wires and such. I also purchased a usb wifi unit that is mac compatible to see if I can use wifi in the house and when we travel. Our other desktops can use ethernet. I have to upgrade to at least 10.3 before I try this out on the powerbook, but I will test it on an older imac running 10.4 now. The sales staff at our local Fry’s have been really good about helping us with any purchase we have made so I feel confident to return it if it does not work. I have invested in these peripherals, but I can use them with other macs too and together it will have cost less than a new logic board!
I may go the next step and see what other uses my airport extreme can still have for us on a home network or I may just sell it and recoup some of my new purchases to replace functionality. I still love my macs, but I am less likely to defend Apple versus Microsoft. This is smacking too much of what MS has been criticized for. I love the support of the Apple community. Thanks for working out your solutions and writing about what you find. It really helped us out.
Sincerely,
Zulay
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