Slow running MAC Powerbook G4 Pre Pentium 2 processor ARGGGGHHHH!

[copendriver]

Hi All

Wonder whether any of you mac users have any suggestions as to improve the speed of my aging mac lap-top in the short term, as maybe a temp solution until the financial climate improves and I can move on to a newer machine?

When I've multiple web applications open, it used to be fine, but over the last 12 months it's timing out showing the circular rainbow & I'd like to throw it out of the window!
I know you can de-frag and de-clutter a PC but I'm clueless how to do this on a mac, or if indeed it's even required? Maybe I should be running a few different checks? Any ideas, most welcome.

I've also had problems getting my updated i-phone 3 (from 2) to synch with my old mac, which alas still runs on MAC OS X. I looked into updating to Leopard but I have the Pre-Dual core processor model & it's not able to run the correct operating system, which is needed for the compatible i-tunes download which is required.......

Think I am asking a bit much of a machine that's 5 maybe 6 years old, but with the backlit keyboard & silver finish it's visually streets ahead of most PC laptop styling, isn't it?

Thanks

Neil

[copendriver]

I guess as I've had no replies here that the future of my Powerbook is bleak and I'll just have to stump up some dosh and modify / replace it.

Just as I thought really. Neil 

[vanpeebles]

What spec is it? I'd be tempted to fit a solid state hard drive, more memory and reinstall the OS. I used my dual 500mhz Powermac for ages till I had to upgrade to something newer for youtube vids etc.

[copendriver]

Hi Van

Mine's a pre-pentium dual core processor spec & I think that's the trouble?

Neil

[vanpeebles]

Do you know the actually mhz and name? Power PC cpu?

[copendriver]

Eeek!

We are now getting a little technical for me!
So I've a delve into about this mac.

It's a PowerBook G4 17" Model = Powerbook5,7
CPU  type = PowerPC G4 (1.2)
CPU speed 1.67GHz

Does this help?

Neil

[vanpeebles]

That spec should still be fine, do you know how much memory it has?

[minimin]

Hey!

Couple of suggestions.
1. Add more RAM
2. Reinstall the operating system

PM me if you have any Mac/Apple Questions.

[copendriver]

That spec should still be fine, do you know how much memory it has?

The mac has 512MB DDR SDRAM of memory

[copendriver]

Hey!

Couple of suggestions.
1. Add more RAM
2. Reinstall the operating system

PM me if you have any Mac/Apple Questions.

Hey thanks for this suggestion, is this something I could tackle myself & I'm guessing I can purchase extra RAM at Maplin's or something like that? I could reinstall the operating system too, & this would then all help to speed my machine up.

What then about it's capability to synch with my i-phone 4? This needs the latest copy of i-tunes which is not supported by my old operating system & needs leopard at least?

Thanks Neil

[vanpeebles]

If it's like the ibook I had, the 512mb is on board and you can fit an extra 1gig behind the keyboard. It's got a small circle lock that you turn with a small screwdriver.

[Robosoft]

Things that slow down macs.

HDD Running out of space make sure there is Gigs of space left on the HDD

Upgrade the RAM to 1.5Gb  by adding 1 GB

Replace the HDD as if the drive is old it may have developed scratches and this will slow the system speed down (lots of rainbow circles)

If running tiger install leopard (Not snow leopard).

[copendriver]

Hey thanks for the pointers!

Would like to hold onto & improve the machine I have until I can afford an new model.

Neil

[Jonny]

clear all items from the desktop (or atleast the ones you think you can afford to lose)3

[frankev]

Hi Coppendriver.

Don't put in any OS higher then 14.9 in there. Since it is a G4 Power processor it is not going to work beyond that. 512 MB is much to low for this machine. It supports DDR2 memory up to 2GB.
• The PowerBook G4 (17-inch Double-Layer SD), only, uses PC4200 DDR2 SDRAM
SO-DIMMs, with a maximum height of 1.25-inch (30 mm).
• The PowerBook G4 17-inch series uses PC2700 (also called DDR333) DDR
SDRAM SO-DIMMs with a maximum height of 1.25-inch (30 mm).
(go with the mouse over the Apple in the left top corner, choose "about this mac" from the pulldown menu, It shows you a window that tells you what kind of memory kind is used in yours.)
Re-installing the OS won't do much good, and certainly you don't have to change the hard drive. Those are solutions for a windows environment.
There is a application on board your macbook called disk-utility, you find it via the search on your disk (press ⌘f), here you can restore owners-rights and clean up your disk. Choose the "control and repair" option for your hard disk. It takes a minute or two. (do this once a month or so)
Don't worry about defragmentation on a Mac. It takes care of that itself. 
The nice aspect of your macbook is that it can also run the old apple programs in "classic mode", nice extra, but if you don't use it, be sure it is turned of since it is memory-consuming, you do this by going with the mouse over the Apple in the left top corner, choose system-preferences, choose "classic" and put the switch on off.
Always keep minimal 10% of space free on your hard disk. In your case that would be 12.8 gigs.
Keep your desktop empty of heavy data. Drag it to your hard disk and (if you want) leave just an alias.
Sorry, i didn't catch this topic early-er. if you want I can sent you the service manual for your machine. It is 19,8 mb big so I can send it to you by wetransfer if you sent me a Email address.


greetz

Frank