Apple PowerBook 520 Troubleshooting

Before proceeding with any repair work, please be sure to restart the computer to verify that the problem is not software related

Find the left pointing arrow key located in the top right corner of the keyboard and hold down for 10 seconds. You should hear a tone upon the successful startup of the computer.

Use the power adapter to charge the battery for an extended period of time.

The computer may start, but no image displays. In this case, you might have a bad monitor connection. This may require a repair or replacement.

If none of the above solutions solve the problem, the logic board may be the cause of the issue. This may require a repair or replacement.

If display is dark, use the brightness and contrast controls located on the bottom right corner of the screen bezel to adjust brightness. Note: It may take several minutes for the screen to warm up upon start up of the computer.

The computer may start, but no image displays. In this case, you might have a bad monitor connection. This may require a repair or replacement.

Computer is unable to handle current display settings. Adjust contrast and brightness accordingly until a satisfactory display combination has been found.

Battery may be draining to fast. To prolong your battery life, turn down screen brightness to a tolerable level.

If the computer will not recharge, there are a few possible causes. The charger port on the computer may be dysfunctional, the power supply may be dysfunctional, or the battery may be improperly connected to the device.

If the computer will turn on, but not boot into the MacOS, either the OS needs to be reinstalled, or the hard drive needs to be replaced.

If a floppy diskette is not detected by the computer after inserting a it, the floppy drive may be in need of replacement.

Note: It is normal for this computer to be warm while operating

If the computer is getting too hot, discontinue use by putting it to sleep or shutting it down altogether. Sometimes long computer usage will result in overheating and the best way to resolve the issue is to stop using the computer.

If you want to cool down your computer without turning it off, some solutions include decreasing total energy output. You can turn down the screen brightness, turn on blacklight dimming in software settings, and/or plugging in the power adapter.

If applicable, disconnect any external devices that are being used by the computer. These include, but are not limited to, external monitor, external hard drive, and external keyboard and mouse.