(This page was uppdated 97-02-18)

How to install the upgrade

I have just recently upgraded to NuPowr 167MHz/8MB + 32MB memory module and everything works just great. Do not, I repeat do *NOT* try to do the upgrade the way the instructions say to do them (at least for those who plan to use the supplied CD to update to OS7.5.2.) It just freaking won't work and the Newer Tech people will tell as much. Sure, use the details on where to locate screws & how to get that dammed plastic clip off the memory module (VERY carefully.) However, you can't use their drive updater or boot from the supplied disk tools or cd before you install the chip because they are PPC only! Here is the skinny on how to do the whole thing:

Shut down, disconnect everything, remove battery and card cage.

Open powerbook guts as directed. Ground yourself with the provided strap. Remove heat sink. Remove pain in the butt plastic clip without breaking it.

Admire how much stuff can be crammed into this riduculously small space!

Gently remove old memory module if one was installed (pull straight up now!) If you thought that was hard to pull, just wait for the daughterboard!

Remove daughterboard by pulling straight up. It's like yanking a molar. I had to use the torx wrench through the hole technique that the instructions mention.

Press the new daughterboard into the socket once you manage to position it correctly.

Position old (or replacement/new) memory module as per instructions and gently press it into the socket straight down. Don't bend any pins or you have wasted some major bucks, bubba. I found it difficult to get this thing in.

Put plastic clip back on (and you thought getting it OFF was fun!) Replace heat sink with all tabs inside. Have fun putting the plasting piece behind the keyboard back in place. It like an IQ test or something. I almost decided a gaping void behind the keyboard wasn't all THAT bad before I go that sucker into place. Replace keyboard and put in screws. Congrats, the hardware part is done. But don't get too excited yet!

Boot from the NuPowr disk tools diskette. Its system folder has the NuPowr System Enabler installed and thus the diskette won't be corrupted. Copy the NuPowr System Enabler to your HD (not your system folder). Run the drive updater to update your HD driver to PPC (if it's an Apple drive.) Shut down.

Boot from a CD ROM (by holding down the c key when you boot if it is an Apple unit.) If it's not an Apple CDROM I don't know what you do.

Double click on the installer icon. Hit return and do the cmd-shift-k (I think that's it- the instruction manual has it if that's not correct) to get the option of doing a clean install. Choose clean install. Then you can use easy install or more likely custom install (to avoid system bloat.)

Sit back, have a cup of coffee. Your hands can shake now that you have finished the hardware installation. Wait for the system install to finish.

You are almost done. Just remember to reinstall any system extensions that are needed. They are in a folder called Previous System. Especially the PC card extensions. Turn off your extensions first (but then again, we all always remeber to do that..... don't we?) I almost pulled my hair out before I got my Global Village PPP pc card to be recognized. Eventually I just reinstalled the card cage software (with extensions off, bien sur) and inserted the card before booting and it worked. It seems that if I eject it and reinsert it while running that the Mac doesn't recognize it as a modem (it asks if I "want to initialize this disk.") Oh well. I leave it in all the time anyhow.

Good luck.