Mac Powerbook G3 - battery / OS

[rhuss]

I have just acquied a Mac Powerbook G3. The battery is definatly not working, I tried it in both bays, and nothing. Can anyone recommend an online store to buy a battery? I've seen prices ranging from $85 - $180.

Also, I am running the laptop off the ac adapter, it runs fine, but once I unplug the ac adapter I lose the OS. So if I unplug the ac adapter I have to reload the OS every time. Is this a problem because of the dead battery or is there something else wrong with the Mac?

 

[hopejr]

What do you mean by lose the OS?

 

[rhuss]

Originally posted by: hopejr
What do you mean by lose the OS?

i run the laptop on ac adapter power, i install the Mac OS X. I use the laptop for a while. I unplug the ac adapter and then when i plug the ac adapter back in the next day and go to boot up i get the disk with the question mark on it meaning no OS is not found and then i have to reload Mac OS X.

*note* the battery that is not working is still in the system the entire time. i'll try it without the battery in the laptop.

my concern is if i buy a battery and still have the same issues when unplugging the ac adapter. i don't want to waste the money on the battery if i am going to have to reload OS X everytime i unplug the ac adapter.

 

[The Green Bean]

ok

 

[rhuss]

Originally posted by: hatim
By reload, do you mean restart or reinstall?

reinstall

 

[chcarnage]

What happens if you shut down the system and reboot after a few minutes without pulling the adapter out?

What says the program "disk utility" about your hard drive?

Which OS are you running, did the CDs come with the powerbook or are you using a retail CD?

Which Powerbook do you have exactly? (For details click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner and chose "About this Mac")

Did you remove the System CD when you reboot?

It could be a buffer battery problem or an incompatible os, or a broken HD.

 

[rhuss]

Originally posted by: chcarnage
What happens if you shut down the system and reboot after a few minutes without pulling the adapter out?

the system is fine. OS X is still installed and running. thats what i do now, i just leave the ac adapter plugged into the wall and the laptop and everything is fine.

Originally posted by: chcarnageWhat says the program "disk utility" about your hard drive?

i'll check. where would i find that program? i am running OS X 10.1.5 (its 10.1.x, i think 10.1.5)

Originally posted by: chcarnageWhich OS are you running, did the CDs come with the powerbook or are you using a retail CD?

OS X 10.1.x, install cd is from a friend, and i think it installs 10.1.2

Originally posted by: chcarnageWhich Powerbook do you have exactly? (For details click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner and chose "About this Mac")

i'll check when i get home. its a mac powerbook G3 wallstreet i think.

Originally posted by: chcarnageDid you remove the System CD when you reboot?

i removed the cd after the reboot.

Originally posted by: chcarnageIt could be a buffer battery problem or an incompatible os, or a broken HD.

ok. i just want to try and figure out the issue before i go buying a new battery. would rather not waste the $.

 

[chcarnage]

The first PowerBook G3 isn't OS X compatible (Text). The Wallstreet however supports up to OS X 10.2. If the OS X CDs from your friend are retail versions, we can exclude the OS version as source of the problem.

The program Disk Utility is in Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities . Doh... I forgot that it can't test the boot volume :/ In the "First Aid" section you can repair the rights management, it won't hurt but I doubt if this is of use on a Vanilla installation...

So, to check the hard drive, you need a CD. Every Mac comes with a system diagnosis CD, do you have it? If not, maybe Disk Utility is included in the OS X 10.1 System CD, I don't know.

---

However, because once your Mac booted it works normally, I doubt the hard disk or OS X are to blame. I'm not sure which part fails but power obviously is the weak link...

So there are two items you probably have to replace:
- The battery (you already searched for this)
- The CMOS battery (Text, ca. $50)

Maybe you can solve the problem by replacing just one part, but I don't know which one or how to find it out. Searching some help from a retailer might save you money... Is there even an Apple Store near you? (Text)

 

[rhuss]

chcarnage - thax a lot. i appreciate all the info.

i think a new apple store opened around here recently, so i will try and take it there. i know the battery is dead because it will not show up at all and when i press the button on the battery to check the charge i get no lights.