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seanofbarbaria
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Clock resets to 1969, Blank Screen, Other issues?

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Issues:

1)System clock resets to 1969.

2)Battery meter returns "X" value. Will not charge.

3)Screen turns black with a green bar on the bottom horizontal.

Any attempt tp use cd drive or plug in USB device such as an external storage will result in issues 1,2,3.

Tech Tools returns with zero errors. I have to reset the PRAM every time to boot the PowerBook. PowerBook will not turn on with the battery out even when unplugged.

Do I just have to replace the PRAM battery and main battery?

Edited by

osvaldo, machead3, and mayer

bushing

David Hodson

Update *** Installed the new PRAM battery. However, it does keep track of the system date but now whenever I attempt to use the super drive the screen will turn black with the green bar, and the battery refuses to charge.

seanofbarbaria,

Update *** And the machine does not recover from sleep mode.

seanofbarbaria,

Update *** I've tried running the Ubuntu 10.01 Live dvd and it's come back with some interesting results. Upon using the hardware scanning tool when "power saving/saver methods" was tested the screen went blank like it usually does and I figured oh great it's hosed again. However, it came right back after the test was finished!

seanofbarbaria,

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rj713
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Has this unit been wet? From the variety of ills I would suspect the logic board has major problems. You can try replacing the PRAM battery as a fairly low cost repair but I think you may have more serious problems. Ralph

Installing PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15" 1-1.5 GHz PRAM Battery

http://www.ifixit.com/Mac-Parts/PowerBoo...

Edited by

rj713

Agreed + PRAM battery first

mayer,

As far as I know the pbg4 was never exposed to liquids. The pbg4 was however dropped off a coffee table and onto a steel toe boot which left a slight dent near the charging dc port.

seanofbarbaria,

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mayer
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First I would replace the PRAM battery just to be sure.

Usually the date will reset to Aug 27th of 1956 when the PRAM battery goes bad. If not the battery, my guess is that it's a system update error. This date used to happen a lot with 10.2.4. What system are you using?

Side note: When it goes completely flat the date reverts to either Aug 27th 1956, the birthday of Ray Montagne who designed the CUDA microcontroller in Macs, or it reverts to 'zero year' which is Jan 1 1904 (chosen as the starting year because 1900 wasn't a leap year).

Edited by

mayer

I left the unit alone for a "long" time and recently has been behaving a tad bit better. I've ordered the replacement pram battery and a new DC cord, super drive cord. Hopefully this fixes everything.

seanofbarbaria,

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Christopher Rivas
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My Powerbook G4 reverts to march 1969 when I plug in charger or remove charger while computer is on.

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