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PowerBook G4 Dead

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Nick9597

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2007
45
0
I searched previous threads and I only got part of my issue addressed so I'm giving it a shot here.

I just aquired a PowerBook G4 (500Mhz) and it is dead. It will not turn on no matter what I try and when I plug in the power adaptor it glows a bright orange (almost red)...what does that mean?

Thanks! :) :apple:
 
bartelby

bartelby

macrumors Core
Jun 16, 2004
19,795
34
Nick9597 said:
Oops..PowerBook. :eek: :apple:
Click to expand...

I thought so.

It glows orange when it's charging the battery and green when it's charged.

If you look at the battery there is a small button on it. If you push the button some little LEDs should light up.
How many, if any, light up?


EDIT: Not that that actually helps your problem. Sorry I got distracted. :eek:
 
synth3tik

synth3tik

macrumors 68040
Oct 11, 2006
3,951
2
Minneapolis, MN
Do you know the history one it?

I sometimes get a bulk amount of computer that I fix up to sell, use for spare part etc. etc. Sometimes I get them in with parts missing, do you know if everything is intact?
 
N

Nick9597

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2007
45
0
synth3tik said:
Do you know the history one it?

I sometimes get a bulk amount of computer that I fix up to sell, use for spare part etc. etc. Sometimes I get them in with parts missing, do you know if everything is intact?
Click to expand...

I know a little of it's history....totally intact, had a minimal amount of usage, no hard or excess wear. It's been sitting unused for about 2 1/2 years.
 
N

Nick9597

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2007
45
0
bartelby said:
I thought so.

It glows orange when it's charging the battery and green when it's charged.

If you look at the battery there is a small button on it. If you push the button some little LEDs should light up.
How many, if any, light up?


EDIT: Not that that actually helps your problem. Sorry I got distracted. :eek:
Click to expand...

It's not a battery issue...I've already tried that. Now, as far as the orange light on the power adaptor, it's glowing bright orange..almost red, considerably more so than if it's plugged into my operating PowerBook G4.
 
bartelby

bartelby

macrumors Core
Jun 16, 2004
19,795
34
Nick9597 said:
I know a little of it's history....totally intact, had a minimal amount of usage, no hard or excess wear. It's been sitting unused for about 2 1/2 years.
Click to expand...

It could be the PRAM battery is dead. Although this should really stop it from starting up when connected to the mains. Does it make any noise at all when you push the power button?
 
N

Nick9597

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2007
45
0
bartelby said:
It could be the PRAM battery is dead. Although this should really stop it from starting up when connected to the mains. Does it make any noise at all when you push the power button?
Click to expand...


Nope, no noise whatsoever. Totally dead.
 
MacBoobsPro

MacBoobsPro

macrumors 603
Jan 10, 2006
5,114
6
Maybe you have tried this already but try pressing the power button a little harder and hold it for about 2 seconds. It may just be a funky button. My iBook had a similar quirk.

Have you checked to see if there is any ram in there? I know a lot of people take out all the RAM so they can sell it off for a bit more profit. There are quite a few pirates out there. :(
 
synth3tik

synth3tik

macrumors 68040
Oct 11, 2006
3,951
2
Minneapolis, MN
bartelby said:
It could be the PRAM battery is dead. Although this should really stop it from starting up when connected to the mains. Does it make any noise at all when you push the power button?
Click to expand...



It totally could stop it from booting. After sitting for 2.5 years there is a good chance the PRAM battery is toasted.
 
bartelby

bartelby

macrumors Core
Jun 16, 2004
19,795
34
synth3tik said:
It totally could stop it from booting. After sitting for 2.5 years there is a good chance the PRAM battery is toasted.
Click to expand...


I wasn't sure how critical to the startup process the battery is.
My PowerBook G3 has a totally dead PRAM battery yet it still starts up from the mains.
 
N

Nick9597

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2007
45
0
MacboobsPro said:
Maybe you have tried this already but try pressing the power button a little harder and hold it for about 2 seconds. It may just be a funky button. My iBook had a similar quirk.

Have you checked to see if there is any ram in there? I know a lot of people take out all the RAM so they can sell it off for a bit more profit. There are quite a few pirates out there. :(
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips...tried the power button...no luck. It has RAM in it. I checked that earlier. Thanks again.
 
N

Nick9597

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2007
45
0
synth3tik said:
It totally could stop it from booting. After sitting for 2.5 years there is a good chance the PRAM battery is toasted.
Click to expand...

Ok, so let's say that the PRAM battery is dead (sounds like that's what it is)how involved is the process of replacing it?
 
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