ibook - Watch battery gone ?? What is that ?? Affecting internet, etc.

[igmolinav]

Hi,

Everytime I turn my ibook on, a note appears and tells me to adjust the date.

That is, every single time I turn the computer on !!! If I don't do it, other
applications including the internet, will not work properly.

Some one told me that my "watch battery" is gone. That all laptops,
regardless of their brand name, have a "watch battery" or "date battery"
that usually dies after the second or third year of use.

My ibook is five years now, and that "battery" is gone since two or three
years.

My question to you is: what is the true name of that "watch-" or "date-battery", and if apple technicians change it ??

It is so annoying to set up the date everytime I turn on the computer !!!

Thank you very much in advance : ) !!!

Very kind regards,

Igmolinav.

P.S. **Yes, one can adjust the date, and then click on the "save" button.
However, clicking on the "save" button doesn't make any difference
anymore with my computer.

 

[iLog.Genius]

It's like the battery found on motherboards that control the BIOS/CMOS time. The one on your iBook is dead which is why it can't save the time. By replacing it, the problem should go away.

 

[igmolinav]

Hi,

Thank you for your answer : ) !!!

When I go to the apple specialist, should I ask for a "battery for the motherboard" and then tel them: "the one that controls the BIOS/
CMOS time" ??

How much should I consider paying for the battery and service ??

Thank you again, very kind regards,

igmolinav.

 

[DewGuy1999]

For a Mac it's called a PRAM battery. Not all Macs have them. This works for my G4 iMac and should work for an iBook. One way to get around this is to have a internet connection always available and in your Date & Time system preference check the box next to "Set date & time automatically:" This way when the Mac starts up it will connect to the Internet and set the time automatically, circumventing the error message from appearing.

 

[igmolinav]

Hi,

Thank you for your message : ) !!!

I'll try it again! I tried previously,
but it wasn't really working.

Thank you very much, kind regards,

igmolinav.

 

[iLog.Genius]

For a Mac it's called a PRAM battery. Not all Macs have them. This works for my G4 iMac and should work for an iBook. One way to get around this is to have a internet connection always available and in your Date & Time system preference check the box next to "Set date & time automatically:" This way when the Mac starts up it will connect to the Internet and set the time automatically, circumventing the error message from appearing.

Not necessarily. Syncing the clock through the internet would be one of the "last things" it does after starting up. The result is that whenever the computer starts up, the date and time will be reset and prompt with that message. It definitely doesn't hurt to try that method but generally, your symptoms are a reflection of a dead PRAM battery.

 

[DewGuy1999]

I had a niggle in the back of my mind on this, so I Googled it and it looks like my niggle was correct, the iBook doesn't have a PRAM battery. Apparently if the clock is losing it's date and time then it's a sign that the main battery needs to be replaced.

 

[igmolinav]

Hello,

You are right. My main battery is dead, and I don't think I'll replace it.
I prefer to put those $100 to the price of a new computer.

Thank you again, very kind regards,

igmolinav.