Expert: David Anders - 5/19/2004

Question
Hello!
You will have my everlasting gratitude if you can help me figure out what's wrong with my beloved G3 laptop.

First, the specs:
G3 laptop, 333 MHz no firewire, bronze keyboard (purchased new in 1999)
System OSX 10.2 installed, and 9.2 as well

Now, the problem:
After functioning more or less with no problems, my laptop suddenly stopped booting up.  When I hit the power switch, the hard disk spins-up, but no startup chime, no smiley mac, no CD-ROM spin-up, in fact the screen doesn't light-up at all.  The power is on, the keyboard is responsive (i.e., if I hit the caps lock, the light comes on), but nothing more.  

The standard force-reset (control-apple-power) doesn't work, nor does force shut down (hold down power button for 10 seconds).  I have to hit the manual reset switch on the back to shut the computer down.

--For lack of any other ideas, I've tried zapping the PRAM, but this doesn't work since the computer's not booting-up to begin with

--I've tried resetting the PMU by hitting the reset button while the computer is off, and then after 5 seconds powering-up again.

Another very weird thing is that, once in awhile, the computer actually starts to boot up -- either it goes as far as the chime and smiley mac (but stops there) or, on very rare occasions, it actually boots all the way up.  I thought this was magic or some sort of miracle ("it fixed it self! Hooray!").  When this happened, I ran Norton Disk Doctor - the scan showed nothing.  However, after awhile the computer froze-up, and I was back to square one...

Any suggestions or help would be most, most most appreciated!

Thank you in advance,
David Hoffman
U.S. Embassy
Kabul, Afghanistan


Answer
The battery could be the problem - remove it and try starting with just AC.
The AC adapter could be the problem - try starting just with battery.
The power being supplied could be the problem - try another location.
IF you use a power plug adapter it could be the problem.
Hard drive could have problems - try starting with CD.
There could be hardware problems - servicing by Apple Tech would be the next step.


See these Tech Info Articles
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30580
TITLE  PowerBook G3 Series: Backup Battery Purpose and Life

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449
TITLE  PowerBook and iBook: Resetting Power Manager

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30017
TITLE   PowerBook: Testing Backup Battery

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=16168
TITLE   PowerBook and iBook: AC Adapter, Battery, and Charger Identification

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
TITLE   Macintosh: How to Reset PRAM and NVRAM
TOPIC  This document explains how to reset the parameter random access memory (PRAM) and nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) on Macintosh computers.



http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86194
TITLE   Mac OS X: What Is Stored in PRAM?
TOPIC This document offers a general overview of what system information is stored in the parameter RAM (PRAM) by Mac OS X.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61548
TITLE   Mac OS X: Computer Won't Start up After Resetting PRAM
TOPIC  If you have a RAID scheme set up, your computer may not start up if you reset parameter RAM (PRAM) when you restart.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=11751
TITLE   Macintosh Family: Batteries and Part Numbers
TOPIC  This document provides information and part numbers for backup and system batteries used in portable and desktop Macintosh computers released prior to 1997-11. For Macintosh computers introduced after 1997-11, see technical document 86181, "Macintosh Family: Batteries and Part Numbers, Part 2".

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=16168
TITLE   PowerBook and iBook: AC Adapter, Battery, and Charger Identification
TOPIC This document provides information for all PowerBook and iBook computer power adapters, batteries, and battery chargers, and how to identify them.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60655

TOPIC  Battery Reset 2.0: Read Me

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

Open Firmware WILL work on PowerBook G3 (Wallstreet II)
Regarding the inability of some folks to get into Open Firmware (Command-Option-O-F) on PowerBook G3 233-266-292-300 models (Wallstreet II, PDQ), I can promise you it is possible, and it can be done on either Restart or Cold Start, whether or not you have Jaguar installed and/or set as the Startup Disk. I just double checked my G3-266/14", and it goes into Open Firmware v2.0.1 on a regular restart from OS X 10.2.6.
While it's possible that there's a particular version of these units which won't accept the command, or maybe the early Wallstreet (I) models lack OF, I've never met one in dozens and dozens of tries, and this is something we routinely do to *every* PowerBook that comes in for any type of troubleshooting or upgrade.
For those having trouble, a few hints/suggestions:
• press ALL four keys (Command-Option-O-F -- that's Apple-Alt-oh-ef for the fontifically challenged) at the SAME TIME, *immediately* upon hearing -- even during -- the Startup Chime. If you wait even one or two seconds, or depress the keys one or two at a time, it is very easy for the Boot ROM to miss your command call.
• Make sure your Command, Option, O and F keys are clean and responsive by using Keycaps or similar program prior to attempt, if you're still having trouble.
• If your keys fail to respond properly, just attach any known-good ADB keyboard.
• For reference, nearly all "Old World" Macs reset only PRAM when using Command-Option-P-R from a Restart; using the same Command-Option-P-R from a Cold Start (Power OFF to Power ON) will reset NVRAM and PRAM, thus, the 'reset-nvram' command in Open Firmware is unnecessary; however, resetting NVRAM is still advisable in this battery/PMU reset effort.
• the 'reset-all' command in Open Firmware resets all kinds of things, both documented and undocumented, particularly things on the PCI/PCMCIA bus, like video, and issues using Type I or II expansion cards. Resetting it has never hurt anything that I'm aware of.
My advice:
*   Power OFF the PowerBook
*   Remove the battery
*   Install AC power
*   Power ON the PowerBook
*   *immediately* depress Command-Option-P-R
*   continue holding for a total of three chimes
*   upon hearing the third chime, immediately release the keys and instead press Command-Option O-F
*   In Open Firmware, type: reset-all
*   press Return, type: bye
*   press Return
*   ...the PowerBook will now boot normally into the first System Folder found on the first partition of the internal drive.
*   If you get the Flashing '?', use any OS 9.1 or higher boot CD (the CD or the Classic System Folder must contain a new enough version of Startup Disk CP to reset OS X as your Startup Disk).
*   If you wish, you may repeat the above with each of your problem batteries installed, but it shouldn't be necessary.