tim_-
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: caps lockled stay on, also charge led is only green

hi,

 

i have an old powerbook G4, 17"

Since a month the led of the caps lock is continously on when i'm using the powerbook, also when he is in hibernate. The only time when the caps lock led is off is when the powerbook is completely off.

I can type small and caps letters..

 

Also the charge ring led is only green...

At the top op the screen i can see that my battery is charging, but no orange led ring, only green...

Does someone know how to solve those problems?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 28, 2012 8:26 AM

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tim_-

Q: caps lockled stay on, also charge led is only green

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  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Aug 28, 2012 8:46 AM in response to tim_-
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Aug 28, 2012 8:46 AM in response to tim_-

    Hello and welcome to the support community

     

    I would try resetting the PMU  link here to help you http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431

    (Take power and battery off the PowerBook and hold down the power button for five seconds)

     

    That may help resolve the problem with the power adapter showing it's not charging and it could fix the problem with your keyboard. If that doesn't help with the keyboard, then it could be a faulty keyboard.

     

    Hope it helps.

  • by tim_-,

    tim_- tim_- Aug 28, 2012 8:59 AM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 28, 2012 8:59 AM in response to Knucklesmac

    i've tried that...

    My time was set in 1970, so it worked, but the caps lock led still stays on

    Also the charge ring is only green

     

    I have this powerbook 6 months, and only the last month i have those problems :s

  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Aug 28, 2012 10:37 AM in response to tim_-
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Aug 28, 2012 10:37 AM in response to tim_-

    Hello,

     

    In the last six months, has there been any upgrades to this PowerBook? Fie example drive or RAM?

  • by tim_-,

    tim_- tim_- Aug 28, 2012 4:55 PM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 28, 2012 4:55 PM in response to Knucklesmac

    Nope

     

    everything is original, exept the battery(but with the new battery everything worked fine)

  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Aug 29, 2012 1:28 AM in response to tim_-
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Aug 29, 2012 1:28 AM in response to tim_-

    The keyboard fault seems to be something that has come up a few times within this forum.

    The only explanation I could give for this would be something to do with the keyboard and maybe temperature effected. The 17" does run hot. It could be a simple problem with the LED under the Caps Key.

     

    There are two possibilities with the power adapter just shown as green. It could a faulty battery or the DC in board.

    You could change the battery and it may solve the problem, but then it may not. One of my iBooks done the same thing. It only ever showed a green light, even when it was charging. That problem turned out to be the battery was faulty.

    The DC in board could be faulty and may not be a cheap repair if you want a repair shop to fit it.

    If you could fit a DC in board yourself then it becomes a cheaper repair (Like anything really)

    surprisingly, taking the keyboard/top cover off the 17" is a lot easier than that of the 12" or 15".

  • by tim_-,

    tim_- tim_- Aug 30, 2012 11:41 PM in response to Knucklesmac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 11:41 PM in response to Knucklesmac

    I've changed the battery with the original one, and the ring stay green...

     

    Could it be a problem with the internal battery? cause sometimes when the battery is out the powerbook and the charger is unconnected, he lost time and date...

  • by Knucklesmac,

    Knucklesmac Knucklesmac Aug 31, 2012 1:03 AM in response to tim_-
    Level 4 (2,225 points)
    Aug 31, 2012 1:03 AM in response to tim_-

    Hmmm I don't think your PRAM battery should effect the keyboard or power adapter problem.

    But stranger things have happened. Replacing the PRAM battery wont do the PowerBook any harm if not improve things. If you had a friend or relative who owned a PowerBook, you could test thing like the power adapter.

     

    I know the caps light issue is common and no real answers have been given to resolve this problem, other than a replacement keyboard.