Q: can't reset PRAM??!@#

thanks for the input.  I checked and in fact DO have the EFI and SMC updates per your link.  Still, no solution for PRAM reset.  I have tried all methods suggested and NOTHING will produce MORE than one bong on startup to indicate(to me at least) the PRAM is reset and this is not JUST the normal startup bong.

Thanks Spudnutty, although the SMC and EFI things were up to date I found no battery update 1.2, so I downloaded and installed that. . . we will see what happens.  Also, I noted that the battery has 508 cycles and is supposedly used up after 500.  It says "replace soon."

Yep, I have a second MacBook(3,1) and swapped batteries.   No effect, same inability to Reset PRAM.   The other Macbook resets just fine.  I plan to swap their hard drives and see what happens.  That is about all that is left before wiping one clean and system re-install.  I put a new system on ONE of the partition in the old macbook and that had no effect.  I REALLY see no reason why the hard  drives would have any effect on the PRAM not being able to reset.  I'm thinking there is a mother board problem. . . after trying pretty much everything else and eliminating things.

Also, tonight while RE-looking at the Etre check I again looked for Kaspersky files.  THere is one which I cannot eliminate and when successful placing it in trash, it RE-creates itself on the top level(and invisible) on my main hard drive partition.  How can I eliminate an invisible file that acts like this?  Need Unix code and Terminal??

NO, but just tried to use the UNinstaller at your link.  It does not work.  It is for a fully installed, later version of Kaspersky than I had.

I have a second MacBook(3,1) and swapped batteries.   No effect, same inability to Reset PRAM.   The other Macbook resets just fine.  I plan to swap their hard drives and see what happens.  That is about all that is left before wiping one clean and system re-install.  I put a new system on ONE of the partition in the old macbook and that had no effect.  I REALLY see no reason why the hard  drives would have any effect on the PRAM not being able to reset.  I'm thinking there is a mother board problem. . . after trying pretty much eve

OK, final issue of this blog.  I gave up after the following:

-- using the hard drive from the other MacBook 3,1 this MacBook 1,1 will not reset PRAM.  The other one does fine with ANY hard drive

-- using the other MacBook's battery this MacBook 1,1 will not reset PRAM.

-- Using the original OEM Apple 60 GB hard drive, this MacBook 1,1 will not reset PRAM.

SO, if not the battery OR the hard drive the inability to shut down occasionally and the inability to reset the PRAM MUST be due to the Main MacBook 1,1 mother board.   This Mac is not worth wasting any further time on.  Worth, what, ?, $100?

So that's it, BYE, and thanks for all your input folks.

sometimes it is only necessary to get the RIGHT set of eyes on your problem!   THIS suggestions makes more sense than anything I have heard over the months of playing with this.  Not sure why I did not reach this same conclusion but am so used to dealing with desktops and their motherboard batteries at times like this I never really REALIZED those little batteries powered the PRAM!  never gave it a thought that the notebook Macs might have a similar device, either!  thanks.  I will get one and try it.  Excellent.