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Q: Wallstreet M4753 Boot Issue
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Sep 24, 2007 6:09 PMby Grant Bennet-Alder,The flashing question mark occurs when your Mac cannot find the preferred software type, of the preferred version, on the preferred boot device. All these items are held in PRAM, as you suspected. Most of these problems in laptops are solved by doing a PRAM Reset and making sure to leave the unit plugged in overnight for a few nights. Unlike desktop PRAM batteries, the ones in PowerBooks are rechargeable.
Do not be so quick to think about changing it.
The PRAM battery in the Wallstreet is a rechargeable unit made up of six coin cells. It used to cost about US$40, IF you could find one. It requires the top cover (with the trackpad) to be disassembled.
Someone posted here last week that OtherWorldComputing had them on sale. -
Sep 24, 2007 8:37 PMby jpl,atari,
Grant makes a good point...changing the PRAM battery in a Wallstreet requires substantial disassembly.
A few questions:
-Do you have a working main battery?
-When you turn off the powerbook, do you leave the power adapter connected to the powerbook and to a "hot" A/C outlet?
If you get the flashing '?', shut down the powerbook, then try resetting the PRAM. Wait for 2-3 startup chimes (this will take some time on the Wallstreet), then see if it will boot to the HD.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
If the above does not work, and you have both 9.x and 10.x on the same partition or volume, try restarting while pressing the 'command-X' keys. -
Sep 25, 2007 6:42 PMby atari_400,Well I tried resetting the PRAM but still get the flashing "?".
Do I need to reload the OS again ?
By the way, I do keep the laptop plugged into an AC adapter at all times because the main battery doesn't hold much charge. Also, the clock doesn't retain it's time very well. That's why I suspected the PRAM battery.
Thanks. -
Sep 25, 2007 8:18 PMby jpl,atari,
Try testing the PRAM battery:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30017
Instead of the 10 minutes without power, first try 5 minutes. If you have lost time/date, make sure you recharge the PRAM battery for 24 hours before testing again. On the next test, try just 1 minute to see if there is any life in the battery.
I have seen a few posts like yours where the flashing '?' occurs on the Wallstreet when running OSX even though the power adapter remains connected at all times. A charged main battery and/or power adapter will maintain PRAM and power manager settings even if the PRAM battery is dead...this is unlike a desktop machine. You mention the clock does not keep accurate time; this might in fact be just a poor clock. When the Wallstreets first arrived, there were several complaints about inaccurate time, and various articles were referenced about how cheap the clocks are in laptops and powerbooks. This does not appear to be an issue anymore as most users are at some time connected to a time server and clocks are updated.
If you have a bootable 9.x CD, boot to it, then use the Startup Disk Control Panel to select OSX as the startup volume...see if this avoids the necessity of reinstalling the OS.
Is there any reason why you can't sleep the powerbook when not in use?
Here is how the PRAM battery works in a powerbook:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30580
