Q: Ok, I've got iBook 1.33GHz G4 14" with a new hard drive and battery. When I boot it up I get the ? mark.

Have you tried resetting the PMU?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431?viewlocale=en_US

But it starts up and runs okay when just using the adapter and the battery removed?

In that case, I would suspect that the new battery is defective in some way. Does it fit right in the iBook? Does it seem to be charging okay? What color does the adapter ring show?

It probably would be either the battery (which doesn't sound likely), or the logic board which isn't accepting power from or through the battery.

I've consulted with others who suggest you ask the place where you bought the new battery to please exchange it for you. Tell them it's not working right (which it isn't).

This means the computer has nothing to boot to...

have you reinstaled a os?

john13403 wrote:

 

Remove the battery and run it with just AC it works fine.

If there were no OS, this wouldn't happen.

Did you use the full retail Install disc for Mac OS X 10.4? Or were they discs that came with another Mac?

Apple's suggestions for dealing with the flashing question mark can be found at this link:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440?viewlocale=en_US

Did you format the new hard drive before attempting to install the OS?

In order to format a new hard drive:

Start up from the Install disc by holding down the c key as the startup chime is ending. Hold down the c key until you see the progress indicator (which looks like a spinning gear).

In Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), select the language and continue.

Go to the Utilities menu.

Click on the top hard drive icon in the left side panel.

Choose the "Partition" tab in order to format the drive to a single partition.

Click the Options button.

Choose "Apple Partition Map."

Click OK.

Choose to format as one partition.

Name the hard drive by typing the name in the "Name" field.

Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the Volume Format.

Click on the "Partition" button.

Choose Erase tab.

Select the named volume of your hard drive in the left-side panel. (The hard drive icon which appears under the top hard drive icon.)

Click "Erase."

The hard drive is now ready for the installation of the OS.