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User profile for user: Susan Howard
Susan Howard Author
User level: Level 3
743 points

My iBook G4 is ailing

Hi, yesterday I tried to print an Apple Works 6 word processing document. The first page was good. The others could not be read. Printer is connected via USB. Printer is healthy. No issues printing from MBA Mountain Lion or Acer netbook Win 7. The iBook is running OS 10.3.9. It' an 800MgHz G4 processor.


Today I was reading my file from the iBook screen and typing the text on an MBA. iBook shutsdown or freezes instead of sleeping. On boot the iBook makes a static sound before the chime then boots normally. I can read files. I eventually got an error message in Finder that the date and time is set before 1969 and applications may behave erratically. I reset the time. Still printing is not good.


I repaired permissions and ran MacJanitor yesterday when the printing issue presented.


Do you think a new permeter ram battery may resolve this? My iBook was purchased January 2003. The pram battery had ever been replaced.


I would appreciate any suggestions. I love my old iBook. Not ready to give up on it yet.


Thanks much.

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)

Posted on Dec 21, 2012 1:42 PM

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5 replies
User profile for user: dalstott
dalstott
User level: Level 4
2,639 points

Dec 26, 2012 12:56 PM in response to Susan Howard

A new battery should fix the problem as there is no PRAM battery in the G3 and G4 iBooks. There is a capacitor on the motherboard that briefly holds a charge to keep the date and time correct. It can go bad or simply discharge if the battery is dying which can cause the same symptoms as a dead pram battery. All the computer needs is a charged battery to keep the time setting.

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User profile for user: dalstott
dalstott
User level: Level 4
2,639 points

Dec 27, 2012 7:27 AM in response to Susan Howard

One thing to consider is to reset the PRAM and the PMU after you get the new battery installed.


An easy file check method is to startup in safe mode as It forces a directory check of the startup volume. You may see a progress bar on the screen during this check, and the computer may take longer than usual to complete its startup.


I also use a free utility called AppleJack for OS X 10.6 and previous that can be started in single user mode for troubleshooting. Below are some links to these items. Give us some follow up if needed.


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1772


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431


http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/15667/applejack

http://www.macworld.com/article/1135377/applejack15.html

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User profile for user: Susan Howard
Susan Howard Author
User level: Level 3
743 points

Dec 27, 2012 9:27 AM in response to dalstott

dalstott, thank your for the additional help. I am still waiting for the battery. I will zap the PRAM after the battery is charged. Battery is not here yet. Shipped from Illinois 12-21-12 enroute to Ohio via United Parcel Storage 🙂.


The iBook is running OS 10.3.9. If you have aditional suggestions I would appreciate any help you can offer. MacJanitor has served me well along with Disk Utility for permissions repair over the years.


Much thanks.

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My iBook G4 is ailing

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