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Author Topic: Freaky power problem  (Read 2016 times)

Offline ixi

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Freaky power problem
« on: October 15, 2006, 03:36:27 PM »
Hello again everyone! I've come here with small problems...this is a big - and complex - one.

Wednesday night I was writing a paper. I used the restroom and when I came back my screen was black. I figured the power saver had come on...early. However I soon realized my computer had turned off. I tried to turn it on and I heard the hard drive's high pitch ramping up and the familiar little clicks, followed by the chime. Instead of the screen going to the white with the apple logo, it remained black. Suddenly the screen flashed and it powered itself down.

I tried this again...and again...and again. The exact same thing happened everytime. I unplugged everything, removed the battery and replaced it...tried again...nothing. An hour later I took it to computing services at my university. It turned on. HOWEVER, it took FOREVER to start up and suddenly a message popped up about how my time zone had changed...

My laptop told me it was December 31, 1969, 7:05pm.

What??? I took it back, plugged everything in, all was well...for 3 days.

My suspicion initially was my power adapter, as it's likely it has a short in it. I know I need a new one. But then today, when this happened a second time after the small move of a mouse, and I waited and turned it back on finally, it shut itself down as I plugged everything back in..."everything"  consists of a USB hub, printer, and iPod.

A week ago my printer wouldn't turn on. One day it was on...now it won't turn on. I disconnected everything so all that is plugged in to my printer is the power. It still won't turn on.

Now I'm feeling that maybe this isn't the power adapter. The outlet the printer is plugged into is the same as my surge protector. But the other devices plugged into the surge protector are fine.

This is really freaking me out! I am going to get other help but I thought I would also post this to see if something rings a bell for anyone out there. My dad thought maybe the equivalent of the C-MOS battery in a PC was shot. Is there such a thing in a Mac?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!
~Alex
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Offline kbeartx

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Freaky power problem
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2006, 04:29:38 PM »
Hey, Alex.

When a Mac suddenly has a date in 1969, it's dead giveaway the internal battery that maintains the Parameter Ram is dying or dead [Dad was essentially right], but I had never before heard of this occurring on a laptop [donno why, it has to have one.]  

It might 'splain your other symptoms, too.

Which 'book do you have?  In addition to the Usual Steps [such as replacing the battery], you'll wanna reset the PMU [Power Management Unit], which is one of those arcane keystroke combos that I don't remember.

Hopefully, others w/ the needed info will be along shortly.

 - Unka K
« Last Edit: October 15, 2006, 08:14:37 PM by kbeartx »
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Offline kbeartx

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Freaky power problem
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2006, 04:35:12 PM »
Found this:

To reset the PMU -

1) Turn the computer off.

2) Reset the circuit by simultaneously pressing (hold for about a second) and then releasing Shift-Control-Option-Power. Apple's documentation says to be very careful to *NOT* press the Function (fn, lower-left button) key while pressing this combination.

3) After releasing the combination, wait at least 5 seconds.

4) Turn on the iBook by pressing the Power button.

========================================

And this:

If the date and time are not held after a shutdown, it is likely that the backup battery is either discharged or needs replacement. Follow these steps to charge the backup battery:

1. Remove the main batteries.
2. Reset the Power Manager as described in article 14449: "PowerBook: Resetting Power Manager".
3. Connect the AC power adapter for 4 hours to fully charge the backup battery.If discharged main batteries are installed in the computer, recharging the backup battery may take up to 48 hours to completely charge.

If the date and time are still not held after a shutdown, have the backup battery replaced by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

So maybe it's NOT user-serviceable?
« Last Edit: October 15, 2006, 04:46:14 PM by kbeartx »
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Offline ixi

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Freaky power problem
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2006, 09:34:49 PM »
Hey Unca. The reason it said 1969, I just realized, is because I removed the battery when it first happened to see troubleshoot things.

I will try the PMU thing, thank you!
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Offline krissel

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Freaky power problem
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2006, 10:37:12 PM »
Be sure to check the Apple doc cited by kbear as the routine varies according to your model of PB.

smile.gif

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

Other things to consider regarding the printer and your adapter includes the possibility that the surge protector may be faulty.  Also if your removeable battery in the PB is not being recharged due to its being old or a flakey adapter, the PRAM battery will not be able to maintain its charge either. Most of those batteries only have enough charge to hold the date/time for 5-10 minutes if the removeable battery is not charging it or it is not on the AC.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2006, 10:38:03 PM by krissel »
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Offline kbeartx

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Freaky power problem
« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2006, 02:49:58 AM »
If your power adaptor is indeed flakey, it might have caused the backup battery to fully discharge, bringing about this prob.  

I donno how to 'splain the printer power prob, unless the prob is actually a flakey power strip.
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Offline ixi

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Freaky power problem
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2006, 05:02:22 PM »
QUOTE(krissel @ Oct 15 2006, 11:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Be sure to check the Apple doc cited by kbear as the routine varies according to your model of PB.

smile.gif

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

Other things to consider regarding the printer and your adapter includes the possibility that the surge protector may be faulty.  Also if your removeable battery in the PB is not being recharged due to its being old or a flakey adapter, the PRAM battery will not be able to maintain its charge either. Most of those batteries only have enough charge to hold the date/time for 5-10 minutes if the removeable battery is not charging it or it is not on the AC.

Oh...the surge protector could be at fault even though the printer isn't plugged into it? It's plugged into the outlet, the same one the surge protector is plugged into. Hmmm...interesting. If it were at fault, wouldn't it cause other devices plugged into it to malfunction in some way? They aren't.

Thanks for the info about the PRAM battery.
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Offline kbeartx

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Freaky power problem
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2006, 08:33:16 PM »
I had assumed that the power strip / surge protector was the common element in both the PB and printer power glitches.  

Since it's not, I respectfully withdraw my theory. coolio.gif

Perhaps the power from the wall is intermittent?  Unlikely, but not impossible...
« Last Edit: October 17, 2006, 05:09:39 AM by kbeartx »
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