At 5:32 PM -0700 12/5/2002, Andrew Main wrote: >Some years ago I almost got a whole new motherboard for a client's >Quadra 605, then happened to read a note in Macworld's letter column >about how a dead PRAM battery can knock out video on some Macs. Of >course, a whole new motherboard probably would have come with a >battery in it, which would have solved the problem, and I'd never >have known that a new PRAM battery would have done it for several >hundred dollars less. > >Since then I've learned that all the LC series have this peculiarity: >if the PRAM battery is dead, they boot up all right (you can hear the >HD accessing), but the monitor remains black. The 61xx PowerMacs do >the same. I dunno why; other Macs (e.g. IIci) will boot with a dead >battery just fine, only show 1904 (or 1956) as the date. > >If you have a volt meter (get a cheap one at Radio Shack) you can >check the battery; it should be 3.6V. That's the first thing I do >with any problematical LC series or 61xx. If it's dead, you can also >get a replacement at Radio Shack (tho they're cheaper from some Mac >parts mailorder suppliers).
There is an even simpler method to test it. Turn on the computer, wait for the drive to spin up and then either hit the reset button or if there is none then turn it off and immediately back on again (as fast as you can toggle the switch). If it boots okay then the battery is kaput. If it doesn't then it's still worth it to check the battery. -- Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting [EMAIL PROTECTED] "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway" -- Vintage Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Vintage Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/vintage.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
