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I removed the daughtercard and put everything back in place. Blew out a lot of dust down there too. The heat sink on the processor is pretty loose but probably doesn't matter? Don't have the funky screwdrivers around nec'y to tighten it.

Anyway, put everything back in place but still won't start. No change whatsoever.

Tried the reset (PMU) switch in back.) Nuthin.

Oh and the power supply never gets warm. I heard that could be a symptom? The battery charge lights don't light up, so maybe a power issue?

The plug is not damaged, and I've tried different plugs, outlets, adapters. The internal connection where the power plug goes in seems wobbly but I don't have any "norm" to compare it to.

UPDATE: it's been plugged in over an hour. The adapter is stone cold, but the underside of the computer is warm. So I guess it is getting juice.

Last edited by lord_uranus (2007-12-05 2:28 am)

Check out iFix It.  They have trouble shooting guides, take apart guides, and parts for those machines.  Your machine would be the Powerbook G3 Pismo.  You can probably find parts cheaper on eBay though.

Must be a power problem. It will only boot up sometimes. I have to fiddle around with the power connector until it gets just right, then it will boot. I've heard these models have a lot of problems with that.

I have two so I can compare them and the one that won't start definitely has a more wobbly connection in the back of the machine. A friend of mine has a wallstreet model and he has had to take it a apart and solder it a few times.

ps I used to work in Maine. Beautiful place. I miss Geary's beer.

Sounds good.

I just checked ebay. Appears to be quite a few but the prices sure vary. Some are $75!

But it sounds like the solution. Thanks.

oh and one of the internal batteries is dead. I'm not sure of the name, but the one that keeps the clock correct.

when I boot up there is always the warning message that some programs might not work properly because of this. a very small problem I can live with but it reminds me of two other similar small problems.

I have two 50cc scooters. One, a honda 2 stroke has a broken speedo cable. that is a problem I can live with as it has no effect on performance and no one checks the speed on those things anyway. they top out at 30mph.

it also has a dead battery. no effect on performance. the scooter kickstarts and lights etc work fine when engine is running.

the other bike is a 4 stroke honda 50cc and it also had a faulty battery and kickstarter. but due to the way it is wired, a faulty battery results in an incomplete circuit and the bike will not start or run.

what I'm getting at is, in a similar way, I wonder if the faulty clock battery in the pismo could effect the startup circuit, and if leaving it plugged in for a while is just enough juice to get over that.

***** on a different note*****

speaking of batteries: I hear the ones inside the main pack, like most notebooks, are just a bunch of nicad or nimh AA batteries packed together. if true could one crack open the dead (main) battery case and just replace the cheap rechargables?

If the PRAM battery is dead, unplug it and see if it solves the problem. I rescued a Pismo from my friend's college that way.  It wouldn't boot and they figured it was a bad motherboard, so they threw it out.  I unplugged the PRAM battery, and it booted right up.

You can re-cell the main battery, but you have to know what you are doing.  Soldering on Li-Ion batteries is VERY dangerous.  If they overheat, they can explode or burst into flames.

BINGO!

simply pulled out the pram plug and it works fine. I wish I had tried that before taking the machine apart and replacing the sound card a few months ago.

and I've given up up DIY main battery replacements. When I first heard about it I thought it was a far simpler matter. Thanks everyone.