Need some help with a Kanga

[MattB]

I've got a Kanga G3 Powerbook which I picked up recently for essentially nothing. It's running 9.1 and its RAM is maxed out. The battery even holds a 2+ hour charge. I've got it connected to the internet with no problems. However, the unit has two glaring issues which I'm hoping you all can help me with. The first is that its keyboard is essentially non-functional. It works sometimes but not others, and it acts like a key is constantly pressed. I've opened up the machine and the keyboard connections look good and everything inside is clean, so it's got to be the keyboard. I've ordered a new replacement keyboard, but I can't figure out how to disconnect the cables for the defective one. Any instructions would be greatly appreciated. The unit also has a dead PRAM battery, and I'm hoping someone can point me to a source where I can get one for less than $40. Instructions on replacing this would also be much appreciated.

[MattB]

One more problem...the battery holds a good charge, but the machine won't boot from it after sitting unplugged for a half hour. However it will boot from the battery if I unplug the unit, shut it down, and then power it on again. Both this and the other Kanga that I had did the same thing. Could this be related to the dead PRAM battery?

[beachycove]

Erratic and observable power-related behaviour is characteristic of backup battery failure in nearly every single iteration of the PowerBooks, though the early ones (1xx series) seem relatively unscathed by it. Duos are certainly affected by it, as are Wallstreets, Pismos and the like. In the 2400c, which is a close cousin of the 3400c, such problems are especially acute. I do not know the 3400c well, having had one only for a few days before passing it on to someone else who needed it, but nevertheless think that verification/ replacement of the backup battery should be item #1 on anyone's agenda if restoration of the thing is what is in mind. In my experience, a functional backup battery tends to have the most dramatic effect on stability and usability, as backup batteries serve a range of functions in a PowerBook that extend beyond as well as including the functions of the pram battery in a desktop.

However, before abandoning hope in the cells you already have, I would try leaving the thing plugged in and charging for a few days, as the backup cells take a long time to replenish.

I do not know what cells are used in the 3400c, but have posted here re. the Varta cells found in the 2400c, which may be the same as those in the 3400c. There's an easy way to find out....

[MattB]

It's been left plugged in for several days and exhibits the same behavior (and consistently loses date/time settings, which is pretty much a guaranteed sign of PRAM battery failure). Considering how old the Kanga is I'm not surprised at all that it needs a new one. I located a new replacement online for $12 and am going to put it in when I replace the keyboard. If that solves the power issues I'll have ended up with a reliable PBG3 for less than $50 invested.

[beachycove]

Sorry, I missed the Kanga part somehow and had it in my head that it was a 3400c.

Still, for $12 you can't go far wrong.

[MattB]

Sorry, I missed the Kanga part somehow and had it in my head that it was a 3400c.

Still, for $12 you can't go far wrong.

For almost all intents and purposes Kanga and the 3400 are the same thing. Almost all parts (including the backup battery) are the same. The 250MHz processor isn't as slow as I would have thought either, and it would make a great simple productivity computer with the addition of a USB card and a WiFi card. My plan right now is to see how it does with XPostFacto and OSX on it, which would allow for the use of some newer software than OS9.

[MattB]

Based on the other Kanga I have, I've determined that this one's issue has to be the backup battery. One Kanga boots from battery and keeps proper time. The other one does neither...which leads me to believe they're related issues.

[cangrande]

To remove the keyboard you have to loosen this little clip that holds the flat ribbon cable from the keyboard in. It's a hard-to-describe procedure but it's really easy. The socket that holds it has kind of a little hat on it that can slide up and down about an eighth of an inch. Pull up on the sides of the top of the connector with a keycap puller if you have one, or pry up each side a bit (gently!) in turn with a small flat screwdriver. The top of the connector doesn't come off, but once it's pulled up a little bit the ribbon cable will come out.

[MattB]

To remove the keyboard you have to loosen this little clip that holds the flat ribbon cable from the keyboard in. It's a hard-to-describe procedure but it's really easy. The socket that holds it has kind of a little hat on it that can slide up and down about an eighth of an inch. Pull up on the sides of the top of the connector with a keycap puller if you have one, or pry up each side a bit (gently!) in turn with a small flat screwdriver. The top of the connector doesn't come off, but once it's pulled up a little bit the ribbon cable will come out.

Thanks for the information. I'll have to try that this weekend. No keycap puller, but I can probably find something that will work just as well.

[MattB]

Another question...I have two Kangas, and the one with 64MB of RAM boots noticably faster than the one with 160MB of RAM. There's a noticable pause between the power-on chime and the "happy mac" on the 160MB unit, but not nearly as long on the 64MB unit. Both are running nearly identical versions of OS9.1. Do these machines check the RAM on startup the way x86 computers do?

[Byrd]

Yes, it's doing a basic RAM test. You can't do it on all Macs, but you can likely disable the startup memory test by holding down option + command (I think) when you double-click on the "memory" control panel. There will be a check box at the bottom of the control panel that lets you turn it off. Saves a lot of time on some machines (eyeing off my PowerMac 9600 with 1536MB!)

JB

[MattB]

Yes, it's doing a basic RAM test. You can't do it on all Macs, but you can likely disable the startup memory test by holding down option + command (I think) when you double-click on the "memory" control panel. There will be a check box at the bottom of the control panel that lets you turn it off. Saves a lot of time on some machines (eyeing off my PowerMac 9600 with 1536MB!)

JB

Thanks for confirming. I figured that's what it was doing. I also thought the PRAM battery was dead, but after leaving the machine plugged in for a week it is now keeping time properly and will boot from battery after being left unplugged overnight. However, if the computer is put into sleep mode on battery power, it won't wake up until it is plugged in. The sleep light also flashes weakly on battery power but operates normally when plugged in. Is this another indication that I should replace the PRAM battery? My other Kanga doesn't exhibit this behavior.

[coius]

I am looking for a PRAM battery for my 3400c, where did you find those $12 batteries? I really could use a link to it. Mind you, I am in the USA, so it would have to be either cheap shipping, or at least total cost come under the $30 I found on another site.

please post back, I believe some of my issues I am having with the one I just bought are a result of the machine having a bad PRAM battery.

[ppuskari]

Goodness!!!!! Does that key hack work on the Quadra 950????? Mine takes forever and a day to start up since it's got the full 256 megs of ram installed. I wish I bought more ram back then. 60 bucks for 256 Meg sets!!! Nowadays 30 pin 16 meg simms are about impossible to find cheaply.

[MattB]

I am looking for a PRAM battery for my 3400c, where did you find those $12 batteries? I really could use a link to it. Mind you, I am in the USA, so it would have to be either cheap shipping, or at least total cost come under the $30 I found on another site.

please post back, I believe some of my issues I am having with the one I just bought are a result of the machine having a bad PRAM battery.

It was a place called Wegner Media or something like that. The battery isn't an OEM Apple unit but it should work since all the PRAM battery is is a few standard cells stuck together.

[H3NRY]

16 Meg 30-pin SIMMs are still listed at OWC (Item # OWC30PS16MB) for $9.97. If you need 'em, grab 'em while they're available and max out that SE30 or Q950.