My Lombard and the Prohibitory symbol (+ something)

[MacDan]

Hey guys, yet another question. This one one is about my Lombard.

****LOOK DOWN THE PAGE!! PLEASE!

After installing both OS 10.2 and 10.3 (from retail disks), my Lombard would act normally and work perfectly. I should mention now that the discs are fine. They work on other computers. Once I shut it down, the problem starts. I believe that the Hard drive won't "hold" the OS for more than a few hours. I can shut it down and come back an hour later and it'll still be there. Not after 4 hours, though. I've tried it all to fix the problem, except this:

"Some Lombards have problems with OS X if there is RAM in the top slot. Try removing the RAM module in the top slot during installation. It would be nice if you had a 256 MB module in the bottom. Make sure that larger module is in the bottom slot and leave the top slot empty and try the installation. Hopefully you have enough RAM to do that.

Think this'll work? Is this Lombard a lost cause? Is it the hard drive (it's an IBM travelstar 20GB)?

The Lombard: 400Mhz, 20GB HD, 192 MB RAM.

 

[wally]

Should you have a zero charge old main battery in there when you are testing, you can try pulling it out and charging the PRAM battery for a full 48 hours in either operating or shutdown modes, but not in sleep mode (for which the PRAM battery discharges while trying to keep memory alive while you are doing a quick main battery swap). If the PRAM loses its mind it could forget the startup disk. I didn't think this was likely based on certain Apple notes on what OS X stores in PRAM, but in mucking around with open firmware resetting NVRAM for intelligent battery resetting, I have caused that prohibitory symbol to appear...

A 20 GB drive...what partition size(s) are you using?

 

[MacDan]

I'm just using a 20 gb partition. I asked elsewhere if I should partition it, but they said Lombards didn't need partitioning.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it. How exactly do I charge it? Just by leaving the laptop plugged in without the main battery and without the optical drive?

 

[wally]

Just pull the main battery, the optical drive can be in or out, leave the PowerBook plugged in several days.

I've seen conflicting info on the internet regarding just which models have the "first bootable partition must be less than about 8 GB or eventual trouble"...others with direct experience and/or detailled understanding please jump in on this one!

 

[MacDan]

I think it is the PRAM battery (though it'll boot up to OS 9.2.2 perfectly. No

"?" mark folder). It boots into OS 10.3, if I select it from the install OS X CD or if I select it from OS 9.2.2.

It also gives me an info box when I log into OS 10.3 telling me that the clock is set to a date before March 24, 2001 (April 1, 1976 to be exact).

Could it be the battery?

 

[wally]

Could be, but give it a chance to heal (recharge). I was sure the PRAM battery was hosed on the PBG3 Firewire I just bought, but then I pulled the dead main battery to do some surgical inspection inside it. With the main battery out and the 0% charge symbol replaced by the little AC plug symbol, the PRAM battery slowly recovered to respectable capability. I was getting the bad date message also, but no longer. But don't sleep the thing with the AC disconnected because even fully charged it is just minutes until the PRAM battery has given its all trying to support main memory. Without a main battery, it is probably best to shut down when not using but leave it plugged in to the powered AC adapter.

See for example

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30580

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106216

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2295?viewlocale=en_US

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58401

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2287?viewlocale=en_US

but do not be surprised if you find some contradictions even within the Apple documents. Once you are in the support areas do a search on PowerBook G3 and you will see all kinds of tidbits about your Lombard and related PowerBooks.

 

[equill]

This thread has resonances with the battle by beachycove to get a PB 500 series with a recelled battery to accept its new lease of life. I agree with wally's recommendation that rescue of a Rip van Powerbook begins with the backup battery. Small (in size and capacity), unseen inside the case, and crucial to the portability idea (ie, potentially independent of the AC mains) for PowerBooks.

Anything up to a week may be needed to get the backup battery back up, but even deeply-discharged batteries can be persuaded back into enough life for utility by the expenditure of nothing dearer than time on the AC adapter with no drain, ie not booted.

de

 

[MacDan]

Wally is right! It is the battery! It is working (I left it plugged in for the afternoon and will be plugged in for the rest of the time). I hope it'll still work in the morning. I'm posting this on it. It is now running 10.3.9! Thanks a bunch and I'll keep you guys updated!

 

[Bunsen]

Wooo! Another one saved!

 

[MacDan]

Thanks a bunch Wally! :-*

Still running nicely and still plugged in (I'm on the G5 at the moment). I installed Word and Power Point on it. You Tube runs slow. The price for the RAM is unbeatable, Thanks Dr. Bunsen for the tip!

 

[MacDan]

Thanks a bunch Wally! :-*

Still running nicely and still plugged in (I'm on the G5 at the moment). I installed Word and Power Point on it. You Tube runs slow. The price for the RAM is unbeatable, Thanks for the tip Dr. Bunsen !

Wait a minute! I read this on Wikipedia:

...although there are issues when installing Mac OS X (above 10.0) if both RAM slots are not occupied with identical size RAM (ie. OS X will not install)."

Does that mean if I plan to purchase a 256MB stick of RAM, I have to buy another one? Just curious.

 

[MacDan]

I was looking at a PRAM battery. Claims to be working. Is it safe?

I'd have to buy a main battery first though, I believe. The one it came with is dead (tried resetting it). Can anybody suggest anything or have an extra one I can buy?

 

[Bunsen]

Thanks for the tip Dr. Bunsen !

Muh?

Wait a minute! I read this on Wikipedia:...although there are issues when installing Mac OS X (above 10.0) if both RAM slots are not occupied with identical size RAM (ie. OS X will not install)."

Muh?
I've never heard that before. The only thing close to that I've heard is that you should remove one stick before installing if you have any problems, as the OS X installer may spazz out at the concept of a Lombard with half a gig of RAM.

 

[MacDan]

Thanks for this. These prices are great.

 

[Bunsen]

Oh yeah. No problem