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General discussion

Help re: Mac Powerbook G3 will not start

Jul 21, 2005 1:10PM PDT

I cannot start my Mac laptop Powerbook G3....the ac adapter appears to be connected properly...I've tested it to different outlets.

Mac will not start on PowerOn/off button...
....will not start by Reset (rear laptop panel)
...the battery appears to be lifeless,

Any suggestions on how to resolve this is welcomed & greatly appreciated....

thx,
gem

Discussion is locked

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Laptop
Jul 21, 2005 9:49PM PDT

When was the last time it was booted up?
Is there any reaction at all to pressing the powerbutton
Does the "Chime" happen
Have you tried removing the battery and attempting to startup. AC adapter connected, of course.

P

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Laptop
Jul 22, 2005 6:18PM PDT

Thanks for responding MrMacFixit

1. Last boot up = Wed a.m. July 21

2. No reaction at all to pressing the powerbutton

3. No Chime happens

4. I will remove battery as u suggest and update you.

** The 4 lights on battery go on when I press the battery button.

Pressing Reset button then Pressing the 3 bottom row left keys with Power -- no action.

thx,
gem

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laptop
Jul 22, 2005 6:20PM PDT

PS

Oooops forgot to mention...

The 4 lights on battery appear after pressing the battery button....
disappears within 5 seconds.

thx, gem

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You forgot
Jul 22, 2005 10:24PM PDT

to answer one of the questions.
Did you remove the battery and then try to start the PB. A/C adapter connected, of course

P

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Which one?
Jul 22, 2005 6:43PM PDT

On my 266 Wallstreet, there is a soft reset you can do by holding down the fn-ctrl-shift keys and pressing the power button. Sometimes you have to hold it down for a few seconds.

Lampie

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I've had a similar problem...
Jul 30, 2005 12:13AM PDT

Hi, I've had a similar problem with a black Powerbook G3 (without Firewire/IEEE1394). It wouldn't start up after a while (from a few hours to days and even weeks) after I reset it using the keys stated on the back of the computer. It took a longer time to turn on each time after I reset it (e.g. If I reset it once, it wouldn't turn on for four or so miniutes, the second time, it might'nt of turned on for an hour and if I reset it again it would've not turn on for an even longer period of time). My keyboard also didn't work properly (only the function and system keys worked). My keyboard worked when it felt like it (but that was not most of the time).

I rung the Apple people and they suggested it might be a hardware problem, have you had any storms recently that might've fryed the hard disk? I would take it to an authorised Apple Repair person and get it fixed, but it might cost you a bit so consider, possibly getting a new laptop.

I might point out that I upgraded it recentely from Mac OS 9.1 to Mac OS X v10.2.0 Jaguar, this might be a large factor of your issue.