Blue G3 Mac Won't Start—PRAM Battery?

[mrlynn]

It's been maybe three years since I've started my trusty old blue G3. Pressed the power button and. . . nothing.

I'm assuming it's a dead PRAM battery. Would that keep it from starting? This computer has a 3.6 1/2AA battery on the motherboard. I see OWC has them; I'm wondering if I can pick one up at Best Buy or somewhere today.

/Mr Lynn

[OWC Jamie]

Got an Interstate Battery nearby ?

[OWC Jamie]

billb wrote:
Got an Interstate Battery nearby ?

Ooh, nix that, looks like the closest one is Waltham or Worcester

When I needed one for the bluetooth door sensor Home Depot, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Lowes did not have them.

[mrlynn]

Thanks Bill—

I checked BB and a computer repair shop ("We don't sell parts"), gave up, and ordered from Amazon: two days.

/Mr Lynn

[RAMd®d]

Has that Mac been unplugged for awhile? That would kill the PRAM battery and keep it from starting.

I had the same problem with a G4 iMac.

[mrlynn]

RAMd®d wrote:
Has that Mac been unplugged for awhile? That would kill the PRAM battery and keep it from starting.

I had the same problem with a G4 iMac.

No, actually it has been plugged in all the time. But not started for a few years.

/Mr Lynn

[Acer]

[OWC Jamie]

When the battery in my G4 died, iirc, when I turned the computer on the fan spun and that was about it.
I clip-leaded a AA battery in it's stead - 1.5 volts sufficed.
I eventually stole the battery out of a G3 tower as working with the door open on the G4 was graceless and awkward.

[spacescape]

I hope I didn't prematurely trash a Dual 533 G5 due to the PRAM... Oh well.

[RAMd®d]

No, actually it has been plugged in all the time. But not started for a few years.

I doubt the non-starting was a problem. A friend used his G4 iMac almost every day and after several years it began having problems starting and having a very severe video problem. A new PRAM battery got it sorted.