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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Keep having to reset the PMU

Jamehud - Oct 27, 2007 - 9:21 am

I have a powerPC G4 FW800 desktop superdrive powermac with a 1.42gig processor.

Over the last couple of months I am finding that I am having to reset the the PMU button inside the computer to get it to start up.

On average I have to do it roughly three times a week, and whilst it usually does the job, I would like to get to the bottom of why it is doing this, because there must be an underlying problem that needs to be dealt with.

Any Help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, James.

Cheryl - Oct 28, 2007 - 6:55 am

James,

Can you explain the symptoms of your mac you are getting? Did you install anything just before this problem started?

Your machine came with Apple Hardware Test CD. It could be on the Additional Software disk. Locate that disk and start up the computer with it. Allow it to run its tests. Let me know what it says.

If you don't have the disk, do you have Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro?

Cheryl

Jamehud - Oct 30, 2007 - 2:07 pm

Hi, thank you for the prompt response. Apologies for not getting back sooner.

The problem is when I turn on my Mac I hear the start up chime and fan running. The power LED is lit but the screen remains black.

As I have said previously, resetting the PMU button usually fixes this but it never stays fixed. So I have to reset the PMU around three times a week.

I have ruled out it being a monitor issue as it does the same thing when I connect a different monitor.

I have also tried starting up with all third party peripherals disconnected, but this has made no difference.

I do not recall ever having an Apple Hardware Test CD with my computer as you have asked, although I bought this Mac in 2003 so I may have simply misplaced it.

The only disk I have is the Power Mac software install and restore CD OS 10.2.3. Although the OS I am now using is 10.4.10.

I do not have Disk Warior or TechTool Pro, would it be worth my while getting one of these? Is one better than the other?

I have ordered a new PRAM battery which is due to arrive this week sometime, do you think this could be the problem?

Thank you for your time

James.

Cheryl - Oct 30, 2007 - 6:22 pm

James,

It has been documented that on some models a bad PRAM or internal battery can cause problems just as you are experiencing.

Once you get the battery and install it, give it a few days and let me know if you still get the black screen.

You should have a third party Disk Utility on hand other than the Disk Utility that is on your Tiger install disk. There may be a time when Apple's Disk Utility can not repair your drive and the third party utility can. I personally use Disk Warrior, but I know other techs who use Tech Tool Pro. You can check them out here:

Disk Warrior
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/index.html

Tech Tool Pro
http://www.micromat.com

Our system will close a ticket after three days of no activity. If that happens before you get the battery, you (or I) can reopen the ticket.

Cheryl

Jamehud - Nov 2, 2007 - 5:29 am

Hi,

I ordered some more RAM and a new PRAM battery for my Mac. Unfortunately the order came yesterday but they forgot to put the battery in the package.

I phoned them and they sad they will send me out the PRAM battery immediately, but I don't think it will reach me until early next week.

Until then I am unable to let you know of any progress I may have made in terms of solving my Mac problem.

I will purchase Disk Doctor, but as far as i'm aware the current versions are not yet compatible with the new leopard OS. I will wait until they are, as I may decide to buy Leopard, or maybe even possibly a new Mac.

Regards

James.

Cheryl - Nov 2, 2007 - 5:55 pm

James,

I hate it when the shipper does not check before sealing the box. I will keep this ticket open, and wait for your battery to arrive.

The leopard version of Disk doctor should be released soon. They are not slow.

Cheryl

Cheryl - Nov 4, 2007 - 10:52 pm

James,

I am just keeping this ticket open. You should be getting that battery soon.

Cheryl

Jamehud - Nov 5, 2007 - 1:09 pm

Hi Cheryl

Thank you for your patience.

Still no sign of that batery.

I have a gut feeling that it hasn't even been sent, as I'm sure I would have recieved it by now, and the company I purchased it from don't appear to be particularly competent, seeing as they forgot to put it into the parcel in the first place.

If it doesn't come by tomorrow (tue 6th) I'll ring them.

I know you can't keep this ticket open indefinately, so if you need to close it I fully understand.

Regards

James.

Cheryl - Nov 5, 2007 - 9:08 pm

James,

Keep on them. You paid for it, you should get it. Threaten them with a call to the authorities.

Cheryl

Jamehud - Nov 7, 2007 - 4:52 pm

Hi Cheryl

Just to let you know that I rang the company who I bought the Pram battery from and he said that the battery should reach me by the end of the week.

He admitted that they had initially forgot to send it, but he assured me that it would be with me by friday at the latest.

Needless to say, I won't be using this company again.

Regards

James.

Cheryl - Nov 7, 2007 - 9:21 pm

James,

Well, he did admit the mistake. A mistake that will cost them in the end.

Keep me posted.

Cheryl

Jamehud - Nov 9, 2007 - 12:28 pm

Hi Cheryl

Well the battery came yesterday, I have fitted it, and so far so good.

I must say though, my computer has been behaving itself pretty well since I added some extra Ram. That was late last week, and since then I haven't had to press the PMU reset button at all, which as i've said, is something i've needed to do for around 2-3 times a week for at least the last month.

It's probably just a coincidence but I thought i'd mention it.

All I can do now is wait and see how it behaves over the next few days.

Thanks

James.

Cheryl - Nov 9, 2007 - 5:39 pm

James,

This is good news. How much total ram do you now have?

Cheryl

Jamehud - Nov 10, 2007 - 3:56 am

Cheryl

I now have 2gb of Ram, which is the maximum my computer can have.

I'm struggling to think how adding more Ram could have solved the problems I was having, but it certainly seems to have had some kind of positive effect.

Either way I'm not complaining, I still changed the battery though, as the one that was in there was the original that came with the computer, and was surely coming to the end of it's life.

Regards

James.

Cheryl - Nov 10, 2007 - 8:54 am

James,

Sometimes it seems like our computers have a mind of its own. In either case, your problem seems to have been solved. I will close this ticket, but if the problem reoccurs, just reopen it.

Cheryl