Wallstreet PRAM Battery

[matt neuburg]

In <5034b6cd.0308141407.87d8d87@posting.google.com> fred freem wrote:

> whenever I start up
> the computer, both the contrast and the brightness need to be
> adjusted, as well as the wacky date and time. I don't mind changing
> these settings every time I start up, even though it's a hassle.
>
> Does this sound like I need to replace the battery? Will it cease
> starting up one day, even though it is always plugged into an
> electrical outlet?

I wouldn't want to predict the future, but the symptoms you describe are
the standard sign that the pram battery is in trouble. m.

--
matt neuburg, phd = [email]matt@tidbits.com[/email], [url]http://www.tidbits.com/matt[/url]
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[Henry]

fred freem <fredfreem@hotmail.com> wrote:

> ...whenever I start up
> the computer, both the contrast and the brightness need to be
> adjusted, as well as the wacky date and time. I don't mind changing
> these settings every time I start up, even though it's a hassle.
>
> ...even though it is always plugged into an
> electrical outlet?

If it is always plugged into an outlet, why do you shut it off at all?
Set the energy saver to darken the LCD after a reasonable interval and
be happy.

NB: you also should make sure that you've got a safe power supply. Apple
recalled some of the early Wallstreet a/c adapters; you should
double-check that the previous owner of your machine got the free
replacement.

>
> I should mention that very soon I plan on opening up the case in order
> to install a larger hard drive* and some more RAM, so this would be a
> good time to replace the motherboard battery, if it proves necessary.

Well, then, sure--if you're going to be opening it up anyway, you might
as well replace the PRAM battery; it can't hurt anything.

cheers,

Henry

[Thomas Reed]

In article <5034b6cd.0308141407.87d8d87@posting.google.com> , fred freem
<fredfreem@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I acquired a runt of a PowerBook: a 233 (Mainstreet!) Wallstreet with
> a dead expansion bay battery. I'm not so interested in replacing it
> though, since I am not a "Road Warrior."

For a desktop machine user who hasn't used a laptop much, sometimes the
battery is not fully understood. But imagine this -- you're working on
some important work that's due the next day, and the power goes out.
(And let's say it's not a multi-state outage and your boss *will* be at
work the next day! ;-)

I've had power outages, but I haven't lost even one character of data
in years. Why not? The battery. Even though I almost always use my
laptop while plugged in, the battery lets me not only keep my data if
power goes out, it lets me keep working. (Or playing... :-)

So, though it may seem like an unnecessary part of the computer, you
may want to consider replacing it anyway.

As to whether this could be causing your problem, I have no idea!

--
-Thomas

<http://www.bitjuggler.com/>

[Thomas Reed]

In article <1fzqatp.1jhflxh1dvqtbrN%henry999@eircom.net>, Henry
<henry999@eircom.net> wrote:

> If it is always plugged into an outlet, why do you shut it off at all?
> Set the energy saver to darken the LCD after a reasonable interval and
> be happy.

Or, even better, put it to sleep.

--
-Thomas

<http://www.bitjuggler.com/>

[B Collins]

fred freem wrote:

>
> PowerBook Knowers:
>
> I acquired a runt of a PowerBook: a 233 (Mainstreet!) Wallstreet with
> a dead expansion bay battery. I'm not so interested in replacing it
> though, since I am not a "Road Warrior." However, whenever I start up
> the computer, both the contrast and the brightness need to be
> adjusted, as well as the wacky date and time. I don't mind changing
> these settings every time I start up, even though it's a hassle.
>
> Does this sound like I need to replace the battery? Will it cease
> starting up one day, even though it is always plugged into an
> electrical outlet?
>
> I should mention that very soon I plan on opening up the case in order
> to install a larger hard drive* and some more RAM, so this would be a
> good time to replace the motherboard battery, if it proves necessary.
>
> * Any suggestions on the best place to purchase a 5400 rpm hard drive
> for this model would also be much appreciated. If there's a problem,
> I'll want to know that I can return it.
>
> Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
>
> Fred
> [email]fredfreem@hotmail.com[/email]

I believe it is called the "backup battery" in a Wallstreet, and it is
not so easy to replace. It is not the standard battery you can get from
Radio Shack, like you would for a desktop machine. I have a service
manual for the Wallstreet (manual used to be available for download from
Apple, but have not been able to find it recently). Getting at the
backup battery requires some serious disassembly, more than is needed to
install RAM or hard drive. You have to remove part of the case.

PBParts.com and PowerBookGuy.com do this kind of thing for a living. I
recently had my Wallstreet repaired by PBParts (different problem, not
the battery), and am very happy with their service. They will also
happily sell you the part if you want to do it yourself. Send them an
e-mail, see what they say, then decide how you want to proceed.

Bill