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G4 PowerMac problems - time to replace battery ?

  • 27-07-2003 11:14am
    #1
    shabbyroad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,198 ✭✭✭


    couple of problems have become more prevalent recently and despite zapping PRAM and rebuilding desktop they persist.

    Problem 1 : this started yesterday. I have a router that distributes IP addresses via DHCP. I've checked the cabling with a tester and it's fine. WHen I connect the G4 via ethernet and start up (OS9) it crawls - I mean I can leave it for half-an-hour and it will still be loading extensions when I return. Disconnect the network and it starts up fine.

    Problem 2 : losing date & time. Methinks the battery needs to be replaced. Have the machine 3 years now.

    Problem 3 : flashing "?" floppy image - can't find startup disk. it eventually finds it but sometimes can take a couple of minutes.

    At this stage I beginning to suspect that something as simple as replacing the internal battery will fix some (if not all) of these problems - but I can't see how it will fix the first one....


Comments

  • #2
    RicardoSmith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭RicardoSmith


    Its possible that the ethernet on the G4 is setting it self to some default setting that the DCHP doesn't like. Theres also the possibility that the two problems are unrelated. Recently I've had to replace the CMOS battery in an old Power Mac 9500 and a pretty recent Pentium 4 system. Both of which where having wierd problems including losing the time and dat settings. The 9500 I could understand since it was about 10 yrs old. But the P4 is only about 2yrs old, so that surprised me. Anyway replacing the battery made lots of the problems go away. I'd say replace the battery at least you eliminate that as cause of the other problems.


  • #3
    shabbyroad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,198 ✭✭✭shabbyroad


    Think I'll start with the battery and take it from there.
    The TCP/IP settings are normal (get IP via DHCP) and had been working fine for a long time.


  • #4
    RicardoSmith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭RicardoSmith


    Is there not an ethernet address on the machine? Where is that set? If its in hardware then it may be changed by the CMOS being reset. I know that on NT4/2000 you can have problems if the hardware overides the OS settings and vice a versa on network cards. I'd assume something similar could happen on a mac. Its only a hunch though.


  • #5
    ZENER
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,163 ✭✭✭ZENER


    If your battery is faulty and the clock loses time check the clock setting and be sure its not looking for a time server.

    The ethernet address in the machine is called the MAC address and is not effected by the battery this is a number assigned to the chip when it is made.



    Tinky


  • #6
    shabbyroad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,198 ✭✭✭shabbyroad


    I've eliminated the network problem.
    I've also got a G3 iMac and it exhibited the exact same problem when I connected it to either of the two network ports I've made available to that room.
    on startup it crawls and when I disconnect the machine(s) behave normally; similarly after a start-up without any network connection I plug the machine(s) into the network and sure enough the crawl begins again and stops as soon as I disconnect them.

    So.... next step is to try a hard connection with the router which is at the top of the house....sheeeesh... only exercise I'm likely to get today.


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