I have been trying to help a friend with an iBook with SS 10.0.3 and an 80 gig HD. It is about 8 years old. She had been able to access the internet and she used Outlook Express for Email. Her computer wasn't starting up and she took it in to a service shop.
There they said that she needed a new hard drive. And they installed it at a cost of hundreds of dollars. When she brought the computer home she was unable to send or receive email even though the settings were checked numerous times with her ISP. She could get on some sites - but not all - using Internet Explorerl. Her clock keeps reverting back to the early 1900s and the settings in System Preferences keep changing on their own.
Today I reinstalled her system software and now she can get her email by signing onto her Sympatico account through the Hotmail portal. But the Mac Mail, Outlook Express and Netscape Communicator mail programs will not work.
Many times when a CD is inserted into the tray it will not stay - it just pops back out. Sometimes when the computer is started it opens in SS 9.1 and the start-up disk has to be re-set to start on OS X (yet again). Other times on start-up all that shows is a question mark and the only way to get it to boot up is to insert the install disk and start holding down the 'C' key and then selecting OS X as the start-up disk.
I think the problem may be the battery in the computer that keeps the clock running etc. When she took the computer into the shop she was told that installing a battery would cost her over $500. for parts and labour. We realize that she should have a more up to date SS but it seems a shame to throw good money after bad. I have worked at problem solving on many Macs but this has me stumped. Does anyone know what the problem might be?
Suggestions? Thanks.
I think I agree with your diagnosis, as far as having to reset all of those preferences so frequently.
I think it's the motherboard battery as well.
$500 seems a little steep for that kind of work, but I 've never worked on a laptop (it's really easy to do on a tower machine).
I'll bet someone on this board could probably help you for less.
I don't know if this part falls under Do-It-Yourself, but for more recent machines, which may include this iBook, Apple has a step-by-step manuals for DIY fixes of user-serviceable parts.
http://www.apple.com/support/diy/
-Mike
(I didn't find anything after doing a quick check on one model)
Mac iBooks do not contain a PRAM battery, they rely on the main battery or AC power to keep the clock going and keep all of the PRAM settings. The machine probably needs a new battery, but if these problems show up even when plugged into AC power, it could be more serious. Rather than plowing more money into an old machine, you might want to consider some of the new models.
See http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58445 for info on PRAM batteries.
Replacement iBook batteries are listed for about $100 US on several US sites. Not sure what the computer shop would do for the extra $300+ they want to charge ...
Thanks for the suggestions - will follow up.