[agentz]

OK, I get that there's like a million topics about iBook batteries but after a search I couldn't find anything like this...

We've just picked up a clients iBook - the problem they described to us is that it doesn't appear to be charging properly.

When we got the machine and pressed the button on the battery one LED came on and flashed which according to the Apple kbase means that the battery is almost totally discharged. We took the battery out of that machine and put it into one of our test machines and it appears to go through the motions of charging the battery, but if you look at the underside of the battery when its charging instead of having say three leds lit solidly all three will be flashing. Take the battery out of the machine and press the level button and more than one LED will flash.

Put a known good battery into the clients iBook and after a few minutes if you press the battery button multiple LEDs start flashing again.

We've tried all the usual suspects such as resetting the power manager etc but no change.

Apparantly this machine has had a couple of replacement batteries in the past.

Basically, long story short, can anyone tell me what it means when an iBook battery (12" 600MHz model)flashes all four (for example) LEDs? Searched the Apple kbase thoroughly and can't find mention of this.

Thanks in advance

[agentz]

Anyone?

[polendo]

Some of us unfortunate Ibook users who got the 1st build of 10.2.8 lead us to believe that it screwed up our batteries.

Long story short, I have the same blinking battery as you, and it was after the 1st build of 10.2.8

Apparently the batteries got screwed. Erratic time left & of recharge is common with this batteries. I haven´t tested with someone else´s battery, but my feeling is that If I put a new battery on the Ibook, within time it will screw it also.

I don´t know the meaning (officialy) of the blinking battery, but I can tell that mine is like that and it is screwed.

Some writers on Apple Discussions have phoned Apple, and they categorically denie that the batteries got screwed by 10.2.8

Some users have even only 15 minutes worth of battery. I for one, I´m not buying another battery, nor Panther. I was going to buy Panther, but I think I´m going to save for a Powerbook instead or switch back. Depends on what is best for me at the time.

My Ibook is 8 months old, and is a 700 Mhz.

[okm51]

I have an ibook 500 Mhz dual USB, also running 10.2.8, and it has the same battery problem. If the problem is due to a software glitch is it possible to resurrect the battery? Thanks

[anaphora68]

Well if another battery works in the same computer it sounds like the battery is dead. I don't think there is anything you can do but buy another battery.

[polendo]

Originally posted by okm51:
I have an ibook 500 Mhz dual USB, also running 10.2.8, and it has the same battery problem. If the problem is due to a software glitch is it possible to resurrect the battery? Thanks

Actually the problem became hardware wise. Some people upgraded to Panther with no benefit on their batteries. I went back to 10.2.1 with no gains.

Nevertheless, and unfortunately, who can confirm that 10.2.8 within time won´t screw back again the battery?

If I get another battery, I get Panther. Then again that is 260 dls., which is about 30% (assuming no depreciation) of the original value of the Ibook. Doesn´t make sense anymore. I won´t give out my hard earned money just like that.

Right now an Ibook G4 would put a G3 Ibook at least in the 700 dls range for the newest one. Mine, a 700 mhz, I wouldn get more than 550 dls. And that is with a good battery (which I don´t have).