[Panzer]

Ok, my fathers 15 inch Albook needs some assistance. He was using it this evening on battery power, let it run down and then it went to sleep as usual. Pressing the button on the battery verifies the battery is drained.
When plugging it in now nothing happens. I mean no chargie, no workie. The plug does not turn green, amber, or even red. I've tried resetting the PMU per Apple recommendations, removed ram, airport but nothing works. This thing just isn't getting any power.
Any ideas? It's not the power adapter, we tried others but the laptop just won't charge or accept the power. I suspect that if we had a charged battery that it would come right up. The major problem is that he is going out of town tomorrow and has a presentation on it that he needs. All he needs right now is to get his work off of this thing.
If anybody can shed some light onto this we would appreciate it.
Also, any idea if the Apple store could swap out the hd to save the data? Might they be able to put a charged battery in it to try and salvage his work? What are their policies on this, considering that time is a factor. We have a store about 2 hours away, in the wrong direction, but there are few options left.
Thanks again for any help.

[ibook_steve]

Stupid question, but have you tried another power outlet? Unless there is something seriously wrong with the Powerbook all of a sudden, the light on the adaptor should turn on green or amber. You say you've tried other adaptors, so it's not that. Just on a hunch, try plugging it in somewhere else.

Steve

[littlegreenspud]

If it is the battery causing the problem remove it and run direct from the power outlet.

I had a Toshiba laptop that would not start up at all if the battery was flat, you had to remove the battery, start it up from an AC outlet and when it was running you could insert the battery and it would charge.

[Panzer]

Just a followup, it looks like the female power receptacle on the powerbook itself is shot. In a moment of pure MacGyverism, I took out the battery of the AlBook (discharged) and my iBook (fully charged), and gave it a recharge by connecting pins 1 and 6 on the discharged battery to the same pins on my charged battery. I let it charge up for about 15 minutes, and that was enough to boot the AlBook and get the presentation off.
I don't know the pinout for the battery but it seems that the first and last one are all you need to recharge it, maybe that tip will help somebody out if they find themselves in the same position.
Cheers

[ibook_steve]

Originally posted by Panzer:
Just a followup, it looks like the female power receptacle on the powerbook itself is shot. In a moment of pure MacGyverism, I took out the battery of the AlBook (discharged) and my iBook (fully charged), and gave it a recharge by connecting pins 1 and 6 on the discharged battery to the same pins on my charged battery. I let it charge up for about 15 minutes, and that was enough to boot the AlBook and get the presentation off.
I don't know the pinout for the battery but it seems that the first and last one are all you need to recharge it, maybe that tip will help somebody out if they find themselves in the same position.
Cheers

Bad idea! Apple uses smart batteries. The computer communicates with the battery constantly to determine how much power to provide, battery temperature, and other factors. Each machine is different. By simply attaching the battery to another charge circuit like you did could potentially damage the battery beyond repair. I would not recommend doing this again. Get the power connector fixed.

Steve

[Panzer]

Haha yeah well the cost of a replacement battery is insignifigant compared to getting the data, which is well on its way out of state at this point. If the battery won't ever hold a charge then so be it, I'd do it again. But that's a good point, do as Steve says, not as I do! These were unusual circumstances so the means justified the end.
Later guys!