Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

andrewxlt1 · Nov 28, 2006, 12:28 PM

I have a question about an ibook g4 800 mhz. I recently inherited an ibook with a bad battery but I have the power adaptor, can you run the ibook with the battery out and just using the power adaptor? The battery was recalled and I have contacted apple and they are sending me a new one. I was just curious if you could use the laptop without a battery.

stefanicotine · Nov 28, 2006, 01:09 PM

I'm 95% positive you can, but I've never tried it myself. It won't wreck anything if you try.

ibook_steve · Nov 28, 2006, 03:00 PM

Of course you can run it on AC only. Just be careful about removing the plug. Instant shutdown.

Steve

imitchellg5 · Nov 28, 2006, 05:13 PM

Yes you can. Don't mind the more rude people. We're a bit crusty sometimes

ghporter · Nov 28, 2006, 06:23 PM

Yes you can, my wife runs her 800MHz G4 iBook from AC 99% of the time. Why leave the battery out? Is it physically damaged or just dead? If it's just dead I don't see a need to take it out.

ibook_steve · Nov 28, 2006, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Yes you can. Don't mind the more rude people. We're a bit crusty sometimes

Who's rude? Me? I'm just stating the obvious and something that would be really easy to simply try.

Steve

imitchellg5 · Nov 28, 2006, 08:45 PM

No not just you. It's better to be safe than sorry, so I could see asking someone before trying. Maybe he switched from a PC where those kinds of dumb things sometimes happen

andrewxlt1 · Nov 29, 2006, 01:08 PM

The ibook doesnt seem to work with the adaptor in, I looked on Apple site and the battery is still under the recall so they are sending me a new one. Would that affect the computer from starting up? It sometimes boots to the OS but then it will freeze then when I reboot i can't get to the OS. Any suggestions?

stefanicotine · Nov 29, 2006, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by andrewxlt1

The ibook doesnt seem to work with the adaptor in, I looked on Apple site and the battery is still under the recall so they are sending me a new one. Would that affect the computer from starting up? It sometimes boots to the OS but then it will freeze then when I reboot i can't get to the OS. Any suggestions?

Sounds like more than just a battery problem. Are you sure you have the right adapter for your model? I'm a little rusty on my iBook/Powerbook knowledge but I believe the later models come with a 65W power adapter. While the 45W will work on the later models, it often won't supply ample power, resulting in power being drawn from the battery. If you have no battery installed, then the computer will not work properly at all. Also, reports have been made that trackpad functionality and general computer operation are sketchy, at best, when using an underpowered adapter.

andrewxlt1 · Nov 30, 2006, 02:32 PM

So do you think with a new battery the system will run properly, I have the right power adaptor for the ibook 65W. Its just the battery is old and its one of the recalled ones. I just want to make sure that it will work after a new battery

Thanks for all your help.

stefanicotine · Nov 30, 2006, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by andrewxlt1

So do you think with a new battery the system will run properly, I have the right power adaptor for the ibook 65W. Its just the battery is old and its one of the recalled ones. I just want to make sure that it will work after a new battery

Thanks for all your help.

I guess we'll find out after you get your new battery! Keep us posted!

ibook_steve · Nov 30, 2006, 03:42 PM

I think you should be more concerned that the machine does not operate with just the adaptor plugged in and no battery. I'd try a new adaptor.

Steve