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Hawkeye · Dec 11, 2006, 04:39 PM

True or False:

When an iBook (Dual USB or later) battery is fully charged, all four lights should be green.

Does this remain true even if the battery is old and no longer "lasts" as long as it used to (e.g., that "5 hour" battery is now a "30 minute" battery)?

I recently came across an old Dual USB iBook and I'm trying to tell if the battery no longer holds a charge or if the battery just isn't charging. Right now, I can't get any more than one light to light up.

pat++ · Dec 11, 2006, 05:19 PM

I think so... Maybe you need to reset the power management unit.

Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)

Hawkeye · Dec 11, 2006, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by pat++

I think so... Maybe you need to reset the power management unit.

Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU)

Yeah, I just remembered that today and plan on giving it a shot when I get home. I just wanted to make sure that those lights should light regardless. As far as I can remember -- it's been a while since I had my Powerbook -- all four lights means "full" regardless of whether or not "full" lasts 10 min or 4 hours. I'm just looking for someone to back me up on that.

Sherman Homan · Dec 11, 2006, 05:23 PM

You can get all four lights to fire up and if it is an old tired battery it will lose its charge in minutes regardless. Try Pat's test, if it is an original iBook battery it must be pretty old by now.

Hawkeye · Dec 11, 2006, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan

You can get all four lights to fire up and if it is an old tired battery it will lose its charge in minutes regardless. Try Pat's test, if it is an original iBook battery it must be pretty old by now.

Thanks, Sherman. That's two backing me up that I'm not crazy on the lights. I'll try resetting the PMU when I get home. After that, I'm going to have to see if I can get my hands on another battery to determine whether the battery isn't charging or if the laptop isn't charging the battery.

Sherman Homan · Dec 11, 2006, 06:08 PM

Most likely the battery, the iBook is either/or it charges or it doesn't. No middle ground! Keep the battery anyway, even 30 minutes can save a project!