Some years ago I almost got a whole new motherboard for a client's Quadra 605, then happened to read a note in Macworld's letter column about how a dead PRAM battery can knock out video on some Macs. Of course, a whole new motherboard probably would have come with a battery in it, which would have solved the problem, and I'd never have known that a new PRAM battery would have done it for several hundred dollars less.
Since then I've learned that all the LC series have this peculiarity: if the PRAM battery is dead, they boot up all right (you can hear the HD accessing), but the monitor remains black. The 61xx PowerMacs do the same. I dunno why; other Macs (e.g. IIci) will boot with a dead battery just fine, only show 1904 (or 1956) as the date. If you have a volt meter (get a cheap one at Radio Shack) you can check the battery; it should be 3.6V. That's the first thing I do with any problematical LC series or 61xx. If it's dead, you can also get a replacement at Radio Shack (tho they're cheaper from some Mac parts mailorder suppliers). Andrew Main -- Vintage Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Vintage Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/vintage.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
