PowerBook G3 - dead as a dodo! Please help - any suggestions?

Question

My friend hates all things computer.
She bought in 2001 a state-of the art brand new Powerbook G3 (best spec), I think, used it once and put it in the airing cupboard for 6 years!!!!!
She now needs to use it! So out it came and was dead, deader than a dead thing and brought it to me.
I plugged it into the mains - nothing.
Tried the three keys (ALT CONTRL DELETE - apple version) and nothing
Tried PRAM reset thingy
Took out battery tried all of the above
Tried reset key
Tried a different battery (one in the box)
Tried all of the above
Nothing, no light, no flicker, no alarm, nothing,.......
Now I wondered whether it needed a PRAM Battery? I saw one mentioned on Google. Could this be the problem? Where do I get another?
If we got the thing working, could she upgrade it to OSX? It is currently not running OS9.
What else can you think of that I could do to this dodo?
Thanks
Frances

Answer 1

Frances,
Your friend probably has the Powerbook G3 FireWire M7572, a.k.a. Pismo.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=24604
What often happens when a powerbook is stored for any length of time is the power manager becomes corrupted and a normal power manager reset will not correct the issue. There is a simple fix, however.
- Remove the main battery, optical drive module, and disconnect the power adapter. Place a support behind the display so the 'book does not tip backwards.
- Lift off the keyboard and lay it face down on the palm rest; do not disconnect the keyboard ribbon cable.
- You will see two round, brown batteries in a black case between the HD and palm rest...these are the internal rechargeable backup batteries a.k.a. PRAM batteries. You will also see a red/white/black pigtail wire running from these batteries to the logic board. With a pair of needlenose pliers, carefully disconnect this wire from the logic board (pull up on the white connector).
- Now connect just the power adapter and try starting up; if successful, press/hold the power button until it shuts down. Remove the power adapter, reconnect the wire, then plug in the power adapter and try starting again. If no start, disconnect the PRAM batteries and leave disconnected until you get a replacement; the batteries have failed and probably have an internal short which is preventing startup. You can reassemble the 'book at this point and use the powerbook until you get a replacement battery. It will run fine without this battery.
- If the 'book will start with the PRAM batteries reconnected, reassemble the 'book and you should be OK.
After you lift off the keyboard, this is what you will see (enlarge bottom picture):
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/PowerBook-G3-Pismo/Keyboard-Page-1-Keyboard
If the main batteries have been left discharged for 6 years, they will be shot. The PRAM batteries can easily be replaced if needed; they are rechargeable but again, the discharged state may have killed them. You can test them after following these instructions:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30580
You can find batteries at many vendors, but here is a very good company:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/batteries/
You can also run the latest version of OSX, 10.4.9, very nicely on this machine with additional memory and possibly a larger HD.