Wallstreet PMU questions

Question

I'm fixing up my old Wallstreet ( 512 RAM and 30GB HD) and trying to get OS X running. I think the hardware is straightened out (7.8 GB OS X partition, rest OS 9 and OS X data) and finally found the stick of RAM going flaky when hot. Now I have a PMU problem. Works fine under OS 9 and worked under OS 10.2.1. When upgraded to 10.2.8, then shut down, the system won't stay awake, that is, it boots but when it reaches the desktop it goes to sleep and won't wake up. Restting the PMU (shift-fn-ctrl-power) shuts it off and then it won't restart at all. To fix this, I have to pull the plug on the backup battery, which requires a complete disassembly and is a royal PITA!
This happened to me before on an iBook (white dual USB 500 MHz) when I did the 10.2.8 upgrade. Since that machine was under warranty at the time, I took it back to CompUSA where I bought it, and they destroyed it trying to make repairs. (Long story which came out OK in the end.)
Anyhow do any of the Wallstreet experts know another way to cause the PMU to reload its code other than disconnecting all power including the internal battery? I've tried "reset-all" in Open Firmware, and that just resets - not reloads the PMU processor.
Any hints to avoid trashing the PMU's memory on upgrades? Normally they go without a hitch, but this one has bit me twice.
iBook 800 MHz, Wallstreet G3 292 MHz   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

Answer 1

William,
The failure to power up, or if it does start but then immediately sleeps after the desktop loads reminds me of a problem peculiar only to the Wallstreet that was common in the earlier days of the Wallstreet. Users were replacing their HDs with larger ones (10-30GB at the time) and experiencing these problems:
- Once the HD was installed, they could load software and everything ran fine, but the first time the display was closed when running, it would not wake, or if the display was closed with the powerbook turned off, it would not start up.
- Sometimes the 'book would power up but immediately go to sleep.
- Sometimes pressing the power button produced a buzz when the 'book was not responding.
- Depending on the particular HD, this issue could be intermittent.
With most of these symptoms, the cause was the HD's magnet interfering with the magnetic sleep switch located in the side rail next to the 'delete' key (and next to the HD). Once put to sleep, for example, the HD would prevent the sleep switch from opening (if the display had been closed).
I am guessing that by disassembling the powerbook to get at the PRAM battery, you also removed the HD...this would have released the sleep switch.
There are several quick ways to test for this problem:
- when there is no response, remove the HD, then reinstall;
- tap the side rail with the handle of a screwdrive or something similar;
- try a refrigerator magnet above or below the side rail (I would be careful here).
Additional info:
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/PBG3/wallstreet_harddrive/index.html