Mac OS X, Portables: Batteries shouldn‘t be changed when computer is sleeping

Attempting to change a battery while the some portable computers are asleep (and started up from Mac OS X) causes an NVRAM and/or Power Manager reset. Connect the AC power adapter before swapping the battery, or shut the computer down instead.

If you try to change the portable computer's battery while it is asleep and not connected to the AC power adapter, these things might happen:

• Your computer shuts down.
• The system clock, Startup Disk, and other PRAM/NVRAM settings reset to default.
• Your computer restarts from the first available volume, when more than one is present.
• You may not be able to make secure connections in a Web browser (because the date isn't correct).

Important: You should not do this kind of reset unnecessarily. A variety of system settings return to default after this type of reset.

This document applies to these portable computers:

• PowerBook G3 Series
• PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze Keyboard)
• PowerBook (FireWire)
• PowerBook G4
• PowerBook G4 (12-inch) (all)
• iBook (all)

Solution

Connect to your AC power adapter, or shut the computer down to change batteries.

Be sure to use System Preferences to reselect your Startup Disk and to correct date and time. If your computer starts back up from Mac OS 9.x, use the Startup Disk control panel to select the Mac OS X System Folder.

Related documents

106211: "Mac OS: "Unable to establish a secure connection" or "security certificate" Messages in Web Browsers"
14449: "PowerBook and iBook: Resetting Power Manager"
2238: "Macintosh: How to Reset PRAM and NVRAM"