iMac clock is forgetful

jeepster485

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I have a G3 iMac that has a bit of a clock problem. If i keep the power on the surge protector turned on, the computer will be fine. If I shut the surge protector/computer off and come back after a weekend and turn the computer back on, the clock resets to 1969. I would assume the clock battery is bad, but if I do a normal restart, the computer is fine. We do have an awful lot of static electricity in my room at college and it has been possible for my roommate to shock himself at the door-frame to the bathroom and I hear a pop three feet away in my speakers. Could this static electricity perhaps shock the computer when it has no power and somehow it resets the PRAM on it? Or is the battery just in need of replacement? Any thoughts would be great; thanks!
 
Leaving the surge protector on, even when your iMac is off, leaves a small 'trickle' voltage available to the iMac, enough to prevent loss of time, probably even with a dead PRAM battery. Turn off the surge protector, and you lose time and date, because your PRAM battery is dead. Time to replace the battery.
hint - leave your surge protector on. (yeah, turn it off if you'll be gone for several days.)
 
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