My TI-83 Plus Calculator will not turn on

TI calculators have an annoying habit of dimming the screen when the batteries are changed so that it appears as if the calculator isn't turning on. Turn the calculator on (or at least press the ON key). Press and release the 2ND key. Press and hold the Up-arrow key for a few seconds and see whether the screen becomes legible. If this doesn't do it, please reply to this post and we'll go on from there.

hi adamsukienni,

Clean the battery damage up real good. Gently scrape to terminals of corrosion. Back in my day we use to put a little bit of coke cola to clean car battery posts to get a good connection. If you could put a little bit of coke on a Q-tip without getting any inside the calculator that would be good. Just let it soak in for about 30 minutes. And gently scrape the bad areas again clean of the corrosion. You have to clean it up to metal so, that when the battery is in it will be metal to metal connection.

If you can download new OS with another Ti83 Plus or, don't want to install the new OS goto Procedure 1.

Be ready to install the new ti 83 OS v.1.19. So, setup your computer with Ti Connect software and, have the new OS v.1.19 download ready and, in "My Documents \ My TI Data \ Downloads." If you need additional instructions on how to connect the computer to the calculator you can read my instructions at another posting I did. You can go to that posting by clicking, "Connection Instructions," under this paragraph. Just remember the OS was for a Ti 84 Plus and, your's is a Ti 83 Plus so, don't download the OS from the other posting. I'll give you a link below this paragraph to download the correct Ti 83 Plus OS v1.19 for your calculator here at your posting. Just follow the other posting to where I say, "You can also go back and, download the Ti 84 Plus guidebook too, if needed." After that statement the computer and, calculator get connected with the cable and, your not ready for that process, yet! When you come back to this posting and you have downloaded the new OS to the proper folder goto Procedure 1.

Additional computer to calculator connection instructions click, "Connection Instructions."

Ti 83 Plus OS v.1.19 download click, "Ti 83 Plus OS v.1.19". Save this download to "My Documents \ My TI Data \ Downloads".

Procedure 1.
Take all the batteries out for 10 minutes, including the very small one that you have to use a small philips screw driver to get it out. Watch out for the spring under the small battery, it might pop out. Replace all the batteries after 10 minutes with new ones, including buying a new small battery. The small one might cost about $5. I know it is expensive but, this might work.

A battery reset procedure should bring your Ti 83 Plus back to life.

Make sure the batteries are in correctly? The batteries alternate negative/positive, positive/ negative and so on. The first time I put the batteries in, I didn't have them in correctly. I know if it happen to me that anybody could make the same mistake. And of course, the calculator will never come on if the batteries aren't in correctly.

If your Ti 83 Plus turns on when you put the batteries back in you do not have to re-install the OS. I just think it is better since, your OS might be corrupt.

The process below should reset your calculator.

1). Pressing the [2nd] key followed by pressing and releasing the [Up Arrow] key. This adjust the contrast in case the contrast was to low. Keep repeating if necessary for about 10 seconds and, then go to the next step. If calculator comes on and responds to key functions your done. Once again, if your calculator turns on after this procedure you do not have to re-install the new OS. You can quit these procedures now with a perfectly good calculator.

Please be prepared to re-install the calculator's OS, if you run through this process.

2). Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [DEL] key. While holding [DEL], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display
"Waiting...Please install calculator software now". Connect to other Ti 83 Plus and, install OS from that calculator. Or, follow the instructions, I gave at the other posting "Connection Instructions" to reinstall the calculator operating system and, connect the computer and, calculator. You can start where, I say, "Link your computer and, Ti 84 Plus (Your's is a Ti 83 Plus) with the proper cable (USB or Black Link). Upon completion your Ti 83 Plus will be ready to use and, the new OS installed.

Hi imagenius1,

You need to free up some memory. Try clearing your RAM memory. Your calculator should operate properly afterward.

Press [2nd] [MEM] [7] [1] [2]

If the steps above did not reset the memory to your Ti 83 family calculator try the procedures below.

Please be prepared to re-install the calculator's OS if you run through this process.

If you have a straight Ti 83 without the Plus or, Silver Edition label goto (Procedure 2) below. If your Ti calculator is a Ti 83 Plus or better goto (Procedure 1).

(Procedure 1).

1. Try a new set of AAA batteries.
   

2. Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [CLEAR] key. While holding [CLEAR], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display the message "RAM Cleared". Release the [CLEAR] key and, then press [CLEAR] one more time to remove the message.
   

1. Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [DEL] key. While holding [DEL], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display "Waiting...Please install calculator software now". Follow the instructions for the TI-83 family or TI-84 Plus family to reinstall the calculator operating system.
   

   
   

   
   

2. Steps to re-installing the operating system:
   ~Connect the TI Connectivity cable between the PC and the calculator.
   ~Click on Start >> Programs >> TI Tools >> TI Connect >> TI OSDownloader
   ~Follow the on-screen directions to reinstall the calculator's OS. If you could not install the new OS on your calculator goto step 4.
   
   
3. Remove all of the batteries including the round lithium battery for 5 minutes. After the 5 minute period, reinsert all of the batteries and turn the calculator on. Adjust the contrast if necessary.
   
   
4. If the above process did not reset your calculator. Try re-doing (Procedure 1) and, extend the time in step 4, by 5 minutes to 10 minutes before you put all the batteries back in the calculator.
   
   

(Procedure 2).


For a straight Ti 83 without the Plus or, Silver Edition label try the procedure below.

1. Try a new set of AAA batteries.
   







2. Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [ON] key for 20 seconds. Reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on.
   

It calculator tells you Ram Cleared each time you turn it on, the most likely reason is that the backup battery is depleted. Its role is to keep the memory modules electrically refreshed when calculator is turned off. If the backup battery is dead, the memory is erased when you turn calculator OFF. Main batteries no longer supply power and the contents of the memory are cleared.

1. Check that main batteries are good and inserted in calculator.
2. Turn calculator OFF.
   
3. Replace the backup battery.
4. Turn calculator ON.
5. Press the [CLEAR] key to erase the "Ram Cleared" message.
   

Hello,
Well, if screen shows the RAM CLEARED message, that means your calculator is working. Just press the [CLEAR] key, message will be erased and you are ready to crunch numbers.

Hope it helps.

This is kinda a weird situation. Because it's usually the other way around. Your ram will clear if your calculator is frozen. So take out all 5 batteries from the back. Even the back up battery. Then reset it again. 2nd then + then 7 then 1 Then 2. Good luck.

These instructions are from education.ti.org, and worked for me.

1) Take out one of the AAA batteries
2) Hold down the CLEAR button
3) Put the AAA battery back in while still holding down the CLEAR button
4) Let go of the CLEAR button and turn the calculator ON
5) Press CLEAR to get rid of the error message.

Then you should be good! All the applications on my calculator were still intact, so despite the error message, the RAM was never actually cleared.

For the baos problem, just remove a battery, leave it out for about 5 seconds. Before replacing it, hold the del key. Replace the battery while holding the del key. The calculator should turn on and display: "Waiting... Please install calculator software now." Connect it to your comptuer and install the TI-83 Plus OS.

You should press the 2nd and then hold the down arrow to cahnge the contrast. If that doesn't work then you should try resetting the calculator by taking both the back up and main batteries for 45 seconds.

Well you seemed to have deleted your OS. This is easy to fix it you need to go to the TI site and follow their instructions for downloading a new os thats all you can do.