[G4] losing my preferences

[Ron Steinke]

You might be experiencing these changes because of a weak or dead 
battery in your Mac. Do you turn off all power to your Mac by using a 
power strip or a surge suppressor that cuts the power entirely? If you 
cut the power entirely, the internal battery has to keep the clock, 
mouse settings, video resolution, and many more preferences active. 
This battery only lasts so long and then goes dead.

Many teachers in my local schools have the same sort of problems after 
coming back to school from summer vacation. The janitorial staff pull 
the plugs from the walls at the beginning of summer and don't put them 
back in until the start of classes two and a half months later. The 
batteries only hold power for so long and then get to be too weak to 
hold the preference settings.

The surest tip-off is that you get a dialogue window that says your 
date and clock settings are wrong and should be reset.

If you check your internal battery and it is less than 3/4 of the 
original strength, replace it. This may solve your problem.