Black screen, steady power light... and it gets weirder

The other morning I turned on my 17" MacBook Pro that has my 30" Cinema Display hooked up to it and got a black screen on the 30" with a steady power light (no morse code flashing).
There was nothing different from the night before (when it did work). No software updates, no new installs, nothing. I have a second 30" display and hooked it up to be greeted with the same issue. After swapping power supplies and a host of other things, I determined that it wasn't the monitors, but the laptop itself.
I then hooked up a PC screen using a DVI adapter and got a picture. This led me to believe it might be a driver issue, so I re-installed the 30" display software to no luck. I then re-installed SnowLeopard with no luck as well.
After researching the problem online to no avail, I found a link to a 3rd party USB display driver:
http://www.displaylink.com/support/mac_downloads.php
When I installed this driver and restarted my computer, the 30" display showed an image again. However, when I shut down or restart the computer, the monitor no longer shows up and I have to re-install the 3rd party driver to get a picture.
I took it into Apple's Genius Bar and they deduced that, by process of elimination, it is a failed logic board. They ran their OSX through my comp and got no display on the test screen, which made them think it wasn't a software issue but a hardware issue.
But when talking to a long established and reputable 3rd party Mac repair shop, they weren't so sure, but were at a loss to explain the problem. They suggested I test the USB port and the firewire port, which worked fine upon testing. At that point, they were stumped.
Has ANYONE encountered this before or might have a suggestion/solution? I am having a hard time believing it is a logic board failure due to the above. PRAM has been reset and the monitor shows up sporadically upon safe boot startups without the 3rd party driver install.
Help!

Hello tsunshing,
Your computer is on but nothing will how on the screen.
Do a hard reset.
Turn the computer off.
Remove the power cable.
Hold down the power button for 15 sec while booth power sources are removed.
This should reset the hardware in the computer.
Do you see any lights on the keyboard or the computer flashing?
Try to connect another monitor to the computer and see if you can get anything on the external screen.
Let me know how everything goes
Have a good day.

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You've already done the two things I would have suggested.
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Hi,
When I power on the iMac model A1224, it is black screen from startup, and the Mac keyboard seems not working (Press Caps, Nums lock no light), but try that keyboard on another computer, it can work. So please advice what I need to do to solve the problem.
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Hi nhiatay,
Welcome to the Support Communities!
The article below may be able to help you with this issue.
I realize the heading states a gray screen, but the troubleshooting steps would be the same for startup issues:
Click on the link to see more details and screenshots.
Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2570
Cheers,
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Hi,
yesterday evening during a WOW session the screen went gray and the iMac did not respond to anything. I pressed the power button and started again. I got a black screen and the startup sound repeated endlessly.
This morning the same. I checked the RAM modules in my macbook; they are ok.
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Try using this procedure to reset the SMC (power management)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543
If that does not work, insert your Mac OS X installation disc and start up (or restart) with the C key held down. Does it start up properly from optical drive?

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Hi all.
Last night my 23 " Cinema Display (aluminium) went black, after I repluged the video lead back in the graphics card. The power light is on the display and if you press the button at the side the powerlight glows brighter before going off and if already off it glows brighter before coming on (but still no display). Attached the unit to a g4 powerbook and still no video and no options for the monitor in system preffs. Although you can see the usb devices.
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Hi all.
Quick update.
I took the power brick to work and tried it on one of their displays and everything is ok so it's not a brick problem.

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If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983
If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.
Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”
A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
For old and other versions of iPod updater for window you can get here
http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=7369
F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651
If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.
Intermediate Level
A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.
B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.
For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
For Window computer
Go to folder “My Computer”
Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
Now select “Format”
Eject your iPod and do a Reset
Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
Advance Level
A. Diagnostic mode solution
If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
You need to restart your iPod before putting it into Diagnostic Mode. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack. Toggle it on and off to be safe.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.
B. Format your iPod with a start disk
I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.
If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ or ifixit at your own risk
http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php
http://www.ifixit.com/
Just in case that you are at the following situation
Your iPod warranty is expired
You don’t want to pay any service charges
You are prepared to buy a new one
You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.
Warning !!!! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level
Last Resort Level
1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery and HDD replacement (with Quicktimes)
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/directory.html
2.Press the reset button on the Hard Drive inside the iPod – Suggestion from Kill8joy
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2438774#2438774
Have I tried these myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.
2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
Spank your iPod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ljPhrFUaOY
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3597173#3597173
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2831962#2831962
What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0
Strange error on iPod (probably death)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0
Meeting the Sad iPod icon
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevant_history/2004/11/meeting_the_sad.html#comment -10519524
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095
iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746
4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623
Low Battery, and clicking sounds
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018
Sad iPod solution
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0
Re: try to restore ipod and it says "can't mount ipod"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=443659&tstart=30
iPod making clicking noise and is frozen
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2420150#2420150
Cant put it into disk mode
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3786084#3786084
I think my iPod just died its final death
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3813051
Apple logo & monochrome battery stay
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3827167#3827167
My iPod ism’t resetting and isn’t being read by my computer
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4489387#4489387
I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.
Finally, I read a fair comments from dwb, regarding of slapping the back of the iPod multiple times
Quote “This has been discussed numerous times as a 'fix'. It does work, at least for a while. In fact I remember using the same basic trick to revive Seagate and Quantam drives back in the mid to late 1980's. Why these tiny hard drives go bad I don't know - could be the actuator gets stuck in place or misaligned. Could be the platter gets stuck or the motor gets stuck. 'Stiction' was a problem for drives back in the 80's. Unfortunately the fix can cause damage to the platter so we temporarily fix one problem by creating another. But I know of two instances where a little slap onto the table revived the iPods and they are still worked a year or more later.”UnQuote

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I also have a game question but that is the least of my worries right now.

Hi,
With the iPad turned on try a reset by holding down both the Home icon and power button together for about 10 seconds, you should then see an Apple logo in the middle of the screen.
Let us know how you get on, good luck.
Regards,
Steve

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Hi,
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"Do I really need to haul it 20 miles to the shop? "
If you don't want to spend any of your own $$$$ to fix it yourself & that includes purchasing a battery.
Call Customer Relations -1-800-767-2775
Since your serial # is covered explain to them all that is wrong w/your computer & ask if that is covered also. If so, don't you think the 20 miles is worth having all that work done plus labor *for free* is worth it?
Do you have AppleCare? Just in case it's not all covered under the AERP.
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-------------How do I give Kudos? | How do I mark a post as Solved? --------------------------------------------------------
I am not an HP employee.

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Try a SMC Reset using the extended method:
Remove the AC power cord.
Press the power-on button. [This drains the stored charge from the power supply]
wait a quarter minute.
Restore the power cord, being certain to JAM it into the socket, as the big block of rubber inhibits proper seating.
wait a quarter minute
attempt to power on.
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Black screen, steady power light... and it gets weirder

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