G3 Powerbook as external display?

Is this even possible? I know about the patch to make the iMac spanning to any external monitor, but I have a G3 that I'd like to make a use of. Thanks!

No, it's not possible to use your PowerBook display as an external display for another computer.

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Powerbooks and external displays

Hello there guys.
I currently have the 20inch iMac and am in my final year as an undergraduate. I have applied for a PhD which involves a lot of travel and I was thinking about a laptop/monitor combination... to use the laptop as a HD and to power ta screen from which I did most of my work and allowed myself to have correct posture etc etc and a larger workspace, but I obviously do not want to have a piece of equipment which will overheat.
Are the powerbooks ok in doing this? I would have a keyboard and mouse set up too. I'll probably have an external HD to store large amounts of data on such as music etc...
thanks in advance, martin

Sorry Irwin, needa divert abit from your topic =p
I'm currently looking into buying a 12" pb for my 1st mac.
Had handson on the OS with my friend's mac mini and is very impress with the OS overall. Its so simple to use and its so cute..^_^
Basically, I will be using for school work (Ms Words, excel, ppt) which mac has the ms version and some home video and photo editings and I will be upgrading the ram to 1GB. Thus I think the powerbook will be sufficient for me. and looking at the posts, I guessed my choice is more or less pb to the new macbk pro as Ii think I will not want to run into non-UB applications =p. (do advice me otherwise ^_^)
Two questions I have about the external display and the heat - I am looking into connecting the 12" pb to a TV set instead of LCD monitor. I had tried with my friend's mac mini and it works. and my friend keep his mac mini on 24/7, no problem so far.
I am lking into working long hrs for reports on the pb (not 24/7 though)and I don't want my screen and motherboard to 'blow up' as my previous NEC laptop (an event of 1 wk 24/7 usage when rushing reports on a 3-4 yr old nec laptop) =p
Will the pb be too heated up and spoil the screen and motherboard on events of long usage hrs without external screens?
Another concern is when I connect the laptop to the TV set, will it work with the lid close (as in the screen on pb itself will be off & I view directly from the tv)? This is coz I came across this article on web saying
"My next attempt was to connect the MacBook Pro to my TV set with the lid closed. So I closed the lid, putting the computer to sleep. No problem — I pressed the center button on the Apple remote, which woke up the computer… for about 10 seconds, before it went right back to sleep. This is consistent with the behavior I’ve seen on PowerBooks, but it’s a little frustrating. It should be easy to run the MacBook Pro in lid-closed mode via the remote control. Instead, in order to wake the MacBook Pro up and keep it awake, I had to attach a USB mouse."
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2006/02/macbooknotes/index.php
Can someone help me clerify these questions before I make a purchase? =p
Thanks a million. =)
Currently owning 2 desktop PCs. Looking at switching to Mac
Currently owning 2 desktop PCs. Looking at switching to Mac
Currently owning 2 desktop PCs. Looking at switching to Mac

Can I substitute an external display in place of broken powerbook screen?

Water was spilled on my powerbook titanium and now the backlight doesn't work. This is fairly expensive to replace, but the computer appears to be working fine (from what I can tell using the dimly light display).
Instead of replacing my screen which would be costly can I just use my powerbook as a desktop and attach it to the external display? Without seeing whats on the screen can I setup my computer to use the external display as the main output (mirroring)? I fear I might not be able to do this without the GUI provided by the screen.
Anyone ever done this?
Thanks.
Powerbook G4 Titanium 15" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Yes, you should be able to do this no problem. You don't need the GUI. Just close the lid on the TiBook, attach and external monitor and then use and external USB keyboard or mouse to wake the system. Leave the lid closed at all times. And leave the AC adapter attached. Should work fine.

I have an Apple Powerbook G4, and my monitor doesn't function. I have an external display Monitor, however it's stuck in extended screen mode. How do I get it to mirror or duplicate the display without use of the on-board?

As i had said, I have an Apple Powerbook G4, and my monitor doesn't function. I have an external display Monitor, however it's stuck in extended screen mode. How do I get it to mirror or duplicate the display without use of the on-board? Is there a Fn key combo i'm missing or is the issue more serious then i realize? any and all help and hints would be greatly apprichiated, thanks in advance.
-Powerbook User

The PowerBooks have an F-key that toggles mirrored and extended mode. My PB is loaned out right now but I think it was f7. The keycap has an icon on two overlapping rectangles, as I recall.
EDIT: Yes! Found a pdf of the PB manual it shows F7 is the toggle:

Mac OS 10.4.3 Sleep, Powerbook G4, Airport, External Display Problems

I am running Mac OS 10.4.3 on my G4 Powerbook, system spec as follows
Machine Model: PowerBook5,6
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.2)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1.67 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.9.1f1
Serial Number: XXXXXXXXXX
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
Version: 1.0
When the Powerbook is woken from sleep mode the airport crashes when using an external display. I have no idea why this is, but it seems from other threads, that the external display and airport are closely tied together, and I have also read that there are others who are experiencing some problems with the Airport. When this happens, I have to hard boot the machine as I can't forcequit or shut down the system from the menubar (this crashes too)
I have the following installed for my airport
2005-07-27 22:23:42 +1000: Installed "AirPort" (4.2
2005-11-12 12:00:12 +1100: Installed "AirPort Update 2005-001" (1.0)
Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme
Wireless Card Locale: Worldwide
Wireless Card Firmware Version: 404.2 (3.90.34.0.p16)
I am using an Apple 23" Cinema HD Display with the Apple ADC-DVI converter(previous model)
Can anyone help me with this problem?
Thanks
LucasK

I don't think the DVD is damaged since it worked fine on my old G4 desktop.
The reason I'm trying to reinstall OS 10.4 is because I have received the computer from a family member with all his files and data in it. I want to get rid of it all and start from scratch for my personal use - if possible. If not, I could settle for less.
I want to explain few issues if that helps. I first tried installing Mac OS 10.3 to my Powerbook running Mac OS 10.4.3. I put OS 10.3 CD, started computer with C key held down, and all that came up was gray screen with 1 inch black line to the left of the Apple logo, and remained there - never making it to the blue screen. I shut of the computer, took the Mac OS 10.3 out of the Powerbook, restarted without the CD, and the computer was back to the desktop.
Then I tried installing 10.4, which goes past the gray screen, and gets stuck in the blue screen. I ejected the 10.4 DVD, and computer was back to normal (to the desktop)
It sounds like you inserted the wrong or a damaged DVD and neither the installation nor erasure took place. In that case, let's get started again on the right foot.
Tell me why you want to erase your hard drive? Were you experiencing some technical issue, and if so what? Let's troubleshoot that situation with the least harmful method.

Powerbook heats up with external display?

I just recently got a 19 inch LCD Viewsonic VX924. I'm running the the mini dvi to dvi out to the external monitor with my powerbook display closed. I've noticed that the powerbook runs at a higher temperature with this setup and the fans are on about 100% of the time. Is this normal? It's also causing my harddrive to heat up as well and my PB's harddrive starts making this slight buzzing sound around 117 degrees F. Is this something I should be worried about?
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I run on an external monitor, and I don't know if it's related, but my PB LCD died after months of being used as a desktop unit. I have it on a cooling pad. Still, the 12" LCD wasn't being used, and just stopped working after months of the computer being on an external display.
I'd suggest a cooling mat, just in case.

Using an external display with Powerbook G4

I have a Powerbook G4 15" (1.25GHz powerpc G4). I would like to purchase an Apple external display to use with it.I have two questions please:
a) Is this Powerbook compatible with both the 20-inch Apple Cinema Display AND the 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display? It is unclear from the Apple website whether it only works with the 20" screen.
b) would I be able to physically shut the Powerbook (whilst keeping it on) whilst using it with the external display (and an external keyboard) or would I need to keep the Powerbook open to prevent it from going into sleep mode? I'd like to be able to shut it so it doesn't take up desk space but continue to work on it.
Thanks for any help
Mark

You ended in the 17" PowerBook forums but your question should get the same answer here as in the 15" forums. I'll take "b".
Here are two Apple articles on using the G4PB with the lid closed. It's slightly different between USB and BlueTooth keyboards, so they get separate articles
With BlueTooth keyboard/mouse
With USB keyboard/mouse
I've not used an external monitor on my G4PB so I'll let someone else talk about that.

Running an external display from my powerbook

how do i run an external display from my notebook with the powerbook closed?

Here are the instructions for clamshell mode:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131
Regards,
Captfred

External Monitor on Powerbook with no display

Alright, so here's the deal...I have a Powerbook G4 Titanium 15 inch, on which the internal display has since died. I removed the display completely and purchased an external display which has worked fine with current OS. But, I have decided to erase the disk and use Linux primarily while partitioning a small amount of space to retain Mac OS 10.4. But, after erasing the disk using the original Mac OS X 10.1 restore disc, all installer startup discs including the Software Restore, Mac 10.4, and Linux will not appear at startup, only the Mac OS x 10.1. I assume this is because the startup disk does not recognize the external monitor and assumes it is running the program on an internal display which is not there. Is there anyway I can permanently erase the internal display options, to in effect make the Powerbook act like a desktop or tower with regards to the external display? Thanks.

If you can’t see your MacBook screen because it’s broken or the backlight is off use the F7 key to switch between Extended Desktop and Mirror Display if you have the Early 2006 model 1,1 MacBook or the Late 2006 & Mid 2007 model 2,1 MacBooks.
From the Mid 2007 MacBook User Guide: F7 (video mode toggle key) Switch between dual-display mode (extending the desktop across the built-in display and an external display) and video-mirroring mode (presenting the same information on both displays).
This won't work on the newer MacBooks.

External display problems with snow leopard

I just upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard on my Macbook and it's created lots of problems with my LCD external display:
- The display won't work at its native resolution (1680x1050) - it will flash up an image for 1/10 of second and then go black. I can only get it to work at a lower resolution, which looks AWFUL.
- If I try to start up my Macbook with the lid closed and the display connected, the display won't work at all (it jams on the start up screen). It only works if I keep both of them running
I never had these problems when using Leopard. I've searched lots of forums and found that many people are having similar problems with external displays. Apple still haven't fixed the bug after repeated efforts from people to get if fixed.
Here are some threads (now closed) on this if you're looking for solutions:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2132912&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2136455&tstart=1
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2132837&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10084332
Common suggested fixes are:
- Force OS X to use LCD font smoothing (does not work for me)
- Clear the PRAM on start-up (does not work for me)
- Delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist (does not work)
- Change energy management setting to high performance (only works on graphics cards in Macbook 15" and 17").
From reading these forums it appears that this is a well-know bug. Has anyone else got any suggestions to fix this? And why hasn't Apple fixed this yet after so many people bringing it to their attention? It's clearly a bug that wasn't in Leopard.

I'M FED UP WITH APPLE! They've always been a little shady, but the last half of 2010 took the cake!
First it was the iPhone 3g "upgrade" to IOS4 which was garbage and killed my ability to use the 3g until I figured out how to crack the software, wipe the thing clear then reinstall the original software. Next up was purchasing the iphone 4 as a Christmas gift for someone running tiger on their mac, only to find out that the iphone 4 doesn't work on tiger when they tried to sync their contacts - and then having to rush out and purchase snow leopard so that they could enjoy my gift. Then I install Snow Leopard (note - I purchased the family pack) onto my own leopard-running(10.5.+) powerbook only to have the external LCD display I've been using for years suddenly stop working.
Oh, okay, to be fair, it works IF I RESIGN MYSELF TO SET it to "mirror image" (which defeats the purpose of having multiple displays) and drop the resolution down to a pathetic, unsharp, nearly distored setting that is almost painful to look at knowing that this monitor was just A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO showing me crystal clear images.
Then I exhaust myself trying to find a fix only to discover that APPLE in their infinite brilliance (AKA - their torture of loyal customers) knows of the issue - worked it out - then created an update that created the issue all over again. I'm so done! No more macs. I'm going back to the evil land of PCs. At least there, you know you're getting crap, it doesn't sneak up on you after getting you to trust it time and time again.

Macbook won't detect external display anymore - Random shutdown injury??

Hi,
my Macbook has the dreaded random shutdown thing happening, often it can't even get through the startup sequence. If I reset the PMU and PRAM and check the disk every week I can keep it running. Applecare are making not particularly helpful suggestions like "run it in safe mode" - hello people, random means it can take days to happen again... I use this computer for work so I need it at full capacity every day!!!
Anyway, enough angry ranting. The casualty of today's RS and subsequent PRAM PMU resetting is my external display (Viewsonic LCD). The macbook is no longer sending signals to it (display says "no signal"). When I ask the macbook to "detect displays" nothing happens. I have restarted the macbook several times and unplugged and replugged the display connection it doesn't help. Yes, I have the AC power cable plugged in on the Macbook (I know it doesn't like talking to the screen if I don't).
The display and macbook have always worked fine together in the past...
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to test for causes or fix this display related problem?
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

You don't mention ever having brought the problem to Apple's attention, or what resulted from your request for Apple's help with it. This isn't a universal or widespread problem. It may be a hardware fault in your own equipment that needs to be resolved with a repair, or it may be a software problem (corrupt file, incompatible software conflict, update needed, etc., etc.). You seem to think Apple should have fixed it for you without your lifting a finger, and you're eager to complain about Apple's lack of support. But you've offered nothing to indicate that Apple even knows you need support. You do have to ask for it. Have you done so?
We have no idea what steps you've taken to try to narrow down the possibilities, e.g., making sure the monitor is turned on; trying a different video cable as iVmichael has suggested; testing the monitor with the same cable on a different computer; testing a different monitor with the same cable and then with a diferent cable on your computer; substituting a different cable adapter, if you are using one; applying all applicable system software updates and then Repairing Permissions and Repairing Disk; starting in Safe Mode and seeing whether the monitor is recognized and activated then; seeing whether the monitor is detected in System Profiler; and so on. You may have done some of these things, but you haven't told us about them or about the results.

External display on MacBook Pro

I'm using the latest MacBook Pro 17" 2.5GHz along with an external 22" digital display (which isn't from Apple).
_First issue_: the system is not detecting the loss of the external display when it is turned off or unplugged. this is not solved by clicking "detect display" where the two display will still be shown on the list until I reboot.
this situation is very annoying since I do not use a mirroring setup and the external display is using a primary. so when I disconnect the MBP from it, I will end up stuck with the secondary display.
I have posted a similar topic in the MBP forum (http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1475634&tstart=0) because I'm under the impression that this may be related to the MBP more thant Leopard since *my PowerBook G4 doesn't have this problem at all*.
_Second issue_: from time to time with no apparent reason, the LED display of the MBP switch to the external monitor's profile. when this is happening, I go in the system preferences and, as soon as I click on Display, the MBP's display immediatly get back to his profile without doing anything.
thanks for any help with these issues. at least let me know if I not the only one have them.

the bug is solved with snow leopard.

Unable to install OS X 10.4 with external display

My display died quite awhile ago (broken hinges, broken cables, etc etc) but since then I've used an external LCD display without problems. Once I set the display to mirror, everything has been working great.
However, I tried to install OS X 10.4 and discovered that, after booting up from the disc, the install program wants to display everything only on the nonexistent original monitor. If I keep moving the mouse to the right, it eventually appears on my external monitor. But pressing F7 won't toggle back to mirror mode -- the toggle capability seems to be disabled or something.
Any suggestions? Is there some way (hardware-based or maybe command line?) to tell the machine that the original display no longer exists and to only use the external display?
Thanks for any help!

Hi, llkohler. The limited-purpose OS on the installer disc that underlies the installer application and boots the computer probably doesn't expect to have its life complicated by a second monitor, and doesn't contain the code that would allow you to toggle the display mode. If I were you, I'd look to connnect the Powerbook to another Mac in Firewire Target Disk Mode (with the PB as the Target) and perform the installation on it from the host Mac. Once you get Tiger installed, you should be able to toggle the display mode on it in the usual way.

Any way to connect two external displays?

Hello,
I have a quick question about connecting my PowerBook G4 15'' (machine model: Powerbook 5,6) to some external displays.
I am trying to connect it to both a Samsung Syncmaster LCD and my TV.
Currently, I am able to connect to each successfully, but only one at a time.
My Samsung syncmaster LCD is connected via the DVI port on my powerbook, and using the DVI to VGA adapter, since the Samsung LCD is VGA. My TV is connected via S-Video, though I do have the s-video to composite adapter that came with my powerbook if it makes a difference.
Anyways, my problem is I want to be able to use all three displays at once (the powerbook screen, my samsung LCD, and my TV), but i can only get one of the external displays working at a given time, and have to unplug the DVI (samsung lcd) to get the TV to be detected and activated as an external display.
Any suggestions will be much appreciated. If there is some adapter I need to buy to make all this work, thats fine, just tell me what it is.
Thank you for all your time.
Regards,
Matt Ellison
PowerBook G4 15" (machine model: Powerbook 5,6) Mac OS X (10.4.3)

This solution was previously pointed out to me on the 17" PowerBook forum. I don't have one and don't know how well it works. Last I saw they didn't have drivers for Tiger, yet.
http://www.villagetronic.com/
I expect you would hook your SyncMaster LCD to the VT Book and then use the S-Video port on the PB to connect the TV.

Problems swapping external displays

I use my MacBookPro with two external displays (not simultaneously), with the MBP lid shut. I have an Apple 20" cinema dispay in the office and an Acer (can't remember the model) at home. When I take my MBP home and plug it into the Acer the MBP does not properly recognise the external monitor and it just stays black showing the spinning "busy" wheel. The same thing happens when I plug in my Apple display after using the Acer. Sometimes, after about one or two minutes, the display finally appears as it should. Otherwise I have to switch the power supply off and on again to put the MBP to sleep and then wake it again to refresh the screen.
For two years, I was using the same two monitors with my G4 Powerbook without any problem whatsoever. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a solution to it?

Are you sure that the external power supply is properly connected to your MBP? I have occasionaly wondered why my external monitor was not working when connected to laptop with lid shut. Then discovered that it will not work unless the laptop is connected to the external power supply.
A phone call to a very helpful Apple support technician solved my problem. Apparently the memory needed to be refreshed (or something like that). This was done by rebooting the computer and holding down the following four keys together: AppleAlt+pr.
You hold down these four keys while the computer boots and release them after the second chime.
However, as I am not an expert, I have no idea if this is relevant to your issue.
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7)

G3 Powerbook as external display?

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