How do I boot up the iBook G4 from my MacBook Pro?

Question

Hello, and thank you in advance for your help. I have an old iBook G4 with a display that doesn't work, and I have been googling all day for an answer to this - I want to either remote desktop or use my MacBook Pro as an external display.
I +don't think+ that I want to use target disk mode (which does work), but you may persuade me otherwise, if I'm able to use the iBook in some way like that. I have tried this, but I can't open up system preferences as it's an older version of the software...
Background:
1. I have VGA connectors for both machines, and also a connector cable.
2. I have Firewire to Firewire cable
3. I have Ethernet cables
4. The MacBook Pro is connected to the internet, but I'm finding it impossible to connect the iBook, because I can't see the screen.
5. I'm pretty sure that the iBook G4's logic board is the reason the display doesn't show, but when I opened it up, there was already a shim over the suspect chip? Looked like someone had already tried a repair on it, even though I bought it new. Bizarre. I've also tried a very simple solder reflow method with a soldering iron, but neither of these worked. Luckily, the iBook still boots, but doesn't display still.
6. So my last resort is to try to use it with an external display - but I want to test this first, before I buy one, and the only thing I have is my MBP....
7. MBP software is at 10.6.2, iBook G4 is 10.1 I think, but it's been two years.
Thanks again for your help...
Si

Answer 1

There are a few notes about the video problem some iBook G4s experienced
and some user tales of homebrewed fixes, in the results from a Google search
of these terms: *ibook G4 video problem shim.* (GPU: graphic processor unit.)
Another idea is to look into the *Cory Arnold Effect*. One of his posts in Discussions
(2006) appears here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3249364
+If you or someone else has already tried to re-flow solder on the suspected weak+
+areas of a logic board, & there are continued issues, then the board may be shot.+
While some location searches may find different results, and that may be a
problem when checking content via a search engine. Looking worldwide,
yet maybe too closely at your Aussie content first; it may miss some of them.
There are several references and I have read of them, over the past four years.
Good luck & happy computing!