How I FIXED the black out problem!

Question

I posted this in another thread, but thought it might get lost, so I'm posting it here in the hopes that it may help others who are out of warranty and have nothing to lose.
Please know that this is a very diffcult procedure and if you're not comfortable with the idea of possibly destroying your entire laptop, don't even think about trying this!
First, you will need to download the appropriate service manual for your model PowerBook:
http://home.earthlink.net/~strahm_s/manuals.html#pbks
Second, I would highly recommend that you go to your local Radio Shack and pourchase the correct tools. You will need a set of precision screwdrivers and a Torx #8 (I think) also. I also recommend that you obtain about 15 of those little zip lock baggies that they put extra coat buttons into (of course any bag will do).
As you take apart the laptop and remove the screws, you should place each screw set into a bag and label it with a Sharpie. Believe me, this is worth the time and effort to do this. The service manual will list an Apple part number for the screws as you take them out. When you reassemble the laptop, you will simply find the part number of the screw you need.
The Problem (Overview):
My screen would flicker between all black parts in the lower 1/3 to 2/3rds of the display. Adjusting the angle of the display would generally fix the issue until it was moved again or needed another adjustment. I used it like this for a few months before it finally was no longer fixable by simply adjusting the display. One day it just wasn't fixable by adjustment anymore. I couldn't see anything above 2/3rds of the display. previously, the powerbook had been dropped on the corner by the power plug, and must have caused damage to the display.
At first I thought it was a loose connection in the LVDS or video cable, but upon taking the entire unit apart, I found that the cable was very secure and no amount of jiggling it had any effect on the display itself. It definitely wasn't a pinched cable or loose connection in the cable.
I then started a search to buy a replacement screen. And upon taking the unit apart to remove the panel itself from the rear casing, I would preiodically plug the power back in and power up the PowerBook to see if anything I was doing was having any effect on the display. With the rear casing removed, I noticed that applying slight pressure on the rear of the screen on the left middle edge would affect the display and cause the image to appear again perfectly.
Obviously, I couldn't use the PowerBook this way, so I cut some narrow strips of rubber and used a glue stick to adhere them in the same spots where my fingers were. With the rear casing snapped back in place, it applied direct pressure to this same area, resulting in a perfect picture!
The actualy rubber pieces I used came from underneath the Airport card, so if you want to use something else, perhaps a strip from a bicycle innertube would do the same trick and would be of the same thickness.
Since putting it back together, the image is perfect. I have noticed that some [hard] direct thumping of the display bezel or hard shaking of the unit will cause some flicker, but in the past, even the slightest motion would knock the image out. So IMO, this is an incredible improvement. Since my "repair" I haven't had the issue appear once!
If you have no other solutions to try, and are somewhat savvy with taking things apart, give my method a shot. I'm just amazed that it works so well!
The image is of the rear of the panel. Facing you, it would be the left side of the screen. Where you apply the strip may be in another location. I don't recommend putting it anywhere except on the edges of the screen or you will likely damage the panel or introduce spots or pressure smudges. Good luck!
BTW, you may be able to test to see if your panel could be fixed with a similar approach by gently squeezing the sides of the display while it's connected to your laptop and watching for the screen to come back or flicker more. In my case, the squeezing definitely affected the image quality: when I applied pressure the image was stable. When I let go, it went to $hit.
PowerMac G5 Dual 2.5GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.7)   320GB/5GB/16xSD/AE/BT/Radeon x800/iSight/30" ACD/nano
PowerMac G5 Dual 2.5GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.7)   320GB/5GB/16xSD/AE/BT/Radeon x800/iSight/30" ACD/nano

Answer 1

I just switched to Roadrunner and am having the same "can't send email" problem. I have done what you suggested, but the problem persists. I did note that in my outgoing mail server box it says: smtp-server.wi.rr.com:jzelinger3 (Offline). I'm not sure where the "Offline" is coming from or why it is there. Any suggestions? I performed the following Terminal tests with a tech. support person from Roadrunner:
Last login: Wed Jan 21 19:36:52 on console
CPE-75-86-226-41:~ joan$ telnet pop-server.wi.rr.com 110
Trying 71.74.56.78...
Connected to pop-server.wi.rr.com.
Escape character is '^]'.
+OK POP3 server ready.
user [email protected]
+OK please send PASS command
pass laikatess
+OK [email protected] is welcome here
telnet smtp-server.wi.rr.com 25
-ERR Invalid command; valid commands: CAPA, DELE, LIST, LAST, NOOP, RETR, RSET, STAT, TOP, UIDL or QUIT
This is very frustrating.
J. A. Zelinger