IBook G4 - power on, chime, then nothing

Question

I've had this machine handed down to me. It's out of warranty, and from what I can tell did actually work at one point. I've tried replacing the RAM, but nothing changes - when I power it on, I get the startup chime, then the drive spins up (as well as the fan at full blast) and then it doesn't go any further in the boot process. The screen never goes on, the drive doesn't seem to be accessed, nothing. I tried with a video adapter to see if maybe it was the display that was the problem, but that dog didn't hunt either, as they say.
Anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

jus..,
I too am having this same problem.
Not exactly.
I have taken it to an Apple Store but they said that it was a hard drive failure. My hard drive is fine,
Exactly
I'm using my iBook now with an external display.
My backlight works fine. Everytime I start the computer it chimes and then goes to the gray screen. After 15 seconds or so the external monitor kicks on and I can see the computer booting up. Are there any known solutions for this problem?
So,
Good backlight,
Computer works with external monitor - Good GPU
No internal video - Bad LVDS cable: either unplugged or broken.
Here's the take apart for the display:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/iBook-G4-14-Inch/Display/84/19/
Down about 5 pages where the LVDS ..Actually it's page 15 and they call it the
"the display data cable"
If you're comfortable mucking about inside the iBook you could take it apart to the point where the top shield comes off and you can see the LVDS cable. It runs up the left side of the display. Usually where it breaks is near the hinge point if not at the hinge point. Moving the cable, esp pushing it back together might get the display working.
If that works it's a verification of a bad LVDS cable.
A complete repair would involve opening it up, finding the break, soldering and closing with heat shrink tubing.
or:
Replace the cable.
Richard
Message was edited by: spudnuty