Powerbook 17 Display resets

I have a Powerbook G4 17" and every 2 or 3 mins the desktop disappears/blinks for about a second and resets. Every window that's open on the desktop closes and goes back to the way the desktop was when the computer started up. I'm wondering if this has to do with the battery. Does anyone have this problem or heard of it? Please share!!!

I have to force reboot, (control/openapple/pwr)
then start up in "safe mode" by holding down the
shift key
right after I hear the chime from the reboot.
After everything comes back on,
I restart once again .........
and everything is fine.
I only have a problem with this dark screen thing
when I plug in the AC plug
when my PB is closed and asleep
and then try to wake it up.
To not get the dark screen problem this is what I
do:
First wake up PB while on battery power til I see the
screen.
Then I plug in the AC plug.
When I forget to do this, then I have the dark screen
problem.
I tried your suggestion, Dennis and it works -partially. The system sleeps properly and awakens if not plugged in to AC. However, if during the sleep the AC is plugged in to recharge, the powerbook goes into an odd 'code blue' kind of state whereby on the interval of the sleep cycle of the white lid button LED, the system applies the paddles and wakes the drive, the audio port, firewire, the DVD etc. and then cycles them down again. Interrupting the reverie produces the familiar black screen and no activity and the necessary force-power-off-then-power-on routine to proceed. It sounds like a power management routine issue. Does this light up any neurons for anyone? Ideas?
I'm not sure if this is helping anyone to diagnose the problem, or if anyone at Apple is even reading these discussions, but thanks to you there is a partial work-around.
cheers and thanks
G4 Powerbook 1.33 Mac OS X (10.4.5) defibrillator paddles

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Horizontal lines on new PowerBook display

Here is my experience with the new PowerBook display/horizontal lines issue. Please post any constructive advice you have that I can try - either to eliminate the problem or to pinpoint the cause more accurately.
I used to own a 15" Powerbook from about 12 months ago, a 1.33GHz model. The display on this was fine. Much better, in terms of brightness and clarity, than my other HP & Dell Windows laptops. When the PowerBook was stolen, one of the main reasons for immediately buying a new replacement PowerBook was the superior display quality.
At the start of November the replacement PowerBook arrived - a 15" hi-res 1.67GHz model. The faint grey horizontal lines covering the whole display were immediately visible. The display is substandard compared to both the previous PowerBook model and my Dell laptop.
Apple Care telephone helpline suggested an NVRAM reset and a PMU reset. Neither of these made any difference.
The PowerBook was then sent back for replacement and a week or so later the new replacement arrived. This also had exactly the same problems.
Apple Care helpline this time said that they could not find any problems with the PowerBook and I should first try the PowerBook connected to an external monitor and secondly take it to an Apple Dealer to show the problem.
I tried it on an external monitor, but unfortunately this is only an old Nokia 15" CRT monitor and though the lines appeared to not be there, the quality of the monitor makes the result inconclusive.
Next up, I will take the PowerBook to the Apple Store. At the same time I have copied "Aqua Blue.bmp" onto my Dell laptop. With the two laptops side by side showing the same image, the defect in the PowerBook display is clearly visible. I hope to be able to take both machines to the Apple Store later this week. I will let the forum know the results...
So, are there any other tips/advice from users as to other tests I can run or other methods to improve the issue?
Many thanks!
It seems obvious, but please don't contravene the Terms of Use for this forum. If you want to complain to Apple, please do it elsewhere - locked posts will get us nowhere

n2o2,
I don't know what let you think that you will eventually receive an AluBook without stripe : Apple Care let you think that ???????.
I have been reading the stripes topics each day since I ordered my new powerbook, late october. I did not see one single post proving that a "free line" 15" powerbook does exist.
The real evidence would come from someone describing the difference between a "non affected" new powerbook sitting besides an affected one, coming from the same PB generation and with exactely the same LCD profile and screen / Colorsync settings.
I did not see a single story like that among the hundred(s) of posts related to horizontal lines.
I have read one post stating that the screen is "crystal clear" and "sharp". The one I received today could be described like that, but it displays those lines, except from the 8 or 10 upper rows of pixels on the menu bar.
The pb15_problems.png file is a very interesting one to me, as it demonstrates that the lines could clearly be attenuated using a single filter without compromising the sharpness/Brightness of the image.
If I compare side by side my 3months old previous generation powerbook and the new one, I must say that (except for the stripes) there is not much difference in daylight in terms of brightness but a perceptible better brightness in the complete darkness.
Well, if someone could prove that some of the new powerbook do not display this "feature", this would certainly push me to return mine. But, seeing how it is difficult to get this organized, I may not want an exchange but a refund, or an upgrade for a 17".
Please tell us quick if you win this battle.
Luc
AluBook 1.5 Ghz, G5 DP 1.8Ghz , G4 400 Mac OS X (10.4.3) airport express, iPod 3 & video

15" Powerbook Display seems larger than the physical 15"LCD screen

I am not sure whether this is the right place to post this, but my Powerbook display is acting very strangely. This occurred just after I viewed a large photo in my mail application (by clicking "view slideshow"). The photo was sent to me by a trusted colleague so I don't think any funny business is going on.
After viewing the photo and then closing the window, I was surprised to see my desktop "sliding" around when I moved the mouse. It is as if my physical display is smaller that the resolution given in the Display preferences window (which I checked is set for 1280x854). So for example, right now the top Apple Menu is slightly off my LCD top edge.
The other feature is that the text is no longer crisp. This is consistent I think with my display driver (ATI Mobility Radeon 9700) not mapping to the full pixel resolution of the LCD display.
I have never seen anything like this before, even after hooking up to external displays (like a Dell 1680x1050 LCD) or 800x600 LCD projectors. Also have no clue how to "reset" things. Usually a reboot would fix something like this.
Any clues. I did just upgrade to the last Tiger version (10.4.11), so I am not sure if this is related at all to that.

I just did one check. I logged into another user account on my Powerbook, and in that account the display was just fine, so whatever is going on here is some software setting in my own account. However I am not sure how to change back to "normal". Any ideas where display settings in the hardware accelerator might be stored. Playing with the Preferences Display window doesn't make any change.

Powerbook display problems

The display on my Powerbook display is behaving very oddly - almost as if the display isn't refreshing quickly enough. It intermittently leaves tracks when typing, moving windows, or moving the mouse. Running the extended hardware test found no problems.
It seems to have begun since installing Security Update 2007-006, and updating to iTunes 7.3.1. Could it the beginning of a display failure (the laptop is about 4 years old), or just a strange glitch?
This is a screen grab of the odd effect...
powerbook g4 1.25ghz Mac OS X (10.3.9)
powerbook g4 1.25ghz Mac OS X (10.3.9)
powerbook g4 1.25ghz Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Starts like this, but it gets worst...
Check: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1111728&tstart=0

PowerBook display - fade & tint over time?

I recently got a Apple Cinema Display 20" for my PowerMac, but also to use with my PowerBook. Side-by-side, the Apple Display is MUCH brighter -- more than I expect would be reasonable. I also notice that the Cinema Display has bright whites, whereas my PowerBook has a sepia/pinkish cast. Whether using the standard caliberation or tweaking my own, I can't seem to find a white point that seems white.
I've thought that the PowerBook display wasn't near as brilliant as I remember when I first got it, but the side-by-side comparison has me thinking that my nagging doubts might have some basis in reality. Something that I should take up with AppleCare, or just something I should live with?

I agree, I am absolutely sick of getting the run-a-round from apple concerning my PB17. My LCD was replace because of dark spots and failed DVI Port. The replacement LCD still has dark spot, It has Dead Pixels (where my original unit had zero) but more frustrating is that the replacement LCD has a nasty yellow/green hue that can't seem to be calibrated out. The Contrast and Color are terrible. Many telephone calls to apple including this notebook being sent in for this color issue 3 times. They say there is nothing wrong. When I look at 17" notebook models from other manufactures, I don't see these issues. This has been in so many times for repair that they should just give me a new unit. In the 20 weeks that I have owned it, I have been without it due to repair issues for 6 weeks and now I am waiting for box to ship it back again for this color hue on the monitor. The most recent return to Apple for repair yielded nothing except for 1 week of down time, and a written report stating that they feel the color issue is from "software corruption" Because of this, I formatted the hard disk drive and did a fresh O/S install only to find that the nasty yellow/green color hue is still present. The unit is scheduled to go back to apple again for this color issue as soon as a box arrives for transport. This is completely uncalled for, especially at the price of this product. I agree that suit should be considered. I know this is happening to others but Apple treats my issue like I am the only person having issues.

12 inch G4 Powerbook display issue

I recently took a flight and the Powerbook was fine that morning but when I got to my destination I turned on the computer to find waves in the apple on load up and the blue background had turned a pixalated blue and white. The once black background after load up is now bright lime green. and there are pixation and anti-alasising issues. It looks like the display can't do gradations and it turns black lime green. Any ideas have tried to reset PRAM many times and have gone into displays and moved the color count from millions to thousands a bunch but no luck. Any suggestions would be helpful.

gazo:
Glad removing the Airport Extreme card worked. You can try wiping off the contacts with a lint free cloth, and replacing the Airport card making sure it is securely seated. Sometimes heating and cooling along with the normal handling of a laptop dislodges the card enough to cause problems. If that doesn't help you will need to get a new card.
cornelius
PS: Thank you for leaving feedback in Apple Discussions by marking the "solved" post.

Powerbook Display flaws

I have a Powerbook 1.67Ghz that I've had since May of last year. The day I picked it up it had a stuck red pixel, which I was not too happy about but they wouldn't do anything about so I had to live with it.
Recently it started developing other problems, slow downs, clock resets, and one odd thing. Everytime I would upload pics or save anything to the hard drive, they'd take up much more space then they should, by a factor of 10 or so. So my hard drive was constanly filling up and I was fighting a losing battle trying to keep it pared down so it was usable. Then the problems with the display started getting worse. Small gray squiggles started appearing about 1/4" away from the bezel on both sides of the display. It looks like sensor dust on a digital camera when taking shots when stopped down. Which is what I thought it was at first. But when I couldn't clone them out in Photoshop, I knew it was the screen. Of course it was also obvious as soon as I quite photshop. This flaws multiplied quickly until my display was covered with them, but all along the sides.
I finally took the machine in to the Apple store and had it serviced. Everything was repaired gratis. This is a list of the parts replaced:
646-0222 DSPL, 15.2,XGA,P88,SAMSUNG,W4 REWORKED
620-3026 TOP CS MOD ASSY,Q16B
603-5751 BACKUP BAT ASSY,Q16B
655-1222A SEAGATE MERCURY 5400RPM 100GB HDD
655-1222A SEAGATE MERCURY 5400RPM 100GB HDD
(that's not a mistake, the HD is listed twice)
When I went to the Apple store to pick it up, I started it up to to make sure everything was fine. It wasn't, there was still a squiggle in the upper right hand corner. This one doesn't bother me too much, but it started with one before, and multiplied. I pointed out the problem to one of the employees, he offered to send it back again. But I have a backlog of pics I need to process. He said I could take it home for a while and I could bring it back when I was able too. He said even if it's a little outside the warranty period, he'd take care of it, which I thought was more than reasonable.
So that's where I am now, I guess the question is, What is it? Anyone seen it before? Could it go away? Could it be a video card issue? it seems strange that I've gotten two displays in a row with the same flaw that none of the Apple employees had seen before.
here's a picture
http://trialsgeek.smugmug.com/photos/57414107-L.jpg
Powerbook 15" 1.67ghz 100GB, 1GB, 128MB VRAM Mac OS X (10.4.5)

hey
i dont have the black squiggles of screen death but i do have the white spots of display cancer!!
just noticed the white spot issue that is a known problem with the 15" g4's
after calling apple support as per instruction from the apple website the guy was totally useless and ended up suggesting i go to my local apple retail store
if you read the boards you will find screen degredation etc... is quite widespread....taking mine into the store next week to see what they can do about it.

HELP... MAC MINI DISPLAY RESET!

I just got a Mac Mini for home and planned on using my LCD TV as the monitor. Not realizing that I had HDMI input on the TV, I purchased the DVI to VGA adapter. I was adjusting the Display Settings on the Mini (because the picture was terribly blurry) and the screen went blank when I changed the resolution (I was just clicking each resolution option). I was able to restart the Mini and it brought the display back up. So I tried to adjust again and the screen blacked out once more. Now, I am unable to see anything at all. I tried to reset the PRAM/SMC or whatever (I did both procedures) but I still can't get even the blurry picture back. If I unplug the DVI/VGA adapter, the screen flicks up what would be 'on screen' and blanks right back out. Is there a way to reset the display to the default?
Message was edited by: [email protected]

So, I called Apple Support today and tried all of their procedures. Finally, they told me to reinstall OSX. I reinstalled and the screen went back to old blurry. I purchased a DVI to HDMI converter, plugged everything back up and... not so blurry but still not satisfactory (even to my wife's standards, who normally doesn't know/notice/understand/care about things like that... so, it MUST be bad). I found my TV resolution in the manual, it is 1440x900 and says it is 720p. So, I tried to make adjustments again. Back to Black (I am starting to feel like JayZ). I am now reloading OSX (this time I clicked 'Options' and opted to erase the entire hard drive, then reload).
I called Apple Support back and they said that they are unable to do anything more over the phone (Dell did not buy Apple, right?). I was instructed to return the MacMini to an authorized agent to have them look at it. I guess I will do that tomorrow since I spent all of today F'ing with it.
In the mean time, if someone can help me figure this out, I would be very appreciative.
Thanks, Matt.

Swapping Powerbook Displays

Hi all, my Powerbook 1.5 Ghz computer's logic board died, so I got a new Powerbook (1.67 Ghz). However the new Powerbook's display isn't in as good of a shape as my old one — there are a couple slightly noticeable darkish "spots" on it.
Now, I'm think of swapping displays - does anyone know if there might be a compatibility issue? My original PB is from the 1.33/1.5 family, and the newer 1.67 PB is from the 1.5/1.67 family. It's not the dual layer/faster RAM version, just the one with the speed bump, brighter display, brighter lighted keyboard, built-in airport, and BT 2.0. Btw, both are 15"
Thanks!
Message was edited by: Gene Park

What resolution is the old powerbook's display? If it's not 1440x960, the new screen won't work as far as I know.

Powerbook display went out, Help!

I was just using Safari, and seemingly out of nowhere, I heard a loud whirring (I think from the optical drive) and then the display went black--mostly, I can still sort of make out the menu bar and dock. I've had this happen once before, but that time it was because the power cord came unplugged. That is not the case this time--the power cord is plugged in and the indicator is lit green, meaning it is fully powered. Hitting the power button brought the display back to life for fifteen or twenty seconds, but then it went out again. I tried restarting, no help. My external monitor is working fine however.
Powerbook G4, 1.5 ghz, 12". Any ideas? Thanks.

I don't know exactly what you've done so far, but I'll start from scratch.
1. First (and I suspect you've already done this), go to System Preferences/Displays, and choose 1920 x 1200 resolution. You can pick another resolution later, but let's start at the max and move down later, if you choose.
2. If you cannot change your screen resoution, please enclose some more detailed info, i.e., what happened when you tried to go to different resolutions. Did it stay the same size? Get any error messages?
Oh, and leave your responses here, so others can give their input!

Light spots (not pixels, regions) on PowerBook displays

Be forewarned: This includes a lot of conjecture on my part.
We're developing some software and need to get some older PowerBooks for platform testing. We only need these things for a few weeks (OK, maybe months) and then would probably sell them once done with them.
In any case, we've seen a fair number of PowerBooks, particularly the 15" models, showing up on eBay with "light regions." I say "regions" because it really doesn't look like it's a typical failure related to electronics. When I've seen displays go bad they most often seem to show things like lines running up and down and/or across the display, pixels that won't change color, and blocked regions showing combinations of the two I've just mentioned.
These problems seem different in that they really look almost like someone came across the display and airbrushed it in a few places to make it look lighter or darker in the specific regions. The colors change on demand, but the areas showing spots are always show the same type of color shift. For example, if you turned the entire screen a solid medium blue, these areas would look like someone came along with an airbrush and sprayed the regions showing this light blue. If you turned the display red, then the areas would look like someone came along with an airbrush and painted them a lighter shade of red in the exact same areas.
What I'm guessing is that in the LCD assembly there's a diffusion sheet that was probably bonded to the back of the LCD panel so the light source would allow the LCD to appear to have even brightness when initially manufactured and displayed. My theory is that either through heat, abuse, or just time, that the diffusion sheet has begun separating from the back of these LCD panel by bubbling up, causing those areas to capture more light and hence cause these "lighter regions" to appear.
Here are my questions:
1. Does this theory hold any truth, or is it a bunch of hogwash?
2. If this theory does hold true, I would think that the diffusion sheet could be reattached unless there's a layer of glass over it. Has anyone tried this?
Thanks.

This should be covered under warranty, provided that it is not user caused.
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

MacBook display resets to maximum brightness

Hello,
after attaching an external display (Cinema display) to my macbook it automatically resets the LCD display of my MacBook to maximum brightness. After detaching the external display the maximum brightness setting remains on my MacBook.
Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyonoe know how I can preserve the brightness even when attaching an external display?
Thank you.

Hi everybody,
has anybody determined a solution for this problem yet? My wife has a MacBook that she uses at her desk with an external display. Every time she plugs or unplugs the external display the brightness of the built-in display reverts to maximum.
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But non-the-less it's still an irritation. It would be nice if it was fixed.
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Thanks in advance.
Jan Georgen

I can't speak with complete authority, but since the resolution of the 12" book did not change through those generations, I would say there is a very good chance they are mechanically the same and pin compatible. Does it look as though the connectors will mate between the two? If that is the case, then I would have very high confidence they will work together.

HELP! Powerbook display looks creepily like MS-DOS....

Dear kind helper,
When I turn on my brandy new powerbook G4 beautiful machine, the gray screen is displayed then i go right to this black DOS-like screen. I'll type exactly what it says......
/etc.master.passwd: No such file or directory
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Try the instructions in this article.
(9566)

Default display - reset

I'm new to Mac. I'm trying to initiate full screen play in FlipShare. The videos play in thumbnail but freeze in full screen mode while the sound continues to play. After 3 hours of tech support with PureDigtal I'm told that my display settings are wrong and need to be reset to default. Don't recall that I changed anything but need to know how to do this.

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Powerbook 17 Display resets

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