cinema display recognized, but black with non-working power button

Again, how is it a firmware issue when it's happening to the 23" aluminum model that is connected to my wifes Gateway? And how could an iTunes update on PC have the same effect as the Mac version? Now granted there could be two different problems causing the behavior, but I think we need to rule out what is in common before we head down two separate paths here. And I haven't seen the commonalities ruled out yet.

Has anyone looked at heat? It seems to me that if unplugging the monitor for a period of time is a fix that something in the unpowered/rest state might be a clue.
- Does the power adapter get too hot?
- Does the power converter(s) within the monitor get too hot?
- What about the LEDs? Are there other systems within the monitor that could be effected by heat?

Remember that even in it's "dead"/non-responsive state the monitor is still recognized by the system indicating at least enough power in use to generate a signal the system can "see"

I think I'll go look for some type of thermometer and stick to the power adapter to see if there is any difference over time.

You misundertood when I said unplugging and plugging back in, its not unplug it for a few minutes then plug it back in, its unplug and plug back in repeatedley, quickly for that matter. And my display won't turn on after being off all night, so I don't see it being a heat problem, nor is my adapter hot at any point. As hard as it is to believe, this whole problem started after the July 18th update, and that's too much of a coincidence that all these people have had the same problem around the same time. Now I don't know if these updates caused the power adapter to malfunction making us need to get a new one or not, hence why I'm saying to wait it out a little bit. As for your problem, with it being hooked to a PC, thats odd, I doubt Apple is making updates for Microsoft, its all a different monster. But if you're having the same problem we're all having, who knows. Is there a timer in all the power adapters that Apple hooked up so all the adapters would malfunction at the same time? haha.

I need help with the one.

Move 20" CD and G5 from one room to another. Now I've got black non-working power button. The power brick is fine, I have tested the power brick on other displays at the apple store and its not the problem. So I test out the display on my powerbook g4. Well, no dice, but the menus are not on my powerbook screen, presumably on the non-functional 20".

So I bring my display into the apple store. Tech plugs the display into a macbook. everything works fine, he looked at me like I was ********.

but why does it not work on both my home comps?
what gives?

I'm on hold with apple care support as I write this.

As of yesterday afternoon my cinema display will not turn on AT ALL. I tried every way of massaging it imaginable. (unplugging and replugging in different orders, quickly unplugging and replugging power to the brick, restarting, etc.) If the power brick is unplugged for awhile and plugged back in the power light on the monitor comes on briefly but never to come back on again, not even that annoying little blink that happened before...

Good g-d it's come on now!!! What do I do!

Same problem here in Spain with my 23". But we don´t have apple retail stores or genius bars. I almost tried everything of the possible solutions post in this forum. NOTHING WORKED. So I took the power supply to an apple certified store in Madrid (my warranty is still valid). It took 2 days (yes.. I was also surprised) to bring me a brand new power supply.

Now, MY MONITOR WORKS. Problem gone!

My recommendation: Maybe it is a firmware, software update conflict, or who-knows problem. Sorry, I don´t have time to wait for apple to give me a software update solution. Get a brand new power adapter. THAT´s the real problem.

Hello Again All,

I think I discovered a semi-quick solution!!

BTW- There are several other threads under different names with hundreds of posts and thousands of views ALL describing the same issue!

If you have 'apple care' or pro care' you're set for this, not sure how to do it if not. I currently have 'apple care' since I purchased both the display and the macbook pro at the same time as the apple care.

Call 1-800-APL-CARE Ask immediately to be put through to 'Tier Two' Be polite with Tier One their nice but not effective for this issue. Mention all the details and the thread that exists here. You may want to give them the actual name of the thread so they can see for themselves. Ask for a replacement Power Adapter ('brick') to be sent out to replace the defective one you currently have.

Presto!

Good Luck!

Same exact thing here. It's absolutely the power adapter. If it's out of warranty, you'll have to take it to a store for a Genius to check it out and order you another one. It takes about 10 days. There is no way to get one on the apple site. Luckily I was using two displays so this did not stop my work.

Will I EVER buy another apple display? No! Why? because I can't buy a back up power supply. I'm a composer and pretty much have a back up everything....computers, speakers, etc. etc. but I can't get a power supply. LOL!

Now just to be clear I use 7 mac's have an iphone, Apple TV etc. etc. etc. but I hate how they handled this 'power supply' issue.

Good Luck.

BTW - Wiggling the white cord worked for the first 5 months...only happened a few times. Then it was perfect for 7 months and 5 days. Then the 'brick' died.

I had the same issues. Slow or not power. Today I brought my Macbook Pro and 23' Cinema Display to my local Apple Store. The Apple Genius confirmed that it was in fact the power adaptor. Unfortunately, they did not have the adaptor in stock so I called the Apple Care line and a new one is on the way.

It's the brick!!!!
I had the same problem. Apple gave me a new (refurbished) display. I plugged it in and within 24 hours, it went black just like the first display.

After reading this thread, I swapped bricks with our other 23" display (purchased 1 week ago) and my new (refurbished) display now works!

I plugged the old brick into the 1 week old display and it went black.

I don't know why or how the bricks are different. But they seem to affect the displays.

I was having the exact same symptoms that are mentionned throughout this entire thread, and each time the display became unresponsive, it would be more difficult and time consuming to get it to eventually start working again. Last week after I couldn't get it working for 2 days, I finally took the monitor to the local Macstore and a guy at the Genius Bar diagnosed the problem as definitely being the power brick, so they ordered me a new one. I just picked it up, plugged it in, and the monitor works exactly like it used to. Whew.

well i hate to rain on anyone's parade....
i have exactly the same issues. i have a G5 quad running a 30" alu and an older 23" acrylic using DVI-ADI converter. worked flawlessly until i moved end of august. (there goes the software update theory) i packed everything moved it all myself. when i reconnected at my new studio the 30" worked fine. the 23" did not. had the 2 short 1 long blinking light scenario. was told that meant the backlight inverter was gone. i ordered another one, replaced it myself. (pretty easy) blinking lights were gone. but black screen. (same as everyone here) took my DVI-ADI converter to store. they said it checked out. working. brought it back. no go. however when starting up, the 23" lights up briefly then goes black.

here's how i get the 2nd screen to work now.
i open sys prefs/dispays/ and mirror the 2. the 23" lights up for a second or two then goes black. do this a number of times as well as change the resolution randomly. eventually after a few minutes of this, the 23" stays on and works fine for the rest of the day. when i shut down for the day, come back next day. have to do the same thing.

all this seems more likely to be a software issue. but ****** if i know what. can't be related to the july iTunes/Quicktime update. mine happened almost 6 weeks later. seems tempting to assume it's the move that did it, but i was exceedingly careful and have moved this unit many times. replacing the inverter board did nothing (though blinking lights now gone and screen is much brighter! probably coincidental)

why would fiddling with the screen resolutions and mirroring get it to say on? could it possibly be related to the screen reset? or the screen prefs?

BTW, those of us with non-intel macs can't use the SMC 'fix'...

m

This is NOT, I repeat: NOT a software issue.

This is caused by the failure of your power converter (little white brick.) You cant buy these regularly, you must go through apple support.

Good luck

Well, got my new brick today, and voila, my screen works again. But I think ultimately a software/firmware problem caused a hardware problem by not communicating correctly with the hardware. Oh well, whatever the reason, a new brick is the solution.

If you have Apple care or it's still under warrantee you can describe the problem on the phone and they will send you a replacement brick for free.

If you don't have that you'll need to bring the screen and brick to an apple store support desk (genius) and have them diagnose the problem and then they'll sell you a brick for around $60 and you'll have to wait for them to ship it since no one carries them in stock. Perhaps you could convince them over the phone by showing them this (and other related) threads on the issue...

From what I can tell there is not other way to "buy" a brick...

Cheers

I have this exact same problem word for word. I recently upgraded to Vista so I thought it was a Vista thing, but a fresh install of XP Pro proved me wrong. After the first day of use with my fresh OS (latest Nvidia 8800GTX drivers, chipset drivers, etc.), my problem returned when I left my pc on all night and the OS put the monitor to a powered off state. I’ve tried multiple Microsoft operating systems, I’ve flashed my motherboard BIOS, and I've tried different Vid card drivers and still the problem returns. Can anybody confirm this is the power brick that is causing this?