random split second black screens

Hi can anyone give me any ideas as to why my display goes black for a split second rather randomly it has just recently done it twice in the space of 2 mins, is this an indication that my old 128mb graphics card is about to die, or my xerox 19" widescreen lcd about to die or just dirty connectors somewhere, any ideas folks cos it all looks fine to me.

G5 Dual 2Ghz 3.5g ram ati radeon 128, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 750G hard drive / 2 drives

Posted on Feb 17, 2009 10:51 AM

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5 replies

Feb 17, 2009 11:14 AM in response to colin evans1

Have you installed any updates on your computer recently? If you have installed the Quicktime one just now then check the links at the end of this post as it could be the Finder restarting. Otherwise I'd say several of your suggestions might be possible. Even just a loose cable somewhere and vibrations on your desk. Kind of hard to tell from here. 😉

Check for incompatible third party applications.

[One person reports success|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8969672#8969672] with installing the latest version of Stuffit upgrade (13.0.3)

[If using Stuffit, check this one first|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8884712#8884712]

[Finder crashes associated with using Stuffit|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1873700&tstart=0]

[Finder crashing/looping/closing folders (Stuffit issue)|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1882285&tstart=0]

[Finder crashes associated with using Afloat|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8852780#8852780]

[Quicktime 7.6 update issues with 3rd party software|http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20090121223437550]

Feb 17, 2009 11:14 PM in response to colin evans1

I'm not sure where Stuffit comes into the picture here. It definitely sounds to me like a display issue - probably the display itself rather than the video card, although that would be a close second.

Do you have a second monitor you can attach to test?

The only other way I can think to test this requires some kind of precognition when it's going to happen. If you could predict it, running some kind of screen recording software would capture what the system thought it was outputtng. If the flash appears in the screen recording then it's something the OS is doing, otherwise it points to a hardware issue.

Feb 17, 2009 11:26 PM in response to Camelot

I'm not sure where Stuffit comes into the picture here.

There's been issues with the Quicktime update and Stuffit AVR causing the Finder to restart every minute or so. There were several posts where people complained of Finder windows coming to the front or other things happening to their windows 'every minute or so' where it was in fact this problem happening so it seemed possible to me this might also be one.

Feb 18, 2009 10:36 AM in response to colin evans1

hi guys when i say random i mean it 4 times in 4 months, and i cant predict when it might happen so that is a no go. I dont install quiktime updates cos i dont really use it enuff the bother and the only other updates that have been applied are the official apple security updates. The screen is just over a year old with very little use so im pretty sure its not that, i have a second monitor but its up in the attic and i nearly bust my neck getting it thru the loft hatch on my own i think the only way down for it is if i give it to a mate while im up in loft,as i live on my own.i will try checking and repairing disk permissions in case something has gone awry there. Im also gonne get my air compressor out give the internals a good blast with air to remove some crap as i am a smoker it mb be a bit blerrrrrrghgh inside.Any more ideas folks i let you know what happens.AHHH just thought of something will there be anything visible in the apple log, if it is a microsecond finder crash it should be recorded somewhere, does anyone know where of if it is recorded,thanks for your help.If you know any of the answers let me know please,thnx again.

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random split second black screens

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