Screen turns off if too bright (video of problem)

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Level 1

5 points

Screen turns off if too bright (video of problem)

Hello,

Had screen problems the last few days. Sort of getting to know what it is. When the macbook is booted it flickers on the grey screen and then goes dark, but will start up and load the OS. If I hold the F1 key to turn the brightness all the way down and then tap F2 to turn the brightness up then it will come on briefly, then go out again. Right now I have turned the brightness up slightly to the darkest possible (so I can create this topic) setting and it seems to be working and staying on. If I turn it up any brighter (a few more bars) the screen will go dark again and I'll need to repeat the process.

Here is a brief video I made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bxjs1dw0T8

Update:
Whilst waiting for You Tube to process my video, I just went to System Pref->Hardware->Displays and created a new Display Profile (Color LCD Calibrated) and I then turned my brightness all the way up, and the screen has stayed on. Still thought I'd go ahead and post this topic as it's hardly conclusively fixed.

Macbook 3,1 - intel core duo - 2.2 GHZ -, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 27, 2009 10:22 AM

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Answer 1

Starkweather Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 27, 2009 12:56 PM in response to Starkweather

Update:
Changing display profile hasn't helped. When the laptop has been off/asleep for more that ten minutes then that's when the problem returns. The screen can be turned on by turning the brightness down and then up a few times. After a while it eventually stays on.

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Answer 2

nate12345

Level 3

502 points

Oct 27, 2009 1:10 PM in response to Starkweather

This sounds like a definate hardware problem.
Put in you Mac OS X installation DVD (the one that came with the computer; If the disc has 10.5.4 or earlier, it's disc 1. If later, disc 2).
Turn on your computer while holding down the 'D' key. See what you get.
Here are some more in-depth instructions.

If the test says it's broken, take it to the Apple store so that they can fix it.

If the test says it isn't broken, take it to the Apple store because it obviously is broken.

Hope this helps.
-Nate

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Answer 3

Starkweather Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 27, 2009 2:55 PM in response to nate12345

Thanks for replying.

I ran the quick hardware test: nothing. Following that was the extensive test: again nothing.

I plan to take it to Apple, but Genius Bar appointments are infrequent at the moment where I am.

I've noticed that if I dim the brightness to the lowest setting and restart then the problem doesn't occur. It's so weird.

Is there no way this could be a software problem?

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Answer 4

nate12345

Level 3

502 points

Oct 27, 2009 3:53 PM in response to Starkweather

My, my, that is odd indeed.
To clarify, what brightness setting was the screen on when you ran AHT?
Was the display working when you ran the test?
Try doing the quick test again with different settings than you used this time. It probably isn't worth doing the extensive test again; it takes a long time.

Well, I'm no expert, but it certainly doesn't seem to be a software problem to me. It certainly is a possibility, though.

Just to double-check, this is a problem while using the power adapter and on the battery, right?

What is the display listed under in System Profiler (Applications/Utilities)?

You might try changing screen resolutions, etc. (System Prefs/Displays)

Have you tried connecting an external display to see what happens? If you have one handy, experiment with the settings for the external monitor in the same ways as mentioned before.

Good luck!
-Nate

P.S:
Sorry about the weird font sizes, they're not something I did. A bug...

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Answer 5

Hachre

Level 1

85 points

Oct 27, 2009 4:17 PM in response to Starkweather

It's a hardware defect most likely. Trying to debug it is just a waste of time...
Call AppleCare and let them handle it 😉

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Answer 6

Starkweather Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 27, 2009 4:41 PM in response to nate12345

It's a mind-boggling problem. If i restart my mac now it will load back up fine; if I leave it off a while and turn it on the problem will arise.

I did the hardware test with a full brightness – no problems.

It happens with power adapter and battery.

How do you mean "display listed under?" Is this something in Graphics/Displays in system profiler?

Hmmm, I've always been at 1280x800 so not sure it is resolution.

So much stuff I can try. Might be worth just handing it over to Apple to save me the bother – but I do appreciate the support here.

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Answer 7

nate12345

Level 3

502 points

Oct 27, 2009 4:50 PM in response to Starkweather

Again, this seems a lot like hardware. But I can't be sure.

As for 'display listed under': My bad, I mistyped. I meant to say:
What is listed under the Display section in System Profiler? What graphics card? What display?

I do belive that you are right. It is probably hardware, and Apple is the best fix for that. I'd take it to them ASAP.

Good luck.
-Nate

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Answer 8

Hachre

Level 1

85 points

Oct 27, 2009 5:05 PM in response to Starkweather

The bug might be temperature driven. If your Mac is cold the display is more likely to fail. Once it's warm it stops failing. Typical hardware defect.

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Answer 9

Starkweather Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 27, 2009 5:19 PM in response to Hachre

Temperature bug? This so makes sense. Sounds like it might be that. It does only seem to have problems once it's been off a while.

I'll take it to Apple.

Cheers everyone.

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Answer 10

Starkweather Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 29, 2009 9:49 AM in response to Starkweather

Hi again.

Not sure if anyone is still reading. Booked into the Apple store for Saturday. Screen still going off. I've noticed that if I move the screen (to adjust the angle) then it tends to go off. Conclusive proof that it's hardware problem?

Also wondering if this sounds like it's going to cost a lot to fix? I don't have Apple care and my machine is a year nearly two years old.

Thanks

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Answer 11

Hachre

Level 1

85 points

Oct 29, 2009 10:17 AM in response to Starkweather

It's hard to tell the price.

It might be the graphics chip (especially if its NVIDIA) or it might be the cabling to the internal screen or to the backlight.

If you are up for doing some more testing you might narrow it down. For example if you hook up an external display to the notebook, does that one also blank? If it does it's the NVIDIA chip and the logic board will have to be replaced (= expensive)

If it doesn't blank, it only affects the internal display, so it is most likely the cabling or some other part of the internal display that is rather cheap to replace. You can find out if its the backlight or the display connection by using a flashlight to light through the Apple logo on the backside while the display is blanked out and see if you can see content on the screen then. If you do it's the backlight and it should be rather cheap to replace, if it's not it's the display and it might be more expensive.

Good luck 😉

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Answer 12

Starkweather Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 29, 2009 10:26 AM in response to Hachre

Thanks for replying.

Okay when the screen goes dark I shone a torch through the apple and it could be seen on the screen and you could see that the screen is still on. When I shone the torch ON the screen when it went dark you could see it very faintly. So is this good news? Clearly just a light problem. Any ideas as to how long it will be in the store being fixed?

Regarding trying it on another monitor: what cable is needed?

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Answer 13

Hachre

Level 1

85 points

Oct 29, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Starkweather

You don't need to do the external monitor test anymore now... It's clearly the backlight. It might be the cabling or part of the backlight electronigs, quite hard to tell.

Also I don't know if Apple can replace the backlight on it's own or if they have to replace the entire display unit.

Those are questions you can ask them before letting them fix it. Replacing the entire display won't be so cheap because you have to pay the entire new display then... Replacing the backlight on it's own is far cheaper part-wise but it's harder to do, so you will pay more for the work, so it might be the same in the end.

Time-wise both things will have to be ordered so it will take at least 2 weeks if you are bringing it in and 4 weeks if you are sending it in in my opinion.

Message was edited by: Hachre

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Answer 14

Starkweather Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 29, 2009 10:42 AM in response to Hachre

God! How will I cope? Will have to use my PC until it comes back.

*Cries

Thanks for your help.

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