MacBook screen turns white, OS keeps going

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MacBook screen turns white, OS keeps going

The MacBook screen will sometimes suddenly turn completely white during normal use, though the OS keeps running normally. (i.e. sound keeps playing, internet connections remain open, and keyboard input still works.) The screen will only return to normal if the computer is closed and allowed to go into low-power mode before being opened again.

The backlights are unaffected by this issue, as they continue to obey the active, idle, off modes. Also, the screen often blanks white when the angle of the monitor is being adjusted or if the notebook is jarred, though it can happen spontaneously at other times, as well.

Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated... this problem makes the MacBook nearly unusable when it is occurring, and we have yet to find a solution, as most Google searches for a white screen on a MacBook describe a complete OS crash, which is not the case here.

Thank you all,
--marfmom

Intel Macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.11), White body Macbook, purchased Fall 2007

Posted on Apr 4, 2010 4:27 PM

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Answer 1

hugov

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Apr 11, 2010 8:48 AM in response to marfmom

I had the same problem this afternoon. My macbook was normally used, and suddenly a fade to white occured. 10 seconds later, the screen was normal again and... a new fade to white. I rebooted and the loading screen was almost totally white too.
I let the computer off for 3 hours, and no signs of white screen since then. I hope it will be ok. My computer has just 3 months.

So marfmom i can't help you but i have quite the same problem i think.

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Answer 2

Apr 14, 2010 5:54 PM in response to marfmom

the same thing happens to me. sometimes it lasts for a few days. i can usually stop it by tilting the screen but then it does it again. other times its fine for a couple weeks then starts again. its quite annoying as im trying to do a project right now and i have to keep tilting the screen. any help would be appreciated.

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Answer 3

Apr 17, 2010 4:35 PM in response to marfmom

I have the same problem, in fact I just subscribed to the forum system so I can ask about it. I've just posted my question, and now I've seen yours. There seems to be no solution. I tried contacting apple, but I get a difficulty from here in Malta. I appreciate if you have any solution.
Could it be to excessive heat or a problem in crystals behind monitor? I think that perhaps pixels or crystals, whatever throws off the color become too hot, so in order to cool down it turns to white. Perhaps it acts the same way as a screen saver, I mean for the same purpose.
I don't know, this is my suggestion, I want a solution 🙂

Thanks,
Amy

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Answer 4

Jun 4, 2010 11:51 AM in response to marfmom

Hello all,

I don't know how much this will help everyone but, I had been experiencing a sudden and consistent rash of "white-MacBook-screen" which happened for no apparent reason. Sometime it happened when I tilted the screen and other times, it happened when I wasn't even touching the computer at all!

For awhile, I realized a workaround by setting one of the "Hot Corners" to "Put Display to Sleep" when when I cycled-through a sleep and wake of the display, it came back completely. Not ideal but at least better than closing and opening the lid.

Anyhow, in an unrelated event, I just replaced the hard drive yesterday as the original, 60GB unit had failed and, lo and behold, once I did that, the "white screens" have stopped! So far, I am on day 2 with no occurrences. Perhaps my HD was not seated properly and since I put this new one in, that fixed it?

In any case, if nothing else, I hope my work-around helps someone and, if not, pop open the battery compartment and give the HD a check to make sure it is seated properly. Good luck!

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