Rainbow Screen at Startup
Two days ago I upgraded the RAM from 512MB to 2 Gigs on my Macbook. Occasionally I get a rainbow going across the screen. It isn’t the Spinning Rainbow, it’s simply a rainbow across the screen. It resembles the image you’d get when you surf to a closed TV channel but with more colours (
http://www.mountainsanatorium.net/images/t/tvtestpattern.jpg).
The problem didn’t start at once, at first the only problem which I noticed was a massive reduction in batterylife. About an hour and half (4 Hours to 2.5 Hours). It did bug me, and I did consider removing the Ram modules, but I decided against it. I figured that I might have just needed a battery re-calibration.
I read on the internet, that I should do an NVRAM reset to bring the battery life back. Around the same time I accidentally dropped my macbook about an inch-half of the ground where the LCD is located. A few seconds later I turned on the computer; and right then I first noticed the problem. I was able to fix it buy doing a NVRAM reset. Then I booted into OSX; after using it for a while I decided to do another reboot. It happened again. So I did another NVRAM clear, It didn’t work. I opened up my macbook and ejected the ram modules and put them back in. Nothing. I tried another NVRAM reset, this time it worked.
The Problem did not return for a good while, then this morning it happened again. I called the Apple Care, I was told to reinstall the old ram modules. The first thing I saw was the rainbow; but a simple NVRAM clear fixed the problem. I thought it might have had to with me reinstalling the so I ignored it at first. But I talked to my co-workers about the problem (all pc users I might add; and we all work tech support), they said it sounded like the Motherboard rejected the ram. Which makes sense to me (a new mac user).
Then I did one more restart, the problem returned. Finally I called Apple Care again. I wasn’t able to do get out of the Rainbow by doing a a NVRAM reset. He told me to run a “Extended Hardware Test.” I wasn’t able to do anything, while I was on the phone with him; he gave me a number for an authorized service tech. I decided to pop out the ram again, and push it back in. This time I was back in, with out doing a NVRAM reset. So I ran the hardware test, and it found no problems.
I googled the problem and one site suggested that I could have had a fried logic bored. I doubt that’s the case as I’m back in OSX. Most of my co-workers agree that their is a small chance the logic bored could have fried. I also did have myself properly grounded. The Apple Care tech, suggest it could be a video card problem.
The only thing which could indicate a problem is one screw, which was never bolted in properly. I am not ready to take my macbook in for a repair, because the Hardware test found absolutely no problems; and the service centre where I have to drop my macbook off, they will charge extra if they can’t find a problem.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
The problem didn’t start at once, at first the only problem which I noticed was a massive reduction in batterylife. About an hour and half (4 Hours to 2.5 Hours). It did bug me, and I did consider removing the Ram modules, but I decided against it. I figured that I might have just needed a battery re-calibration.
I read on the internet, that I should do an NVRAM reset to bring the battery life back. Around the same time I accidentally dropped my macbook about an inch-half of the ground where the LCD is located. A few seconds later I turned on the computer; and right then I first noticed the problem. I was able to fix it buy doing a NVRAM reset. Then I booted into OSX; after using it for a while I decided to do another reboot. It happened again. So I did another NVRAM clear, It didn’t work. I opened up my macbook and ejected the ram modules and put them back in. Nothing. I tried another NVRAM reset, this time it worked.
The Problem did not return for a good while, then this morning it happened again. I called the Apple Care, I was told to reinstall the old ram modules. The first thing I saw was the rainbow; but a simple NVRAM clear fixed the problem. I thought it might have had to with me reinstalling the so I ignored it at first. But I talked to my co-workers about the problem (all pc users I might add; and we all work tech support), they said it sounded like the Motherboard rejected the ram. Which makes sense to me (a new mac user).
Then I did one more restart, the problem returned. Finally I called Apple Care again. I wasn’t able to do get out of the Rainbow by doing a a NVRAM reset. He told me to run a “Extended Hardware Test.” I wasn’t able to do anything, while I was on the phone with him; he gave me a number for an authorized service tech. I decided to pop out the ram again, and push it back in. This time I was back in, with out doing a NVRAM reset. So I ran the hardware test, and it found no problems.
I googled the problem and one site suggested that I could have had a fried logic bored. I doubt that’s the case as I’m back in OSX. Most of my co-workers agree that their is a small chance the logic bored could have fried. I also did have myself properly grounded. The Apple Care tech, suggest it could be a video card problem.
The only thing which could indicate a problem is one screw, which was never bolted in properly. I am not ready to take my macbook in for a repair, because the Hardware test found absolutely no problems; and the service centre where I have to drop my macbook off, they will charge extra if they can’t find a problem.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.6)
