Powerbook Screen Flickering

I too have this problem! One question, I bought my powerbook last August and didn't buy the extended warranty. Now I'm getting 'last chance" letters from Apple to get the extension. My question is, do you think the LCD is covered under a standard one year warranty?

All Apple hardware has standard 1 year warranty as long as you did not dropped the unit or spilled liquid in the unit (no accidental damage or user abuse sign in the unit) then eveyrthing will be coverred.

LCD also coverred by 1 year warranty as long as it is not cracked or scratched.
I strongly suggest you get extended warranty if you have Apple computer (either notebook or desktop) because most repair will eaisly cost more than $100.

80% of our customer who come to our repair center, regret that they didn't get extended warranty - while they can - when I told them the cost of their repair. 😟

Flippo

I had exactly the same problem and after my Powerbook G4 was sent in 3 times they finally replaced the LCD. NOW...it flickers intermittently. Very subtle but it is annoying to work when it happens. I have reset the pram and vram, repaired permissions, and still the problem.

I am in France and have to send it the the UK for service. Is there anything I can do or try before I check to see if I must return it for the 4th time?

thanks

I have a problem with the display on a powerbook G4 5.9. OSX 10.4.2

The problem is not so much a flicker as a flash. The bottom fifth of the screen will flash momentarily at irregular intervals - say every one to two minutes. Within the flash there is data but it is indecypherable. It is most disconcerting - you find yourself waiting for the next burst.

Do you recognise this fault. I have about four months warranty left. Any advice/ideas/observations most welcome.

vendome

You may want to bring your powerbook to nearest Apple Store or AASP to get it repaired your problem could be:
1. loose LCD data cable
2. Bad LCD data cable which need to be replaced.
3. Bad LCD display panel itself.

If you still have warranty then use it.

Regards
Flippo

My dad has been having a similar problem. I have posted another topic regarding this with no response. What happens is that whenever he is using ProTools, his screen begins to flicker in a manner that looks similar to what happened to my eMac when it suffered from the "bad caps" problem. Any other suggestions? I will try those by Flippo and see if they work as well, but this problem seems a little different. The computer isn't under warranty.

Hi Iko,
Your dad's PB problem could be just related to the Protools itself (I have no experience with that software) but I could tell you have to determine that the problem is in the hardware or software.

if you have any other HD which you can boot your dad PB then do that and install Protools in that HD and see if the screen also flickers or not when the protools running from external HD.
If it does then your problem seem located either in Protools (contact manufacturer of the software) or in your dad's PB hardware (need to be check in to AASP or apple store)
If it does not then you know that the problem is located in the Protools in your dad's PB. Try to reinstall the Protools. Use appzapper from www.appzapper.com to uninstall Protools and install it again.

Hope this help, good luck

Flippo

Flickering on my powerbook screen has been going on for about half a year - or so. Thought it migt be because my computer has a small crack just below the screw that holds the screen in the right side - and I almost always tend to adjust the screen angle in one side of the screen (and and and... possibly because my girl ones lifted the powerbook by holding just the screen (it was in the way she said :() I manage to get rid of the flickering - by adjusting the screen a little - in "the right" position... it helps, but then appars again, and I will have to adjust the screen once more (and once more and...) Anyway, I decided today to check out if there was a loose wire maybe where the computer and screen meets... there wasnt - as far as I could see. Then I looked what a new powerbook costed. Expensive! I turned the computer and looked at the button. 7 screws holds the button of the computer... what if? I loosenet 3-4 of the screws - and thought, that Id better turn the power off. When I turned the computer around... with the screws loosened - there was, to my big surprise - no flickering! I have for the past 15 minutes adjusted the screen angle the first 20 times. No flickering. Am I just lucky or what?... could this help others? I have been to this discussion many times to find "the right answer" - but without "the right answer to my flickering porblem". A simple screw... or two! Maybe!? Now - I know - I shoud tighten the screews again, to see if the problem apears again... but I dont think I will. It mitht just have been pure luck, a good day - something else. But it worked for me! Maybe Itll work for others... couldnt wait to tell... somebody 🙂 Good luck out there...

yeah my screen is like that....except i can touch it and all itll be ok then itll start flickering again and i cant use my mouse or i can only see the top part of the screen when i have a window open...right now i have a big paperclip on my screen to hold pressure on it..which sometimes does not work. I dont have the money to spend like 1000 bucks on a new screen, im tempted to just get a new computer and finance it through apple!!

Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.0.x)

I have the same problem, but it is because it dropped on the floor. At first, the screen would only flash with black or white, and if I tapped the desk, the display would return to normal. Eventually, tapping the desk would not work, and I had to push the screen back on one side.

It has gotten much worse, and I haven't gone in to get it fixed because it is MY fault and am afraid of how much it will cost. Does anyone have an idea about the cost to get the screen fixed?

The screw solution worked fine for a while - but the luck did not last... it started again. I found out that twisting the socket (I believe thats the right word?) that holds the wires to the screen - would remove the problem for a while... after a couple of days the problem would apear, and I would have to twist the wires/socket again - until I twisted it a little too much... It went loos from the board. I had the local radio mechanic fixing the socket - but not the problem... I am now 107% sure that the socket is the problem. I have now fixed the problem - for now... I have put a very hard small piece of plastic on top of the socket. The pressure on the socket stops the screen from flickering. My only concern is - if the plastic... melts down. I do not think it will - but - If it can stops the flickering and extend my computers lift for... a year more, I will be satisfied.

Best regards and good luck out there...

Powerbook G4 15" 800 mhz Mac OS X (10.4.8) Almost couldnt live without it

I've seen the problem like yours and usually replacing LCD will fix the problem.
If your unit still under warranty bring it to the nearest Apple store or AASP to get serviced.

Flippo

yeah i checked on getting a new screen and itll cost anywhere from 500-1000 im thinkn bout gettin a new computer for that price......desktop.