Q: iBook G4 Display Problem

This appears to be a continuation of an issue you noted in September, as the

display had some problems then and after trying a few things, it seemed to be

stable at the time.

Perhaps the components involved with the iBook then are behind this problem.

Does not seem any easy path could be available to fix the problem, since the

parts most likely to be affecting or contributing to the symptom are deep enough

into the computer to require tedious disassembly effort. And odd screw locations.

Looking into the iFixit guide for iBook G4 12" 800MHz to 1.2GHz series build:

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iBook_G4_12%22_800_MHz-1.2_GHz these

items may be weak or failing: the inverter, inverter/airport cables, and there

may be an indirect issue with the data display cable as they get bent & can

fail. The rolling & flickering image may be the inverter, but there are a few

components that essentially are not replaceable on the logic board that can

be the cause of display failure when these other items have not failed.

And a failing graphic processor or overheating may be contributory causes to

the symptoms. A complete diagnostic test, probably beyond most AASPs interest

may be required to troubleshoot the device accurately. So many don't want to fix

the older hardware, perhaps they're fearful of someone not willing to pay a lot to

have an older machine repaired. Hard to say...

You may need to enlist the aid of a specialist who restores and refurbishes

Apple portable computers and who has sufficient facilities to repair almost

everything in most any of these computer models... wegenermedia.com.

Since they have devised methods to fix these correctly & more efficiently

that may be a way to go. To call them &/or email after looking at their web

site can be helpful to discuss the matter and their processes of repair, etc.

Sorry to not be of much help, but in the process of locating correct service

and repair, you may also consider obtaining a second iBook or something

that can run the software of that vintage, to extend the usefulness of it.

Good luck & happy computing!

While it may be possible to repair a connection cable such as the

one to/from an AirPort card, it would be better to replace it so there

would be little chance of a break or weak place affecting the signal

expected to travel the extent necessary to achieve the best effect.

Since I have not dissected a small cable such as this, while having

been extra careful when handling them, I am not certain if the wire

is constructed like a coaxial cable, where one wire is inside and a

second wire is a layer; with both shielded from outside interference

by a layer of metal foil. IF this is the case, that would be a difficult

wire to repair and not compromise the overall expected quality.

Does the iBook G4 model you have, use an AirPort Extreme card

or does that model have the older spec Original AirPort card?

I'd been looking around sites for information, and there is a scarcity

of hints on how to repair a damaged AirPort card cable. And while

it may be possible to use a USB wi-fi dongle, most are for USB2.0

and probably won't work in an older iBook G4 model.

Drivers for those kinds of products have to closely match the OS X

and there may be an issue with the computer preferring to use a

damaged AirPort circuit instead of a USB wi-fi, in some cases.

Sorry to not be of much help in this. A qualified electronics expert

could probably do a micro-solder or two for a fair price; yet to

expect a professional effort to be a cure, could be premature...

Unless the professional is an Apple Expert in portable Macs.

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing!

So I'm going to say that video problem is a bad LVDS cable. These tend to fray near the hinge points. Other possibility is connector has come loose. If it that cable you can diagnose it by disturbing the cable, esp. near the hinge points.

Reball problems look more like this:

http://s291.photobucket.com/user/spudnuty/media/ClassiciBookBGAfailure.mp4.html? o=58