PowerBook 5300cs blank screen
Just picked up a PowerBook 5300cs with charger and many accessories, but when I turn it on it only makes a startup noise and the screen brightens a little. How can I resolve this?
PowerBook, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier
You could begin by testing a Power Management Unit reset.
PowerBook 100 through PowerBook 5300: Resetting Power Management Unit (PMU) - Apple Support
I assume that you have tried the brightness and contrast controls already.
Is there anything to be seen on the screen (such as a faint disk icon with a flashing question-mark)? Can the hard disk be heard spinning, and does this drive appear to sound like it is starting an operating system?
Do you have access to a video adapter cable and an external monitor (and, if necessary, a Mac-to-VGA adapter)?
See page 59 in the User's Guide:
https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA641/en_US/PowerBook_5300series_UserGu ide.pdf