Powerbook Wallstreet Video Artifacts?

[andypress]

I have a Wallstreet Gen 2 and recenlty it has begun displaying artifacts when you move the mouse, or around icons and text. They will dissapear when you go into sleep, and return once you start moving the pointer again. Is this signs of a dying logic board?

 

[andypress]

To clarify the artifacts: They are all in pink color, and they occur mainly when you move the beach ball around, or when you drag a window out, and there is also half a mouse pointer. Is it possible that it could be a display cable?

 

[andypress]

Since no one has yet to respond, I've narrowed it down to something logic board related. The artifacts also show up on an external monitor, which basically tells me that it couldnt be the lcd. Are there any last resort options before I buy a logic board from ebay?

 

[minton]

Maybe the title of your thread should be "video of powerbook wallstreet artifact"? Seriously, they're getting old. You might as well try and boot into open firmware and reset hardware to factory defaults. Here's the particulars from someone who posted @ macintouch.com:

From: Frederico
Subject: Open Firmware WILL work on PowerBook G3 (Wallstreet II)

Regarding the inability of some folks to get into Open Firmware (Command-Option-O-F) on PowerBook G3 233-266-292-300 models (Wallstreet II, PDQ), I can promise you it is possible, and it can be done on either Restart or Cold Start, whether or not you have Jaguar installed and/or set as the Startup Disk. I just double checked my G3-266/14", and it goes into Open Firmware v2.0.1 on a regular restart from OS X 10.2.6.

While it's possible that there's a particular version of these units which won't accept the command, or maybe the early Wallstreet (I) models lack OF, I've never met one in dozens and dozens of tries, and this is something we routinely do to *every* PowerBook that comes in for any type of troubleshooting or upgrade.

For those having trouble, a few hints/suggestions:

• press ALL four keys (Command-Option-O-F -- that's Apple-Alt-oh-ef for the fontifically challenged) at the SAME TIME, *immediately* upon hearing -- even during -- the Startup Chime. If you wait even one or two seconds, or depress the keys one or two at a time, it is very easy for the Boot ROM to miss your command call.

• Make sure your Command, Option, O and F keys are clean and responsive by using Keycaps or similar program prior to attempt, if you're still having trouble.

• If your keys fail to respond properly, just attach any known-good ADB keyboard.

• For reference, nearly all "Old World" Macs reset only PRAM when using Command-Option-P-R from a Restart; using the same Command-Option-P-R from a Cold Start (Power OFF to Power ON) will reset NVRAM and PRAM, thus, the 'reset-nvram' command in Open Firmware is unnecessary; however, resetting NVRAM is still advisable in this battery/PMU reset effort.

• the 'reset-all' command in Open Firmware resets all kinds of things, both documented and undocumented, particularly things on the PCI/PCMCIA bus, like video, and issues using Type I or II expansion cards. Resetting it has never hurt anything that I'm aware of.

My advice:

* Power OFF the PowerBook
* Remove the battery
* Install AC power
* Power ON the PowerBook
* *immediately* depress Command-Option-P-R
* continue holding for a total of three chimes
* upon hearing the third chime, immediately release the keys and instead press Command-Option O-F
* In Open Firmware, type: reset-all
* press Return, type: bye
* press Return
* ...the PowerBook will now boot normally into the first System Folder found on the first partition of the internal drive.
* If you get the Flashing '?', use any OS 9.1 or higher boot CD (the CD or the Classic System Folder must contain a new enough version of Startup Disk CP to reset OS X as your Startup Disk).
* If you wish, you may repeat the above with each of your problem batteries installed, but it shouldn't be necessary.

 

[andypress]

Maybe the title of your thread should be "video of powerbook wallstreet artifact"? Seriously, they're getting old. You might as well try and boot into open firmware and reset hardware to factory defaults. Here's the particulars from someone who posted @ macintouch.com:

I'm going to murder this thing. No matter what I tried I can't get it into open firmware.

 

[andypress]

Is there any way to "force" it to start up with an open firmware prompt?

 

[minton]

You may have better luck posting your original request here ->
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?14@1020.aDV3avIeWh4.1@.eea04c2

 

[rjphoto]

I had a same problem with g3 500 PB

This sounds like a problem I had with my G3 500 PB. It happened when it had been on for a while and heated up. When it was turned off and cooled down, it would be fine on reboot.

Of course I couldn't get it to recreate the problem when I took it to an Apple Authorized service center.

However, the prolbem went away when I installed OSX 10.2.

My wife uses that PB now and has not had any more problems with it.