Scratching my head, mini VGA/DVI adapter different?

[eyoungren]

Coworker has an iBook G4 (A1134) that is not lighting the screen when it boots. I want to check if it's the screen (or part thereof) or the GPU chip on the logicboard by plugging the Mac into a monitor.

However, I didn't realize it has a mini-port yesterday. So, I brought my mini-DVI to DVI adapter from home assuming it would work. It's the one they give you for the 12" PowerBook G4.

But the "mini" end is seriously way too large to fit into the port on this iBook. Is there a difference between a mini-VGA to VGA adapter and a mini-DVI to DVI adapter?

The mini-VGA adapters seem to be cheap on eBay but I don't want to buy one of these only to find out it won't work.

Anyone know anything about this?

 

[LightBulbFun]

indeed the Mini VGA port is different from the Mini DVI port btw in regards to the iBook try shining a bright Light on the LCD and see if you can see anything on the screen and/or put your ear to the iBook to see if you can hear the HDD crunch as it boots

 

[eyoungren]

indeed the Mini VGA port is different from the Mini DVI port btw in regards to the iBook try shining a bright Light on the LCD and see if you can see anything on the screen and/or put your ear to the iBook to see if you can hear the HDD crunch as it boots

The light was going to be my second check. Coworker says it chimes and he can hear it booting. I just want to see if there is video signal.

I'll go ahead and order one then. Thanks!

 

[eyoungren]

Got the adapter last night and brought it in this morning.

Works perfect and the following pics prove that the logicboard is fine. Just trying to determine if the issue is the LVCD cable or the display itself. Color is solid, no lines and proof that the backlight works. My guess would be the display because if the LVCD cable was bad I should be seeing glitches right? It's cycling through these colors.

What do you think @LightBulbFun?

 

[LightBulbFun]

interesting Failure mode it almost looks like someone was running ASD on it (one of the tests in it is cycling through those colours) but evidently it is not... if i was a betting man id bet on the LVDS cable IMHO. luckily parts for these are quite cheap and you might be able to just pick up a complete LCD top case assembly LCD and LVDS cable included. I see its the top spec 1.42Ghz iBook G4 those are nice machines. if your coworker is not interested in fixing it and just gives the machine to you and your not looking to repair it you could just remove the LCD top case completely and create what some people call half tops and use it as a small desktop or sever or something

 

[eyoungren]

interesting Failure mode it almost looks like someone was running ASD on it (one of the tests in it is cycling through those colours) but evidently it is not... if i was a betting man id bet on the LVDS cable IMHO. luckily parts for these are quite cheap and you might be able to just pick up a complete LCD top case assembly LCD and LVDS cable included. I see its the top spec 1.42Ghz iBook G4 those are nice machines. if your coworker is not interested in fixing it and just gives the machine to you and your not looking to repair it you could just remove the LCD top case completely and create what some people call half tops and use it as a small desktop or sever or something

Yeah, I was thinking cable originally but then thought it might be the display because it's cycling like that, but I wanted to get a second opinion. I believe I may have a spare 12" screen in the black hole that is my garage. Going to have to take a look this weekend.

He wants to keep the Mac. Someone else quoted him $160 to fix it and they weren't even sure what the problem was!

My only issue is working inside these things. I have always avoided iBooks because its like cracking open an egg.
[doublepost=1485548410][/doublepost]This leaves me quite apprehensive. It's for the display cable but all the instructions up to that point lead to removing the display.

God, I thought the 12" PowerBook was bad!!!!!

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iBook+G4+14-Inch+1.42+GHz+Display+Data+Cable+Replacement/4235

 

[Bug-Creator]

Yeah, I once did install an SSD in my 12" and it's something I don't want to repeat....

 

[bobesch]

Yeah, I once did install an SSD in my 12" and it's something I don't want to repeat....

I've opened iBooks a few times and the cracking sound always gave me goosebumps - but: they seem to be unbreakable!
And the battery fit's in much nicer, compared to the PowerBooks.
[doublepost=1485621972][/doublepost]

He wants to keep the Mac. Someone else quoted him $160 to fix it and they weren't even sure what the problem was!

Ha, 160 Bucks?
Did he ask this guy ... http://www.ebay.de/itm/apple-ibook-...-467-60gb-hd/112266070778?hash=item1a23944afa

 

[eyoungren]

Ha, 160 Bucks?
Did he ask this guy ... http://www.ebay.de/itm/apple-ibook-...-467-60gb-hd/112266070778?hash=item1a23944afa

Yeah, that's him!

 

[bobesch]

Yeah, that's him!

Had a strange conversation with that chap about a Fax-software for macOS9 he was offering. I was seriously keen to buy it for my Clamshells
The answers had been kind of "no one uses fax / keep off my shop / buy a fax-machine "
Strange ...

 

[eyoungren]

Had a strange conversation with that chap about a Fax-software for macOS9 he was offering. I was seriously keen to buy it for my Clamshells
The answers had been kind of "no one uses fax / keep off my shop / buy a fax-machine "
Strange ...

He should probabably meet one of our ad reps.

She's stuck in the fax machine era and uses that for just about everything.

 

[bobesch]

He should probabably meet one of our ad reps.
She's stuck in the fax machine era and uses that for just about everything.

Oh, I'm dedicated to sending fax-messages too.
I know, fax is somehow outdated, but it's currently still important here for sending medical reports or laboratory findings.
All the G4-machines are great for that purpose.
It's always a "holy act" to fire-up the mini-G4 or any G4-book for the purpose of sending a fax and remembering the early days of connectivity ...
And it feels truly authentic when using a Clamshell or a G4-book!