Update: It now seems clear this is a hardware problem as I only need to reposition the display, type on the keyboard or insert a CD for the backlight to go ff. I guess it's likely to be a cable problem of some sort, but it doesn't seem to be a normal loose cable problem as setting the machine to sleep and reawake it works every time. Also there's no flickering of any kind. It just goes off. This makes it more likely in my mind for the problem to be the invertor board or in the worst case the light bulbs in the display.
As I do have the 400 also, I wonder if I can try and replace the invertor board and display from it just to see if any of those parts is the problem. Then buy this part 2nd hand and replace it for good. Are these particular parts from the 400 and 550 compatible to your knowledge? Mikael Bystr�m said: > >I have a Powerbook G4 / 550 here that ocassionally suddenly turns off the >backlight after just a short time of use. Typically when I read the >display for just under a minute and then press the space bar. I can see >the makeouts of the picture, but the backlight is off. Turning the >controls doesnt help. Setting the machine to sleep do help, but it's very >irritating to have to set the machine to sleep all the time while working. > >Last time this problem occured a Open Firmware reset-all seemed to fix it >for a while at least. But I need to know what brings forward this problem >in this model as I'm not the only one using it. Could it be some kind of >hardware problem? Any suggestions for testing the hardware? -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
