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DigitalEl · Mar 27, 2004, 12:51 AM

Just had the 12" PowerBook (Running 10.3.2) on an away mission. It performed as expected. No issues. I always sleep her, instead of shutting down. This time was no exception. When I took it out of the bag at home, it was dead. I thought it odd, but wasn't alarmed. Hit the Power button, heard the chime, then some movement in the HD (usual startup sounds), then nothing.

I took the battery out and let it sit for a few minutes (don't know why... just seemed like something to try). I've tried it plugged in and on battery power... Still nothing.

I'll get the chime and hear its innards moving... Again, normal sounds, no grinding or anything weird. Then nothing. The screen is black. I did try the brightness controls, thinking maybe it was on, but the brightness was just all the way down. That's not it.

Help, please.

flgator · Mar 27, 2004, 01:10 AM

Have you tried booting from CD

Tomster · Mar 27, 2004, 01:33 AM

Did you try to reset the PMU?

1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2. Reset the power manager by simultaneously pressing and then releasing Shift-Control-Option-power on the keyboard. Do not press the fn (Function) key while using this combination of keystrokes.
3. Wait 5 seconds.
4. Press the power button to restart the computer.

DigitalEl · Mar 27, 2004, 01:38 AM

I haven't tried the CD, but have since realized the machine is on, it's just that the screen is blank. The fan was on. I pressed and held the Power button and it went off. Another press and the chime sounded.

While it was powered up, I inserted a data CD. Pressing the Eject button didn't eject the disc though. I know I can hold a button while booting to get the CD back, but I'm going to wait 'til I hear more here before doing anything else.

Right now, the machine is powered down. Always thinking the worst, if the backlight is shot after just 9 months of use, it will become the prettiest paperweight ever. I certainly don't have the cash to get it fixed. ****!

DigitalEl · Mar 27, 2004, 01:53 AM

PMU reset worked, Tomster. Thanks, so much.

It's awesome you can get help here at MacNN almost quicker than you can look something up at the oft-cumbersome Knowledge Base.

Thanks again.

------

Now, what the hell happened between closing the lid to put her to sleep... Putting her in the bag... Driving the ten minutes home... Taking her out of the bag on my desk at home... And opening the lid again. I did nothing unusual.

Tomster · Mar 27, 2004, 02:51 AM

You are very welcome. Glad things worked out well.

Boondoggle · Mar 27, 2004, 03:00 AM

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
...Always thinking the worst, if the backlight is shot after just 9 months of use, it will become the prettiest paperweight ever. I certainly don't have the cash to get it fixed. ****!

You have 3 months of warrantee left before you should indulge in this kind of panic.

You might want to get Applecare... If you still can.

I'm glad you got your problem solved!

bd

Spheric Harlot · Mar 27, 2004, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by Boondoggle:
You want to get Applecare...while you still can.

Fixed that.

rag on a muffin · Mar 28, 2004, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
PMU reset worked, Tomster. Thanks, so much.

It's awesome you can get help here at MacNN almost quicker than you can look something up at the oft-cumbersome Knowledge Base.

Thanks again.

------

Now, what the hell happened between closing the lid to put her to sleep... Putting her in the bag... Driving the ten minutes home... Taking her out of the bag on my desk at home... And opening the lid again. I did nothing unusual.

do you mean this is the same problem again?