[Sage]

Hi,

Earlier this morning, when I booted my iBook, the screen went all crazy... it was flashing to black, had lines going all over it, etc. I've already copied down the phone number and everything for the Logic Board repair program, and my iBook's serial number qualifies. But, I've re-booted it, and now there's no problem. Was that just a once-only issue, or will it come up again later?

[shambolic]

That's certainly the famed logic board problem. My own iBook is just back from its third repair.

If I remember correctly, on my second failure, I had some "early warnings" like you've experienced, where the machine will come back up after a reboot. It was a few weeks later that the problem became terminal.

On the first and third failures, however, once I started getting the static-like lines, the machine was pretty much gone already - a reboot would sometimes bring up the display for about five or ten minutes, and sometimes just a black screen.

So my advice would be to start backing up your data if you've not done so already. If you lose the display, you may still be able to get in via FTP, if you've set it up in your System Preferences. (Or a firewire connection to another Mac, if you have that option)

The good news (at least on the East Coast - do all repairs go to Memphis or just part of the US?) I can give you is that the current AppleCare turnaround time on logic boards is pretty fast.

Good luck!

[-Q-]

That sounds like the beginning of the problem. Back up your data right away. My wife's iBook has just started the same problem and it's off to the repair facility we go. This will be the third time.

Although I'm hearing from my local service provider that Apple has a bit of a backlog and it may take longer than normal for the repair to be done...

[skalie]

Just got a report on my ibook 600mhz which was sent to Cork (Ireland), they have repaired the logicboard, but say that the monitor is also knackered.

Will wait for it's return, and see if hitting it a few times sorts out that problem. paying 330€ (exTax) for that repair isn't an option with it's current resale value.

[dreilly1]

Originally posted by Sage:
Hi,

Earlier this morning, when I booted my iBook, the screen went all crazy... it was flashing to black, had lines going all over it, etc. I've already copied down the phone number and everything for the Logic Board repair program, and my iBook's serial number qualifies. But, I've re-booted it, and now there's no problem. Was that just a once-only issue, or will it come up again later?

Yes. Back it up post-haste, and send it in.

Even if the screen goes out, you might still be able to use firewire target disc mode to download everything to another Mac. Carbon Copy Cloner is a good bet to copy an entire drive.

When I sent my iBook in for repair, they didn't have to format the hard drive, so I didn't technically need the backup, but you never know.

However, they did damage the AirPort antenna during the repair, and I had to send it in again. So, when you get it back, make sure you put it through its paces. I was able to get it repaired because I have AppleCare on it, but if you're getting it repaired under the extension program they may give you a hard time if they break anything and you don't send it back right away...