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Chulo · Aug 16, 2004, 10:37 PM

My APowerbook 15"(1.25g, 80 gig hdd, SD) running OS X 10.3 has now returned from sleep mode into a completely dark screen. Its only done it twice but I'm beginning to worry.
The first time, I switched users (to a secondary account). The PBook went to sleep in that second account and when I tried getting it to wake up, it wouldn't. It appeared (barely) like there was an open window in the screen but I really couldn't see anything else. I couldn't see the cursor so I'm not sure if there was anything moving. Somehow I was able to get the main Apple icon open and shut down the computer. I then restarted it and everything was normal.
Yesterday my son logged into his own account (no other accounts were open). Along the way, he closed the lid putting it into sleep mode. When he reopened it the same thing occurred, the screen was completely black. Nothing worked and again there seemed to be a window open (you could barely see it). I had to shut it down by holding down the power button for a few seconds.
This has never happened with only the primary account open. My son and I only use it at the same time occassionally but I don't think that's the problem since the second time it happened my son was using it alone. The problem appears to happen only on non-administrator accounts.
Could this be an OS problem or something else? Has this occurred to anyone else? Does anyone have a suggestion or solution?

d.fine · Aug 17, 2004, 04:08 AM

Next time it happens take a screenshot (apple+shift+3 i believe) so after reboot you can open the file and see what that window says that you can barely see when it happens, might be some important info on there, you never know ...

JKT · Aug 17, 2004, 04:30 AM

Did you try adjusting the screen brightness? The very lowest setting is exactly as you described - you can just (barely) see the contents of the screen (not at all in some light conditions). It sounds like the second user settings had been switched all the way down to zero.

tungtied07 · Aug 17, 2004, 05:05 AM

Hi,
I had the same problem awhile ago on my new Powerbook 15in. (but only had 1 account, but same symptoms and occurences)
I thought it had a problem and it worried me. During that time I reset the PRAM and use the Apple Hardware Test DVD. I don't know, now its like 3 weeks old and the problem never occured again after the 1st day.

Give the reset PRAM a shot (if you didn't already) and then use the Apple hardwdare test.

-Paul

d.fine · Aug 17, 2004, 05:16 AM

Originally posted by JKT:
Did you try adjusting the screen brightness? The very lowest setting is exactly as you described - you can just (barely) see the contents of the screen (not at all in some light conditions). It sounds like the second user settings had been switched all the way down to zero.

I thought about that too, but then wouldn't it still be so after a reset ? Resetting the PB does not alter the screen brightness settings is my guess ...

Chulo · Aug 18, 2004, 12:11 AM

Thanks everyone. Both times it occurred, I did try to raise the screen brightness to no avail. I will try to capture the screen shot next time it happens to see what it may be or say. I'll reset the PRAM after that.
I think I'll wait until then before making my next move and report my finding to you. I really appreciate the suggestions.

ibook_steve · Aug 18, 2004, 12:30 PM

A screen shot won't help anything. The symptom you describe is the backlight not turning back on when you wake from sleep. A screenshot will just show your desktop, plain as day. If your backlight is not coming back on after wake from sleep, no matter what you do with the brightness controls, you may have a more serious problem. Keep testing wake from sleep to see if it happens every time you wake up. When it happens, try moving the open lid back and forth to see if the backlight comes back on. Best case is if this is a simple cable issue with the inverter and backlight, which moving the screen would indicate if the backlight flickers on and off when you move it. Worst case is there's something wrong on the main logic board that is not turning the backlight back on after a wake. Either way, you may need to make a trip to an Apple store or call Apple.

Steve

d.fine · Aug 18, 2004, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by ibook_steve:
A screen shot won't help anything. The symptom you describe is the backlight not turning back on when you wake from sleep. A screenshot will just show your desktop, plain as day. If your backlight is not coming back on after wake from sleep, no matter what you do with the brightness controls, you may have a more serious problem. Keep testing wake from sleep to see if it happens every time you wake up. When it happens, try moving the open lid back and forth to see if the backlight comes back on. Best case is if this is a simple cable issue with the inverter and backlight, which moving the screen would indicate if the backlight flickers on and off when you move it. Worst case is there's something wrong on the main logic board that is not turning the backlight back on after a wake. Either way, you may need to make a trip to an Apple store or call Apple.

Steve

I recommend he take a screenshot because when he wakes the PB this problem occures, there is also a window on the desktop he can not read because of the disply problem. This window could be a hint as to the origin or a symptom of the problem ...