iBook Video/Logic Board Failure Part 2: Picture of the problem

Last week we reported a problem apparently affecting the iBook logic board (or more likely, a connector on the logic board) where users suddenly begin to see "rows" of pixel artifacts across the LCD. In the next stage, the screen goes haywire. Strange patterns appear all of the screen along with image ghosting, as if you had set an invalid mode line in X Windows. In the third stage the computer loses responsiveness, programs crash, and network sessions time out. Upon reboot, some systems will work normally for a few minutes then quickly die. In the end, many users are left in a situation in which there is a boot chime, and nothing else.

MacFixIt reader Steve Meuse provided us with a couple of pictures showing two different stages of the problem, culminating in a completely artifact-filled screen with a small block where the cursor once was. Meuse writes:

"The vertical bar in the top right of the screen is where the cursor was when the iBook froze. Unlike single-user mode, when this happens, nothing can bring it back but a hard power down.

"It seems like lightly flexing the open case can make the problem happen most of the time. This is why I have to leave the iBook perfectly still to use it. If I pick it up to move it, it will go south."

As previously reported, some users have been able to get an extra few minutes to back up their system by resetting the Power Management Unit (Shift-Control-Option-Power). One user reported fixing the whole issue by booting into OpenFirmware (hold Command-Option-O-F during startup) and typing "reset-vram" and then "reset-all."

Also noted last week, having an AppleCare plan will dramatically increase your chances of quickly getting a replacement.

Feedback? late-breakers@macfixit.com

Resources