Macworld: busted display woes- ...

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11 Replies Last post: Jan 14, 2004 7:48 PM by rmac2000

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

Jan 6, 2004 7:36 PM

busted display woes-

A while back my display on my 15" TiBook (500mgz) was accidently broken while the TSA was seaching my bags. Figures that the one time I get really searched--they probally thought "what are all those boxes anyway..." (my zip, cd, floppy, firewire, etc) I travel with a complete design office.

Anyway- they broke my display. I've tried working with a mirrored monitor but this really sucks. Apple wants way too much to fix this ($1500) and I was wondering if anyone knew of a shop I could go to and get a canabalized screen installed for a reasonable amount of cash. Ebay is not an option because the used displays on there are going for what a NEW part runs.

Thanks in advance!
Roger

jcmount

427 posts since
Aug 13, 2001

1. Jan 6, 2004 8:16 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: busted display woes-

Have tried contacting TSA and filing a claim? There is no excuse for them pawing through things and breaking them.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

2. Jan 6, 2004 8:42 PM

in response to: jcmount

Re: busted display woes-

oh yeah- I filed the claim. It's been about a year now. They have a system, but like most government things try and PROVE it was them. Never mond that the display was fine at the client's side and was a new post modern design when I got back...
uggh!

So here I am with a beautifuly loyal machine that has been through about 3 years of projects with me, a gig of ram and running smooth on Jaguar. With a crappy $200 screen hooked up so I can at least do minor work.

Cash is supper tight- freelancing has it's down sindes afterall...

So that leaves me with seaching for canabalized macs.

rmac2000

3 posts since
Jan 12, 2004

3. Jan 12, 2004 12:56 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: busted display woes-

Roger,
I have the same problem (I dropped the computer out of its case), but I'm afraid I don't have a solution for replacing the display cheaply (I'll keep track of this thread because I need to eventually solve the problem). In the meantime I would be happy enough just to be able to use an external monitor. This laptop doesn't have a mirror button in the center of the function keys, so on an external monitor all I could see was a virtual screen with the apple swoosh background off the right of the "real "screen. With an hour of random dragging I got the control panels and was able to mirror the display on an external monitor and use the computer. But it seems to switch back to non-mirror on its own volition. Does anyone know a keyboard shortcut to make the thing usable with an external monitor?
Thanks and I wish I had better advice for you.
Rick

drmbb

2,353 posts since
Jun 14, 2001

4. Jan 13, 2004 4:47 AM

in response to: Nobody

Re: busted display woes-

PBParts has the display for $799USD. I don't know how difficult it would be to replace it yourself, but it's an option, at least.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

5. Jan 13, 2004 10:54 AM

in response to: rmac2000

Re: busted display woes-

Hi and thanks for your email! There's hope!
I know some people are out there who feel our pain!

Good News! I found ScreenTek their LCD's are inthe $500 range and I also found an Apple repair shop that will do the work for $100. (Without sending it to Apple-- sometimes NOT having AppleCare really helps!) So, I'll be able to fix my little guy pretty soon. If you'd like the same repair done, let me know- I'll be happy to give you the repair shop's phone and address.

If you have a M5884 Tibook, call and ask ScreenTek for a display. Give them your model number, etc. and they will look it all up and cross reference it for you. When I called, they were out of stock on my screen, but had a shipment coming in later this week. The website doesn't list our model Ti Book--CALL FIRST!

Ask them about an LG Phillips LP152W02, W1 or W2 or an Unipac B152EW01. It seems that these two models are direct replacements for what we've got.

In the mean time... more good news. You can mirror your current set up. That's what I'm doing right now. In OSX, go to your System Pref, click Display, and select the Arrangement tab. Now drag that tab over itself or click "mirror displays" in the lower left hand corner of the window. If you're running 9, you can do the same thing through your "monitors" preference. You should be in like Flyn.

It's only a "get me by", but it'll do in a pinch.

Rog

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

6. Jan 13, 2004 2:39 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: busted display woes-

Okay,
now bad news come home. I just got off the phone with ScreenTek. They don't know if they'll ever get the parts I was searching for last week.

I think I'll have to go with an outdated parts resource to fix this problem.
-R

rmac2000

3 posts since
Jan 12, 2004

7. Jan 13, 2004 6:50 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: busted display woes-

Rog,
Many thanks, although ScreenTek may not have the parts, based on your comment in a later posting.
Regarding the MIRROR option, I can't see the preference screen to begin with--all I have is some virtual desktop somehwere off to the right of all the icons. So I have moved the cursor off screen left into this icon space and dragged items back randomly (this is kind of like trying to grab a kewpie doll in the arcade, only with a blindfold). After an hour I dragged the hard disk icon over, opened it, then went back and dragged the window, then opened the system prefs, dragged it . .. you get the idea. But it did work, then the computer for no apparent reason reverted to its original non-mirrored state. This made me wish I had the "mirror" key of the newer machines or that there was a keyboard shortcut for this that would eliminate all the dragging.
I'm dragged out.
Thanks for the help though.
Rick

btbeme

5 posts since
Jan 13, 2004

8. Jan 13, 2004 8:39 PM

in response to: rmac2000

Re: busted display woes-

EBay often has the screen you need - I see them in the $150 range at times, up to about $250. A screen from a 400, 500, or 550 TiBook will work. Installation is not for the faint of heart or the all-thumbs type, but it is possible with the proper manual (available from several sources) and a measure of patience.

I have repaired several this way and have had great luck so far.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

9. Jan 14, 2004 2:41 PM

in response to: btbeme

Re: busted display woes-

Thanks for the eBay lead- the problem with them right now is market forces. Seems there are a few distributors out there, but a lot of potential buyers driving the costs upward to $450. Granted- this includes more than the screen- it's the whole top display casement. I'm just having a hard time shelling out that kind of money right now when I know I can get a new screen for the same cost. (IF, big IF, I find a distributor, that is...)

Although...I will keep my eyes out for a reasonable posting. I did see a used one for $200 a couple of times, but the seller did not respond to emails- several times. I figured, that they figured, that the screen would sell regardless of a response, so why bother with my little question. I could be wrong, but they haven't responded so I wouldn't know.

Thanks again!
Rog

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

10. Jan 14, 2004 2:48 PM

in response to: rmac2000

Re: busted display woes-

Rick,
So sorry about your problem. That's GOT to be frustrating as all h#ll. With all this stuff going on, it's got me thinking of buying another machine.

Don't tell that to my mac though- luckily I'm borrowing my wife's PC to type this post, otherwise...the little guy witht he busted face might shock me dead.

At least I did a copmplete system back up so I can hopefully mirror it onto a new machine so I don't have to spend all that time doing installations...

Good luck!
Roger

rmac2000

3 posts since
Jan 12, 2004

11. Jan 14, 2004 7:48 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: busted display woes-

I can start up the machine as an external drive by booting and holding down "T" key. But I don't think that will let me use the programs on it. This works only in OSX however, and my home machines are in the dark ages of OS9. Eventually I'll upgrade and/or win the lotter and buy a new display.
Thanks for your comments.
Rick

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Jan 6, 2004 7:36 PM

busted display woes-

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