Need a PB 500-series guru

Submitted by williamahearn on August 3, 2005 - 8:22pm

Hey,

Recently I got a PB 550c. Yeah, that rare little bird that was produced in Singapore and only sold in Asia. It's a mess. I've already replaced the floppy and got it to boot. The problem? A stripe running vertically down the screen. It looks like a satellite photo of a 19 lane highway. I replaced the cable that runs from the mobo to the screen. No difference. So, either the replacement cable is defective in the exact same way (unlikely) or the problem lies elsewhere. Anybody know where the problem might be?

Thanks.

Submitted by reberto on August 3, 2005 - 9:07pm.

I have a GREAT screen from my 520c that wold work. Just take ut the old LCD and put in mine. That should fix it. And I'm not pushing you to buy it. It WOULD fix the problem.

Submitted by williamahearn on August 3, 2005 - 9:13pm.

Hey,

I got 520 and 540 screens. But the 550 has a much wider screen and it's black. I'm trying to restore this puppy and as much as I appreciate your offer, it really wouldn't help. So you're saying that you *know* the problem is in the screen and not on the board?

Submitted by reberto on August 3, 2005 - 9:17pm.

The 500's have the same screen size. I know because it OWNED a 550 and a 520,540 and the 40c and 20c. Had the same problem on the 540c and it fixed the problem.

Submitted by williamahearn on August 3, 2005 - 9:26pm.

Hey,

The 520 screen might fit. But it's not the same screen. You should know that if you *really* owned a 550c. The color of the plastic is different and the screen area of the 550c is much wider and taller than a 520/540c. Why are you arguing such a demonstrably silly inaccuracy? I'm looking at a 550c that is next to a 520. I'm not looking to create some calico frankenMac. I'm trying to restore the thing and am not going to put a mis-colored, smaller screen area screen on it. Can you understand that?

eeun's picture

Submitted by eeun on August 3, 2005 - 10:00pm.

I've seen this problem on a few dumpstered laptops, though not a 5xx Powerbook specifically.
If you consider the LCD to be toasted, you could try taking it apart. I've found where the LCD board goes into the LCD, on the circuit boards that border the glass, the connections can pull away from the board. If you try lightly pressing on these, or lightly twisting the LCD when powered on, you might be able to find where the problem is originating.
Unfortunately, if you find it, you're only confirming it's the LCD itself that's bad. I've had no luck soldering those connections in the past, but that's just me.

I hope you can get it working, or find a replacement screen. That's a nice, rare bird you've got.

Submitted by williamahearn on August 3, 2005 - 10:11pm.

Hey,

That's the dilemma: Finding replacement parts is next to impossible short of buying another 550c on eBay. And that doesn't solve anything. Once I built a working Duo screen out of three busted-in-different-ways Duo screens and I don't ever want to do that again. I posted here hoping someone knew exactly where the problem might be so I can minimize the surgical strikes. And you're right. It's a sweet machine and I will get it back to real life one way or another. Thanks again for the tip.

dankephoto's picture

Submitted by dankephoto on August 3, 2005 - 11:52pm.

IIRC . . .

The 550c uses a larger 10.4" 640 x 480 rez screen. I'm wondering if the LCD from a 5300CE would work? Nope, the CE screen's 800x600.

EDIT: Duh! 5300C's LCD, of course! 10.4" TFT @ 640x480. /EDIT

In any case, the solution is to pull the 550's LCD from its bezel and get its model number. It's almost certain you can source a replacement LCD more easily than an entire 'nuther 550!

dan k

Submitted by jpendrick on August 3, 2005 - 11:52pm.

As I recall, the Powerbook 550 had an 10.4" active-matrix (TFT) 640X480 display: the same as the Powerbook 5300c. (And not at all the same as the 540c or 520c.) You might try one of those 5300c LCDs: they're not so rare on ebay, and come pretty cheap. (Not sure about the connector, though.)

dankephoto's picture

Submitted by dankephoto on August 4, 2005 - 12:15am.

Don't forget the second cable that runs from the PCB at the screen base back to the LCD itself. It's known to work loose, so try futzing with that a bit.

BTW, that second cable is almost certainly specific to the 550, so be real careful messing about in that area. It's not like a HD cable or something you can scrounge from any ol' BlackBird.

dan k

Submitted by williamahearn on August 4, 2005 - 1:03am.

Hey,

Thanks for the suggestions. The problem is definitely in the LCD itself and not on the mobo. I booted using a 520 screen and the vertical highway was gone. As for the 5300 screens, it's the same problem as the 520/40 screen: It might work but it isn't the solution that I'm looking for. Guess I'm opening that momma up and going in . . .

Submitted by reberto on August 4, 2005 - 2:14am.

I'm know. I just used the LCD. Not its housing. But the screen is not wider, just the housing the surronds it. The 520c screen will fit and work.

EDIT: Never mind, I was thinking of a different thing. You are right. DUH! Blum 3

dankephoto's picture

Submitted by dankephoto on August 4, 2005 - 9:51am.

As for the 5300 screens, it's the same problem as the 520/40 screen: It might work but it isn't the solution that I'm looking for.

If your LCD is toast, it may very well be the solution. We're talking about replacing the LCD panel inside the display, not about using an entire 5300c display on your 550. Well, if a 5300c happens to use the same (or compatible) LCD panel anyway.

What's your 550c's LCD make and model BTW?

dan k

Submitted by williamahearn on August 4, 2005 - 10:16am.

Dan,

Don't know at the moment. Not even sure where to look. I'm going to strip the housing tonight or tomorrow and look for obvious defects. Then I can get some measurements and figure out my options. Of course the only 5300 I have is in a box going to Illinois today.