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rdklinc
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Screen will not light up unless external video is connected

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Hi! I've got an odd 15" aluminum that will not show video on its own screen unless it is connected to external video, in which case it comes on, and the external screen works fine as well. I've tried cycling through the external display modes, and booting up in each one. I've tried resetting the PMU, which works, but the machine's PRAM will not reset -- it just sits on a black screen endlessly. It's a shame, because I think a PRAM reset would probably fix the issue. I've tried another topcase/keyboard. I've tried having a hard drive installed vs no hard drive.

Occasionally, just randomly, the screen will light up with no external video attached, but it seems to be about one of 10 attempts, and like I stated, randomly, and not in response to anything in particular.

I'd hate to conclude that this is a bad board, and it seems like there must be a fix. It seems as if something is "stuck". Anyone know how to reset the PRAM without the keyboard? There are power and PMU power-on pads, but none for PRAM that I know of.

Thanks

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rdklinc

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mayer
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Just a shot in the dark but may work, try disconnecting the PRAM battery, AC adapter and main battery and then reconnecting the PRAM first. I would think that that should clear the PRAM.

Awesome, thanks Mayer -- that did it! 30 seconds of the PRAM battery disconnected, and the screen now comes on regularly. I totally forgot this machine had a PRAM battery! It's weird though -- while the battery was disconnected, I could reset the PRAM and it would chime, but when I re-connected the battery module, it wouldn't reset anymore (although the screen still comes on just fine, I assume because the PRAM has been reset). I assume there must be a defect with this particular battery module, so I'll have to try another one. That's a first for me with PB15s! Anyway, thanks again!

rdklinc,

Awesome, it's nice to get a working answer for one of our own tough questions ;-)

mayer,

UPDATE: It's doing it again, and with a different PRAM battery module. Oh well, I guess it might be the board after all. I might try another screen assembly. At least changing the PRAM battery seemed to work for a while, and was a good troubleshooting step.

rdklinc,

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Bernie
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If you get it to power on and you get video to its own LCD, try just putting it in sleep instead of turning it off. Sleep mode uses only 3-4% of battery power overnight. Perhaps the LCD will remain normal when you next wake it up.

The problem is not that it doesn't recover from sleep or go to sleep, but that the screen is black when the machine is first powered on.

rdklinc,

Yes, I meant that since you didn't power it off when you made it sleep, the LCD will be normal when you wake it up.

Bernie,

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