Extreme hackery: a PowerBook G4 w/o its display

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Extreme hackery: a PowerBook G4 w/o its display

So I hosed my PowerBook's screen about a month ago, and I have successfully (and carefully) detached the screen from the Powerbook. I'm left with the following:

IMAGE(http://www.chrisgagne.com/sa/powerbook.jpg)

So, the machine works perfectly with an external display connected. But it thinks it still has two displays, and so wants to do mirroring or dual displays. I have a 20.1" LCD with 1600x1200 resolution on the way, so it would be great if I could convince the video card that the internal display doesn't exist. Any ideas on how to do this?

Yes, I know I can use a magnet on the trackpad and tell the Mac that the computer is shut, so don't use the internal display. For a variety of reasons, though, that's not an attractive option. I'm sure there's some prefs or firmware option out there....

Thanks,

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you should be able to take it

you should be able to take it apart ... and modify the switch so that it thinks the lid is down even when its not ... it would save having a magnet on the case Wink

TOM

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Agreed. Unfortunately, that a

Agreed. Unfortunately, that also shuts off the onboard keyboard and mouse, which I don't want to do.

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Re: Agreed. Unfortunately, that a

Agreed. Unfortunately, that also shuts off the onboard keyboard and mouse, which I don't want to do.

ah yes ... that could be a problem Wink

TOM

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All you need to do is add 'vi

All you need to do is add 'video=radeon:dfp' to your kernel boot time parameters. That will switch off the laptop screen and force all output to external monitor.
Good Luck

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YESSSS!!! Is that a prefs fil

YESSSS!!! Is that a prefs file? Where can I find that? <3 <3 <3

olikicksmacs's picture
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CALM DOWN!!

Search for, disable internal monitor powerbook on google and look at the first link. Follow the posts back to the first one that says 'External Monitor powerbook' or something like that, then read.

Good luck

Oli

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Oli, This isn't super clea

Oli,

This isn't super clear to me. That appears to be related to YDL. Am I missing something here?

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i cant seem to remember...

i cant seem to remember.... what is the Fn function of the F5 key? doesnt it turn off the powerbook's monitor or something?

o btw this idea is reminescent of the TAM

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That would be the number lock

That would be the number lock key.

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Re: CALM DOWN!!

Search for, disable internal monitor powerbook on google and look at the first link. Follow the posts back to the first one that says 'External Monitor powerbook' or something like that, then read.

You did note of course that the thread you're referrring to is on "lists.terrasoftsolutions.com", right?

("Terrasoft Solutions" being the company which distributes Yellow Dog Linux, of course.) ;^>

--Peace

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Cool

:macos: Jet me just say, that hack is übercool. :macos:

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this might just work...

http://anybox.owc.net/forum/

Have a look in this forum - I don't think Xpostfacto will run on new world macs, but there are firmware hacks etc discussed here to shut off internal/external displays (i think)

Good luck!

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How damaged is your screen?

How damaged is your screen? mail me at j o n (a t) m a c - c o n s u l t a n t (d o t) c o m

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If only...

...there was a cordless display thingamajig. Then you could move around with the PB but still see the monitor.

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Re: If only...

...there was a cordless display thingamajig. Then you could move around with the PB but still see the monitor.

The design he cooked up works fine for me.
http://www.applefritter.com/node/view/2441

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Wow

That is kick-arse!

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could you tell us in detail h

could you tell us in detail how to change these settings in the kernel bootup options under OSX?
the kernel on the website you linked is for Linux systems.. :/

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