This was my problem. I dropped my Powerbook on its screen and the LCD cracked. Apple quoted over $1,000 to replace it. After I got done laughing–then crying, I did some research. I found a replacement screen on eBay for under $200. With a little help from a guide on iFixIt, I was able to successfully replace my Powerbook’s LCD. It’s not as hard as I thought, but it definitely takes some confidence in working with computer hardware.
Disclamer: Doing this voids your warranty. This is a last resort option. If you don’t feel confident in doing something like this–don’t.
Enough chatter, lets see how this is done.
First, you should find your guide on iFixit. Here is the guide for the Powerbook G4 1.67GHz.
It has a list of required tools. If you don’t have the correct tools you should go get them. They’re very cheap and it prevents you from stripping your screws.
I would also recommend a way to keep track of your screws. I had a little trouble with this, and ended up using the wrong screws in some places as a result. I even ended up with 5 extra screws at the end. Those silly Apple engineers including bonus screws…
A beautiful non-cracked display delivered promptly. I was glad to see I ordered the correct size.
My tools laid out.
Take the keyboard off to see everything neatly packed in.
Once you get the keyboard off, you have to unhook a lot of cables and take the logic board off. Then you can take the hinge off, and finally get to the screen. The white square that you see is the Apple logo on the back.
The broken LCD screen. It was pretty neat to see how it was broken.
I got the new screen set in the frame. This was fairly simple because I ordered cables already connected to mine. I’m not sure if others are shipped with out. That’s something you’ll have to check when you order.
Reverse the process. Put the hinge back on. Hook the logic board back up. You have to reapply thermal glue for the heatsink. Otherwise it’ll overheat and die on you.
Make sure you have the bluetooth and IR sensors back in place. Also make sure the ambient light sensors and speakers are in place.
Hook it up and holy crap it works! It works!
The whole process is pretty humbling. Seeing how the whole laptop is put together gives me lots of respect for the engineers who designed it. I’ve done PC repairs before in a tower, but never on a laptop. I was half expecting it to become a paper weight. Luckily (3 weeks later) everything is still running great.
Some orange caution tape and a little time, and I also have an awesome modded Apple logo.
In the future I think I’m going to add some coloring to my keyboard. I’ll have a tutorial on that as well.
Hopefully this gives some hope to people out there who have broken their LCDs. It is possible, and it’s not too hard. Just keep track of your screws, and take your time. This was a multi-day process for me. Good luck!
Technorati Tags: lcd, powerbook, broken lcd, puppy
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Jenjira
...Well it didn't affect the screen then. Now, a year later, right under the dent, there's a purple line that appears and runs down the screen. It comes and goes, but it's pretty annoying. Recently a blue line has appeared about a cm to the right of the purple line... all of this is happening and i'm not sure what I should do. I don't feel as though i need a new screen because aside from this come-and-go line, the screen is fine, i was just wondering if you had any advice about this dent and getting it out? September 25th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Brad
Adrian
Brad Jasper
Yes I do believe it was from a store. I did a search on eBay for "Powerbook G4 LCD" and then made sure it was compatible with my laptop.
Good luck! January 13th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Erik
I have a powerbook G4 and I have crap luck. I broke the LCD within three months. I called MAC up soon after and they wanted $1100 to replace the monitor. I decided external monitor is the way to go, until I shopped around to try to find it cheaper. I was in luck, $325 hi res LCD, I will be receiving it on Monday. I plan to use this article to help me fix it. Brad is there any other suggestions that you can think of since you posted this article? Adrian the site I went to is www.agpartsworldwide.com, the price went up to $400, but I have the 17in Hi Res. If you want email john@agpartsworldwide.com or call at p. 724.838.9588 ext 119. He was pretty helpful. Hope this helps. Thanks in advance Brad for your article. I fix PC all the time but never opened my Powerbook, so this should be interesting.
Erik February 1st, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Brad Jasper
My only other advice would be take things slow and create a system for keeping track of your screws.
I assumed I could figure out which screws went where when putting it back together--boy was I wrong.
There's something like 60 screws and they each can fit in other holes.
Erik, if you need any help you can e-mail me at brad at mactips dot org. February 1st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Hal
The discussions I've come across concerning Powerbook backlight indicate that the backlight itself is glued inside some sort of difficult-to-remove assembly or something. Apparently it's almost impossible to exchange.
If you (the article author, or anyone else really) still have the old (broken) LCD, could you have a look to see where the backlight is and how it's mounted? Perhaps even post some photos?
That would give some indication of the possibility of replacing the backlight yourself for 15 bucks or needing to buy a brand new screen for $200-300. April 9th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Shaine L.
Dave
just received my replacement screen from Taiwan it cost me about £115 inc post to the UK. I replaced the screen without moving the Logic board, you can do it this way, it's easy and quick. The only downside is that certain wires still connect the screen casing to the laptops internals however, if you're cafefull and take your time you should have no problems doing it this way. In all it took me 1 hour and she booted up lovely with her sparkling new screen.
Regarding my older Apple G4 400mhz dead as a dodo machine. I took it up to Birmingham UK after booking it in via apples website only to be told on arrival they couldn't look at it as it was too old and the shops booking in system wouldn't let them register receipt of it, when I complained that I'd driven 50 miles and wasted half a day, paid for parking etc they managed to book it in. I got a call the next day telling me "Couldn't fix your powerbook since we couldn't start it up", well guess what, that's why I took it for repair! Doh.. Apples genius's are not too bright at all it seems, but the fault obviously lies with Apples crap systems and on-line so called 'Genius slot booking'. another half a day to collect it. What a waste of my precious time and expense, I'm bloody boiling about it!! Idiots!! July 24th, 2008 at 8:02 am