Comments on: iBook tv adapter problem a go-go

Question: iBook tv adapter problem a go-go

popcassady — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 16:28:57 -0800

Why won't my iBook's tv adapter work?

This problem has been bugging me for months. I've asked the question in nearly every mac forum I could find -- but no one has offered me a solution. Surely metafilter can come to the rescue?

So, cut and pasted from another forum:

"...I bought a video adapter from the apple store.

For the first few weeks, it worked fine. After plugging the adapter into my iBook (G4, 1.2 gigs, 10.3.9), I had the option to change my display preference between NTSC/PAL.

One day, whilst using Quicktime (I think I was launching th application at the time) I unplugged the adapter. When I plugged it back in, the picture on the television became flickery and scrambled.

I looked at my display preferences and instead of having the NTSC/PAL option, my iBook was now detecting the adapter as an external VGA display and I was given a load of resolution and refresh rate options... but no NTSC/PAL.

This continues.

I've tried unplugging, restarting, unplugging in sleep mode, restarting plugged in/un-plugged, resetting PRAM, repairing permissions... nothing seems to fix it..."

Anyone?

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 17:53:25 -0800

Isn't that what the "genius bar" at the Apple store is for?

By: AmbroseChapel

AmbroseChapel — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 20:00:36 -0800

What do you mean, "adaptor"? Just the cable with the RCA plugs on one end and the jackplug on the other?

[The one you have to pay like fifty bucks for from Apple but Sony gives you free with any camcorder?]

>I've tried unplugging, restarting, unplugging in sleep mode, restarting plugged in/un-plugged, resetting PRAM, repairing permissions...

Have you tried deleting preference files? That would be my next move.

By: filmgeek

filmgeek — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 20:11:29 -0800

If it sees it as an external VGA monitor:

Try setting it to 640x480 @ 60hz.

By: popcassady

popcassady — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 05:11:57 -0800

It's one of these.

I've tried all the resolution and refresh rates offered, but none seem to work with my tv (PAL).

Deleting preferences... I've looked and I couldn't find any file that seemed to relate to this.

Alas, there's no genius bar in my neck of the woods.

By: tomierna

tomierna — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 05:54:50 -0800

Try removing /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist

Then reboot, and revist your Display Preferences pane in System Preferences.

By: popcassady

popcassady — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 08:51:41 -0800

Nope, that didn't work.

It still tells me that I have a VGA Display and a Colour LCD.