iBook tv adapter problem a go-go

October 14, 2006 4:28 PM

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?

posted by popcassady to Technology (6 answers total)

Isn't that what the "genius bar" at the Apple store is for?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 5:53 PM on October 14, 2006

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.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 8:00 PM on October 14, 2006

If it sees it as an external VGA monitor:

Try setting it to 640x480 @ 60hz.
posted by filmgeek at 8:11 PM on October 14, 2006

Response by poster: 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.
posted by popcassady at 5:11 AM on October 15, 2006

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

Then reboot, and revist your Display Preferences pane in System Preferences.
posted by tomierna at 5:54 AM on October 15, 2006

Response by poster: Nope, that didn't work.

It still tells me that I have a VGA Display and a Colour LCD.
posted by popcassady at 8:51 AM on October 15, 2006