Sorry to post this here but you're all so lovely and helpful...

[LanceBellers@adobeforums.com]

I recently gave me father my old Mac, a 8100. He lives 50 miles away from in London and despite long phone calls, I haven't managed to solve his problem. He has been using the Mac for a few weeks without problems (I even had quite a hefty PShop session on it one afternoon) and then yesterday he set it up to be online with the external 56k modem and using a Yahoo/BT account. All was well and he emailed me successfully etc.
This morning, however, he started up and logged on to use the web. The Mac froze as he booted up Explorer and so after leaving it for a few minutes, he restarted using the small button on the front of the 8100 (using OS8.6 by the way).
Now, although the Mac sounds like it is starting up fine and although the monitor is still powered up (the green light on it is on), the monitor refuses to come on.
I have tried (over the phone) all the usual tricks - extensions off, zapping the P-RAM, taking the external modem and SCSI CD out the loop by unplugging both, trying to start up from the OS8.6CD by holding C key, all to no effect.
As I say, it sounds like the Mac is booting up but it just won't drive the monitor for some reason. He has checked the cables, all seems fine.
Any help much appreciated, he was so excited last night to be able to email his pals...

[graffiti]

Extension conflict perhaps?

If he starts up while holding down the shift key does he get his monitor back?

[LanceBellers@adobeforums.com]

Nope, as I said, tried that...

[graffiti]

Sorry. My eyes aren't what they used to be so I missed it.

Sounds like a new video card may be in order. I assume he doesn't have another monitor lying around to test with.

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

Monitor plugged in and ON? Sorry, I know it's obvious.

Internal clock battery?

[graffiti]

Sounds like a new video card may be in order




Also, could be a corrupt video driver.

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

Graffiti,

Wouldn't the monitor turn on before the video driver loads?

[Phosphor@adobeforums.com]

I'll throw in one small bit of advice, though it has nothing to do with the present malfunction.

Get your Pops OFF of Explorer (and probably Outlook Express for email, right?) and hook him up with Mozilla, or Firefox and Thunderbird.

<http://www.mozilla.org>

[graffiti]

Wouldn't the monitor turn on before the video driver loads?




You got a point Ramón.

Get your Pops OFF of Explorer (and probably Outlook Express for email,
right?) and hook him up with Mozilla, or Firefox and Thunderbird.




Yup.

I'm mostly leaning towards it being the Vid Card.

[g_ballard@adobeforums.com]

Makes less sense that hardware suddenly failed?

When it boots up, can you shutdown by the keyboard (power key, then enter key OR force shutdown: Shift+Option+Command+Power (key)? OR booted off the Install CD (to rule out the installed System)?

Have you Reset the logic board, replaced the battery, reconnected the cables...

<http://www.gballard.net/macrant/troubleshoot9.html>

[Phosphor@adobeforums.com]

G...

If I haven't publicly thanked you for your helpful pages, allow me to do so now.

I can't even count the number of people I'vve directed toward your "...macrant/fonts..." <http://www.gballard.net/macrant/fonts.html> page.

Thanks 10 million, G!

[g_ballard@adobeforums.com]

You're welcome, Phos & thank you for your kinds words of support... :)

[LanceBellers@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for all the advice. As I say, I'm 50 miles away but from detailed descriptions sounds like all the cables are in and everything turned on.

Will try the startup key trick.

Someone in Brighton wondered if it might be the p-ram battery, guess it is an old Mac so could be. Would that prevent a monitor coming on though?

[Sylvain_Gingras@adobeforums.com]

A dead battery on some old Mac will not sent signal to the monitor.

I've been there.

[Sylvain_Gingras@adobeforums.com]

<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=11751>

some Macintosh models may display a black screen when you turn them on
if the battery needs to be changed.

[SPAMMERS_SHOULD_DIE_bonniejdesign@bonniejdesign.com]

Can you try a different monitor??

[john_findley@adobeforums.com]

When I had a similar problem, it was a dead power unit in the monitor.

[LanceBellers@adobeforums.com]

I'm hoping it is the Mac's battery, certainly not changed in the last four years at very least. Ordered one off the web and will try that at weekend hopefully...

[SPAMMERS_SHOULD_DIE_bonniejdesign@bonniejdesign.com]

Lance.. if you can.. take your monitor to your Dads & see if it works.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

Another possibility no one has mentioned ... could he have accidentally adjusted the brightness setting on the monitor down, maybe while looking for a restart button? It would be nice if it were something that obvious and simple.

You're certain the Mac is working? Do keyboard commands seem to work? For instance, if you have a power button on the keyboard, can he shut down by using the button, listening for the ping, and hitting return?