sunflower imac 20" screen replacement

[freemandela5]

i got a "old" sunflower imac 20" with a dead screen that i want to salvage for my daughter (the mac not the screen). after the screen went to screen paradise i'm now left with a connector and 20 000 wires....
the problem with this mac is that it needs a main screen when in admin or install mode and i MUST reinstall the system. so i have to find a way to hook up another screen to the video board not using the external dvi but the remaining wires coming out of the mac.
if i got a lcd screen could i use some of those wires to connect it ?
would the signal be good since i'd be using a lcd and not crt monitor ?
or simply if anyone would know wich of these 21 wires go where ?
i have the feeling that i'll be trying it no matter what !

having very limited knowledge in electronics i'm lost here....

thanks

 

[gehrbox]

i got a "old" sunflower imac 20" with a dead screen that i want to salvage for my daughter (the mac not the screen). after the screen went to screen paradise i'm now left with a connector and 20 000 wires....
the problem with this mac is that it needs a main screen when in admin or install mode and i MUST reinstall the system. so i have to find a way to hook up another screen to the video board not using the external dvi but the remaining wires coming out of the mac.
if i got a lcd screen could i use some of those wires to connect it ?
would the signal be good since i'd be using a lcd and not crt monitor ?
or simply if anyone would know wich of these 21 wires go where ?
i have the feeling that i'll be trying it no matter what !

Why? Surely there are other options. Get another iMac on eBay and copy the files over via firewire target disk mode. Or use any other Mac with a FW400 port and do the same thing.

Plug in a firewire cable to both macs FW400 ports, Turn on the "host" mac (the one you want to copy the files to) and wait for it to get to its desktop screen. Next, on the broken iMac hold down the "T" key and turn on power. Give it 30 seconds to get into firewire target mode, then look for a new drive to appear on the host mac's finder. Copy over what files you need.

 

[ninewhereman]

Been poking around online regarding this issue. Seems that it would be pretty difficult to do. I saw a post that a guy took the screen off completely and used just the bubble as the computer. Not sure if this would work in your situation, but should as long as you can get the external monitor plugged in as the primary display.

Link to posts regarding using the base as a stand alone machine.

http://forums.macnn.com/58/imac-emac-and-mac-mini/235368/imac-g4-with-broken-screen/

Also link below has some info from people who have taken them apart before.

http://macslash.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/08/1818245

As that site above says you're probably gonna want a service manual before getting into it too far. Good luck and enjoy the project.

 

[freemandela5]

Why? Surely there are other options. Get another iMac on eBay and copy the files over via firewire target disk mode.

why ?
- it would' not be fun otherwise
- i don't like to trash something that still works and can be used be just needs repair and
- it's still cheaper than bying another one for a kid to play games on the net and doing a few school projects
- if i'd buy another one it would be a new imac anyway (or refurb), i wouldn't get a sunflower with no warranty whatsoever

so there's why

 

[freemandela5]

Been poking around online regarding this issue. Seems that it would be pretty difficult to do. I saw a post that a guy took the screen off completely and used just the bubble as the computer. Not sure if this would work in your situation, but should as long as you can get the external monitor plugged in as the primary display.

Link to posts regarding using the base as a stand alone machine.

http://forums.macnn.com/58/imac-emac-and-mac-mini/235368/imac-g4-with-broken-screen/

Also link below has some info from people who have taken them apart before.

http://macslash.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/08/1818245

As that site above says you're probably gonna want a service manual before getting into it too far. Good luck and enjoy the project.

thanks for this post and research, that was helpfull !
i did some myself but couldn't get anything like that to come up

i seems that if i take the main display off , the external monitor will then be recognized as the main one from what that guy said and dispite what the guys at the apple store told me; i wouldn't be the first time that they don't know what they're talking about in my experience.
i have disconnected the screen from the neck (i don't feel like going in the imac itself for the moment) and will try with a external display.
if it works i might open it and take the neck off, it'll sure look better

i'll keep you posted

 

[zmttoxics]

I hope it works out for you. I know nothing about these iMacs but I am all for home repairs! If it came down to it, you could take a picture of the innerds and the connector and I could look up the pin out you need to connect it to standard lcd.

Anyways, good luck!

 

[freemandela5]

there is a iGod

a great lesson !

1- never trust completly what the "geniusses" at the apple store tell you with great assurance
2- if you take the main screen completly off the neck or the entire neck but this means to open the imac an gradually work your way through all the screws, disconnecting the wires off the motherboard and then putting everything back into place without omitting the thermal paste..... and than plug in an external display IT WORKS !!

you can go in root, admin, boot, install whatever, like before with the main screen.
so the problem is solved; it was too easy i guess....

3- last lesson: never trust completly what the "geniusses" at the apple store tell you and try it yourself !

thanks for your input

 

[zmttoxics]

Congrats!!