I've done it many times. It's not for the weak, but after having done enough of them [display replacements], I'm not really bothered by them. I guess I'm not the right person to ask.

A tip I can give: Pay close attention to which screws go where in the display hinges (the ones actually securing the display--not the ones on the hinge covers ("clutch covers"), because one of them has a slanted head, and it needs to go back where it came from.

Normally, I'd say not to perform such a repair yourself, but you're waaaay out of warranty with this one anyway. ;-)


-/-

that is exactly what i am thinking too! i mean if i'm ever going to take a part a powerbook, now's the chance!


i noticed that too when reading through the manual. apple makes a special point about this particular screw.

the manual is pretty funny actually. reads a bit like a 'taking apart a powerbook for dummies'.

It would be cool if you could post pics of the replacement routine, if it works. I'm sure XLR8 and people here would be interested.

I thought replacing my TiBook HD was tough.

Good Luck.

You'll also need to pay attention to how the cables are routed around in the chassis. No reason to ruin another display. ;-)

-/-

thanks bassi.
i'd be happy to post pictures if people are interested.
as a side note: i like xlr8 a lot... the site helped me out when i was shopping for a hard drive and firewire enclosure. informative.
i love my new granite digital enclosure and wd special edition drive... fast fast.
if they're intersted in process photos of the replacement screen i'd be happy to oblige (sp?).
although it sounds like mikey-san would be a better model as he seems to be pretty experienced at this.

i think i might of found a place here in switzerland that may be able to get me a replacement display. cheaper than from adt too! ridiculous!
cross-me-fingers.

exactly... i am rather nervous about ruining the new display. every other line of the apple manual is a warning about how delicate the display wires are.

i am also worried about static electricity. should i use one of those static electricity wrist-band-things or are those a joke in the electronics world?! any recomendations?

thanks

Re: Sleep a possible fix?
 

very good one, sure i will use it.

Well, if the royalties are not too expensive:D

i have changed duo screens years ago, and it was too more dificult to open the top enclosure than change the screen itself.
I havent open a ti yet but be cautios with plastic glitches along the side of covers. In the duo times they break easly and then yo must replace the cover or do more "manualities" to keep the cover closed.
When yo get the cover off, you only need to remove the wires from the terminals, usually the top of the terminal must be upped a little to get the wire free.
Finaly be sure that your new screen is equivalent to the original, Apple has a lot of rev A,B,C things that seems the same but are not Interchangeable. If you put a rev B thing on a rev A one, you can break both. also it can be difficult to find the replacement.
About static, i always touch the ground pin in electrical outlets, dont know if the grounded outlets in switerland are the same than here in spain. Anyway i think the static could be dangerous for a memory or main board not for the screen.
Hope you can get your Ti full working soon.

thanks genimac,

on the tibook the replacement display is the whole screen including the metal case, so i don't have to worry about messing with the screen in it's own case. but in order to install the screen it looks like (judging by apples repair manual) that i need to take much of the powerbook apart:
- rib frame and heat exchanger
- memory
- dc-in board
- Battery
- Keyboard
- Bottom case
- Hard drive
- Optical drive
- Logic board
- PC card cage
- Secondary fan

etc.

so i am a bit concerned about all these parts with static electric.

thank you for the help.

the apple people didn't tell me any stories like that
 

after posting my initial comment here at macosxhints i have received many great suggestions both publicly on this forum as well as privately. One of these suggestions informed about AASP's (apple authorized service provider) - local stores that are certified to do apple repairs. yes, i realize that this is obvious... but i am in currently in switzerland where these types of places are not that common, especially for apple. Furthermore, i was told by apple that there was no one in switzerland that would be able to replace the tibook display. it turns out this is not so... following up on a generous tip i have found an AASP 20 minutes away! not only are they able to replace the display but they will do it faster and much cheaper than apple/adt's turn around time - 1 day (this definitely beats apple's 2 weeks... um possibly three 'we're not certain'). i went to the store today and they were so nice... what a change from dealing with apple repair these last 3 weeks. they have order the display from holland (the same place my tibook was a week ago when it went in to apple!) and it will arrive in about 3 days. and then the installation is one day. the really amazing thing is that it is cheaper than apple/adt:
a comparison:

new tibook 800 display -
apple/adt: $1200
local swiss AASP: $850

new bottom plate -
apple/adt: $800
local swiss AASP: $80

please add to the local swiss AASP's price $100 to install both parts.

no i did not make a mistake... those numbers are correct.

so in the end it looks like i will not be installing the display myself as i get a 3 month guarantee if i have the AASP install the parts.
the great news is... it seems that i will have a new display soon!! yaa

thank you all for your help, thoughts, and advice... i really appreciate it.

poultryfarm


small footnote:
after both tech guys were on the verge of tears after initially seeing my tibook one of the guys made me feel much better when he told me about a much more severely damaged tibook that had come in to the store... he said that the whole powerbook was bent lengthwise into a semicircle like a banana!
the apple people didn't tell me any stories like that.

wow! your tenacity paid off. way to go.

as for the cosmetic damage, think of it as adding character. it makes it truly yours. "it's not broke. it just lacks duct tape."

Congratulations
After all that, you sure enjoy your Ti more than ever.
;)

thanks guys! i am quite happy.
although one of my dissapointments: i am not able to keep the old display. they do a part exchange with apple.
ok not a big deal.


exactly. my paint chips and dings are growing on me. looks like i do some serious work with the book - um... maybe not, actually it looks more like i'm a nerdy klutz!

i love duct tape.

Interesting, I work for an AASP (Spcialist, actually), and we're not able to get the display by itself as a part from Apple. Wonder if it has anything to do with us being in the states...

Anywho, i'm glad you found a place to get your powerbook repaired. I can imagine the AASP employees' faces when they saw your titanium. I know how I would react.

I've only seen two TiBooks with broken screens before. One was obviously abuse, you could see a hand indention in the top of the powerbook, as if someone had pushed on the top hard or slammed it shut and kept pushing. The other, the right hinge siezed when opening the powerbook, and the torque snapped the screen.

Well done, enjoy your new "personalised" TiBook.

that seems strange... so for display repairs you must send it in then?
perhaps it does have something to do with being in europe. i have recently been informed about this two-tier system that exists: local AASP's and apple/adt; but apple does not advertise this (on the contrary). and apparently, if i understand correctly, here in switzerland it is only within the last two months or so that these local AASP's have been certified to do these repairs. when i was at the tech shop the guy simply and quickly logged on to a website found the part and placed an order no problem

that must have been a tight hinge!

Come to think of it, we might be able to order the display now. I haven't checked for a few months. I'll have to look into it tomorrow. But, last I knew, yes, display problems had to go to Apple.

That hinge was evil, I tell you. We couldn't move it with pliers. When I say siezed, I mean it. It would not budge.

the end
 

sorry to drag this thread out... but i couldn't resist the happy ending.

today i brought my laptop into AASP i found 30 minutes away. i was told that they would probably look at it and work on it in the afternoon or maybe tomorrow. i will be emailed when it's ready.

it took 30 minutes to take the train back and arrive at work. i checked my email and lo and behold the powerbook is ready!!! good god that was fast.
went during lunch to pick it up.
it's beautiful!
new display + new bottom case.
and no dead pixels!
i couldn't be happier.

they checked out the rest of the powerbook and confirmed my previous oppinion. Unlike apple/adt (who diagnosed it with a faulty hard drive and ethernet port and cracked top case) they found everything in perfect working order.
i paid much less than i would have at apple and unlike apple they were extremely nice and helpful.

thank you all again for the help and support!