⟐ Answered juni 05, 2015 at 11:01 MST

2009 MacPro 2 x 2.26 Ghz Quad core Intel Xeon / 32 GB memory silver tower (Model No.A1289). 30” Cinema HD Display aluminum monitor with 2560x1600 resolution. Bought new - its a beautiful display and once a primo $5K workstation. I’ve been running OS 10.6.8 on it to continue using some obsolete legacy apps I happen to love. I also own a newer 27" iMac.

From the beginning, this display got very hot, so I’ve always had a small quiet fan blowing across the back of it. Starting years ago, for no apparent reason, the monitor would intermittently go “completely black”, usually after a few hours, while I’m doing nothing more than typing or moving the mouse. And the tiny green light in front bottom right goes out. After a few minutes, it might flicker back on and stay on, but eventually go black again. At first I’d restart the MacPro, which often helped. Then it didn’t help. I asked around, tried zapping PRAM and firmware updates.

Experimenting, I found the oval/racetrack-shaped plug connection (don’t know the proper term) in the 3-way cable that connects the monitor to the “Dual-link DVI” adapter brick (Apple HD Display 150W Power Adapter A1098) may be the problem, because unplugging and replugging it fixes the issue temporarily. But invariably, after some time, the monitor goes black again. As time goes by, I’d unplug/replug this adapter connection plug 3, 4, 5 times a day. Eventually after many mos. of unplugging & replugging, even that won’t get the monitor going again.

So I found a used adapter on eBay ($75+) and replacing it seemed to fix the problem. But after a few months, up to a year, the monitor starts to flicker/go black again. Frustrated, I buy another adapter, which gets the monitor going again, but eventually stops. I did this many times over the past 7 years. At this point, it seems likely I’m buying others’ problem adapters. Now my 5th used adapter no longer works after only 2 months, the plastic plug guard on the cable from the monitor has broken and it looks like replacing the three-way monitor cable is the only way forward.

I’m finally posting this request for help in exasperation. Thanks for reading it all!

Is there a way to confirm what the problem is, that replacing the cable would fix it? (e.g., could it be a logic or power board or graphics card?).

Is a cable still available? How to get the right one? Saw reports the 3 way cable is non-existent

Can I replace it myself without much tech experience? Checked this ifixit guide and viewed this Youtube video and think I could manage but never done anything more than swap in a graphics card and memory.

What I’ve tried:

- Unplugged replugged the cord from the MacPro to the DVI adapter

- Zapped PRAM

- Contacted Apple (“Obsolete hardware and systems aren’t supported”)

- Replaced the DVI adapter brick (5 times in 7 years)

- Asked for help on the Apple forum. Determined that its unlikely a graphics card or firmware issue

- Read numerous forum posts including:

• 27” Cinema Display turns off randomly

• How can I fix my display blacking out intermittently?

• I have a 30 inch Apple Cinema Display that just went blank

• Apple LED Cinema Display 27" LED Panel Replacement

• Apple Cinema HD Display 30" Teardown

- Shopped around for other 30” monitors, like this Dell UltraSharp U3014 But a reviewer states it requires a DVI dual link adapter system to work - which is apparently the same thing causing the issue with my Apple monitor

Heres my current adapter. I've kept the last 2 as well, thinking it may not be the adapters at all, but they are identical to this one. For all its life until only a few weeks ago, the (4-way) cord built into the monitor looked newish, but the plastic casing broke recently after I used a clamp to hold it in place into the adapter in frustration. It still worked for a time even with the guts exposed but admittedly it now looks like this is clearly the current reason for the problem even though thats not necessarily the case. I've cleaned the plug shiny many times over the years - and the hole as well - and that made zero difference, so now the metal is tarnished from constant plugging/unplugging.

Thanks for trying to help me!

Had high hopes posting my question here would lead to getting help to fix my monitor. Anyone?

⟐ Answered januari 21, 2026 at 14:07 MST

It has very tiny allen type hex screws.

Any additional instructions as to how remove the bottom much appreciated.

⟐ Commented januari 12, 2018 at 18:26 MST

recently I repaired my magsafe adapter because the wire to the end of the power adapter got broken. I repaired it by opening the case and rewired it. My the wiring was it bit loosely and the connection was broken again. Now I wanted to rewire it but, I don't remember which wires belong together.

Here you can see a photo of the adapter. Which of these (the left or the right) belongs to the inner and outer wire of the cable?

http://charges.fotastisch.de/magsafe_rep...

Thanks!

Connected it like you said and checked it with a voltmeter. All works fine :)

⟐ Commented december 11, 2017 at 22:42 MST

I've a problem with my 24" LED cinema display. The display is constantly switching on and off. I've used the Apple Technician Guide to check out whats wrong. I was going step by step trough it. What i found out is:

The volltage between TP11 and GND is not stable. It moves constantly between 22.7 - 23.2 VDC.

Also the connector cable voltage (Pin 1 and GND) from the power supplay is moving constantly between 14.3 - 14.8 VDC.

All other voltages are stable and in the needed range. It looks like the power supply is somehow not working correct.

On the power supply unit its is no damaged part or short visible.

So before ordering a new power supply for 250$ from US to Switzerland my questions:

- Can somenone confirm that most likely the power supply has to be replaced?

- Is it possible to check and maybe repair the power supply itself?

Thank you very much in advance for any help!

BR

Marcel

⟐ Commented oktober 26, 2017 at 10:33 MST

⟐ Commented maart 12, 2026 at 15:12 MST

I replaced the batteries several times and tried cleaning the contacts for the batteries inside the device. Nothing has worked. Apple support recommended I take the item in to an Apple store so they can "look at it", but before they try to sell me a new one, I'm wondering if anyone has had success in reviving these devices after they die.

Thanks

⟐ Commented juli 23, 2022 at 15:48 MST

Is there any one who successfully done it?

Thanks in advance,

⟐ Commented oktober 05, 2021 at 9:48 MST

The powerboard the display was plugged into is also dead - no response on any outlet. All other devices plugged into the powerboard are OK.

What do you think the chances are that the display circuitry survived? Is it worth spending the money on a new power supply to test if it works?

Or, at least spending the money on the suction caps to tear the display down and visually inspect? Could you even tell from a visual inspection if the silicon got fried?

Thanks for your advice in advance.

⟐ Commented januari 14, 2020 at 22:21 MST

Can I replace Magic Trackpad 2's battery by iPhone 5's battery for temporary?

⟐ Commented april 16, 2018 at 6:38 MST

⟐ Answered januari 24, 2018 at 15:30 MST

And to make things worse, the same has happened with my wireless keyboard and the battery that's in deepest is stuck and I haven't found any kind of tool that can pull it out.

Any suggestions, or do I have to spring for new devices?

⟐ Answered november 30, 2017 at 7:33 MST

It abruptly cut off everything I was doing, and there is no LED on the front while plugged in. However, while plugged in, I can hear and feel the hard drive still spinning. The TC is somewhat warm to the touch (seems to be the usual temp), but it's not scorching hot.

If I give it 5-15 minutes of leaving it unplugged and then plug it back in, it mysteriously starts working again, LEDs and all. When it turns off again, nobody knows, but it sure will be at the most inconvenient time.

My TC is sitting in a TV entertainment center, on the first shelf below the TV but there is plenty of empty ventilating room around it.

So what's going on here? Am I going to need to replace the power supply? Or is it just overheating from too much activity and it wants to cool down for a bit? I don't know what to make of these symptoms...

• 4th generation Time Capsule (2TB)
• Hard drive is not dead
• Plugged into power surge protector (or power strip...?)
• Using original power cable.
• Bought used on eBay a few months ago, likely been in service for more than 12 months

⟐ Answered juni 19, 2017 at 5:02 MST

⟐ Commented april 22, 2024 at 11:19 MST

⟐ Answered mei 30, 2023 at 15:38 MST

⟐ Answered februari 02, 2023 at 12:26 MST

EDIT: I contacted Apple and they have confirmed that the keyboard was depreciated in Monterey. Don’t know why but it is Apple and they are good at breaking stuff for seemingly no reason. A workaround is to install Big Sur (or earlier) on a separate volume or hard drive (or flash drive) and pair the keyboard and restart. Hopefully it will stay paired but once every few weeks it may not want to re-pair needing you to reboot into Big Sur. If your hardware shipped with Monterey or newer then as far as I know you are out of luck. Truthfully, it probably is time to start looking for another keyboard.

⟐ Edited by author december 12, 2022 at 8:28 MST

⟐ Answer deleted september 29, 2021 at 7:51 MST

⟐ Commented maart 17, 2021 at 7:46 MST

⟐ Commented juni 19, 2020 at 16:48 MST