PowerBook 5300 broken video, how to make external show desktop?

The external monitor as such should work when starting up with the display adapter connected to the video port of the PowerBook 5300.

However, in order to show the same picture on both screens, mirroring would have to be enabled. This is a problem in a case like this. I assume that the external screen is now merely extending the Desktop (normally, on the PB 5300's screen). One cannot see the menu bar and (most of) the icons. Is it possible to see any part of the normal Desktop on the external monitor?

The controls for setting mirroring can be found in the control strip and/or in a PowerBook display control panel, but that does not help if they cannot be seen.

For some models it was possible to use a trick involving some kind of temporary closing the laptop display in connection with startup. I do not know if this would be applicable here, though. For earlier PowerBook computers (such as the 180) used without a built-in display, one could make a special boot floppy, including a small macro program that automatically performed the switching to mirror mode following startup.

A PowerBook 5300ce does not have USB. It is not wise to connect/disconnect ADB devices when the computer is on.

Macintosh PowerBook 5300ce/117: Technical Specifications - Apple Support

(user's guide download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Manuals/powerbooks/0306895APB5300UG.PDF)

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook/specs/mac_powerbook5300ce_117.html

I am testing this right now with a PowerBook 5300c and System 7.5.5. Command + F1 does not appear to change anything. The easiest way (with both screens working) is either via the mirroring module in the control strip on the Desktop, or by using the PowerBook Display control panel in the Control Panels folder.

PowerBook Display (System 7.5 Version 7.5.3) is a very small control panel (approx. 10 K). It was part of the System 7.5.3 download, and something similar probably part of the original PB 5300 software. Someone with a working pre-1998 computer could copy this control panel to an empty 800K or 1.4 MB Mac-formatted floppy disk. Alternatively, to a floppy containing a minimal system (possibly, something like a modified 8.1 Disk Tools PPC floppy).

With the PowerBook Display control panel alone on an otherwise empty floppy, the OP would boot the PB 5300ce (with the non-working display) normally, and then insert the floppy. Let us assume that the floppy disk is called testdisplay. One could then quickly type the first letters in the disk name (in order to select the floppy). Then Command + O to open the disk. Then type the first letters of the control panel name PowerBook Display. After that, Command + O to open the control panel. All this has been done invisibly. Finally, use the space bar to toggle Video Mirroring on/off.

Using trial and error, you may be able to locate single Desktop icons on the invisible screen (if you know where to search). You could even drag the icons to the visible (external) screen, but that would not do that much good since results after double-clicking appear in the invisible section (so you would have to try to catch a resulting window and move that, et cetera).

You could also find files/folders/disks by quickly typing a few letters in the file/folder/disk name. Command + O would open or launch. Command + Q would quit. Command + W would close a window. As before, much will be invisible.

However, the control strip could be of interest, since it should contain a Video Mirroring control strip module. Do you remember if there was an expanded control strip, and where it was located (typically, bottom of the screen)? If so, you could try to move the pointer out of the visible screen, following the lower frame of the PB 5300 display. The modules would be circa ten mm apart (horizontally). Somewhere near the Apple logo, a mirroring module may be found. Again, trial and error. Could lead to a number of unexpected and unwanted results, so I assume that you have backup copies of all important files. If the correct module is found, depress it and move the pointer (of course, invisible) approx. five to ten mm straight up and release in order to change to mirroring mode.

Also, do you have any other pre-1998 Macintosh computer? If so, please post back with the exact model. It may then be possible to use SCSI target disk mode or another method, in order to add applications and/or change existing software on the hard disk of the PowerBook 5300ce.

M135REALLY wrote:

My old PowerBook fell off a shelf and now the screen is gray. I have the external monitor working. Ctrl+F1 does not make the external show the desktop. How do I make the external monitor show the main desktop?

It should be Command + F1 to toggle display mirroring on & off. I don't recall MacOS 7/8/9 being any different, but that was decades ago so my memory may be a bit foggy.

The monitor shows a white backdrop of repeated Mac OS, and the mouse works on it. It crunches when I open and close it, so I'm just plugging it in/out.

You should be able to trick the laptop into thinking the display is closed by using a magnet to trigger the system to think the display is closed. Usually the sensor is somewhere along the one edge of the keyboard, typically about halfway or near the front of the keyboard.

If you trigger the system into thinking the display lid is closed, then you can enable Clamshell Mode by connecting the power adapter and USB Keyboard & Mouse.

Jan Hedlund wrote:

A PowerBook 5300ce does not have USB. It is not wise to connect/disconnect ADB devices when the computer is on.

I'm so use of thinking about USB I forgot about the ADB devices. I was more focused on explaining Clamshell Mode I guess.

The OP is in good hands with your assistance. I doubt too many people still have a working PowerBook.

Hello HWTech,

No problem. I always appreciate the information you provide.

Yes, I still have a few PowerBook models, computers that can be quite useful in many ways.

Kind regards,

Jan