powerbook 520c disable internal display

[mustagcoupe]

Does anyone know if its possible to disable the internal display when the 520c is connected to an external display. The only options i have are extended or screen mirroring. I am running system 7.5.5. If it is not possible to disable the internal screen does anyone know what the computer does if you disconnect the internal screen and plug in an external display. Does it automatically use the external display like on most pc laptops or does it expect the internal screen to always be there and working.

 

[LaPorta]

It won't disable the internal display on an old PowerBook like that. You could try and disconnect the display, but I have a feeling it would act as if it was still there.

 

[mustagcoupe]

Thats unfortunate. I was contemplating disabling or removing the screen and using it as a desktop before the hinge plastic inevitably snaps. It might as well be a desktop anyway. I don't have a working battery and i decided to keep the original 160mb hard drive and use period correct external storage to see what it was like to use back when it was new. I use a syquest ez135 external cartridge hard drive to move files on and off and store programs and files.

 

[Durosity]

Yeah it’ll still think the display is there, it ran one of these as a file server back in 2000 when I upgraded to a Pismo PowerBook and I tried exactly that but alas no joy. Fun days back then, I reckon I could still fully dismantle and rebuild a 500 series PowerBook blindfolded

 

[mustagcoupe]

I reckon I could still fully dismantle and rebuild a 500 series PowerBook blindfolded

Ive taken mine apart several times to fix things, its not that bad of a job apart from the fragile plastics. I already took apart the display to reinforce the plastic studs but its only a matter of time before they snap completely and i will have to try to 3d print replacements and fit them. My screen is also mediocre, it mostly works but its dim and laggy and the top half of the display is usually a bit garbled for a few minutes after boot. I was hoping i could use it as a makeshift desktop as its my only 68k mac. I guess i would be better served getting an actual desktop 68k machine and only using the laptop as a show piece to avoid wear on the display. Perhaps i will get a performa 630cd to go with my performa 6200.

 

[Byrd]

I'd look out for another parts 5x0 machine and harvest what you need. I've always found the hinges good on these but the plastic is very hard and thin and outer plastics fade/scratch easily, most are like this. It took me a few 5x0 pickups over the years to find a good base to build everything up on. Once set up, they're rock solid.

 

[mustagcoupe]

It is actually pretty solid reliability wise, the original hard drive still works and it always boots. Its just the mediocre screen with the already cracked hinge plastic makes it not that practical. Im always afraid its just going to crumble away to nothing like the microphone bezel cover thing on the bottom of the screen already did. I may look into a parts unit to make my 520c a little better, maybe even upgrade it to the less awful 540 screen. My 520c has the 32mb ram upgrade so it seems like a shame to mostly leave it on a shelf because of the screen issues. I will probably also get a 68k desktop machine because even if i fix the screen the 520c is kind of dongle hell with the aaui transceiver, 30pin to 50 pin scsi cable and syquest drive, weird monitor port to vga adapter, less than robust power plug and anything else i might need to plug into it.

 

[Durosity]

The plastics in the screen were crap when the machine was brand new! I’d agree I’d keep it in its current condition as a show piece and get an actual desktop like a 630 or LCII or something like that.

 

[aladds]

I'm pretty sure that if you boot a 500 series with the lid closed and a monitor and keyboard/mouse connected the internal display won't come on.

 

[mustagcoupe]

I'm pretty sure that if you boot a 500 series with the lid closed and a monitor and keyboard/mouse connected the internal display won't come on.

Thank you, that works perfectly. I cant believe i didnt think to try that or that it doesnt mention that in any of the powerbook 5xx documentation i read.

I can now use the 520c as a desktop if i want but i think im still going to get an additional 68k desktop mac. I want to keep the original hard drive in the 520c but it limits it significantly. Id want more storage on a desktop system. Im leaning towards a performa 630 or one of its rebadges because of the ide hard drive. The ide is a huge plus to me purely because the ide to sd card adapters are much cheaper and less finicky than any of the scsi to sd solutions. My performa 6200 happily accepted an ide to sd adapter and a 16gb sd card, I assume the 630 would do the same as its so closely related to the 6200 series.