G5 iSight screen contrast problem

[Highmac]

In normal use, the screen looks like it needs adjusting for contrast.

However, we noticed today that:
1) The OS loads
2) The desktop picture comes up looking fine for a second or so.
3) Then there is a usually a click (heard by Mrs Highmac, whose ears still work just a little TOO well at times!) at the same time as the screen becomes very "contrasty". We've restarted several times and it's done the same every time.

We've checked out the Display Calibrator Assistant and the other display controls (not with any serious hope that it would make any difference), and I've had a look at Apple's support pages, but we'd appreciate the opinions of the gurus here before we call on the warranty.

Thanks in advance

[RNKIII]

Highmac.... SOMETIMES... the 'click' sound is one which the power supply make during that period when it is 'going south',,,

BUT,  don't know that it should have any affect on the screen resolution/contrast.

It may be something else going awry internally....  If possible, I would have a tech - Apple or other VAR, look at it and run some diagostics on it....

Then again it just may be nothing at all..

Bob K.  rnkiii

[RNKIII]

Highmac...

I just discovered that there is a method of adjusting the contrast of the screen on MY G5-20" iMac... and there is a 'keyboard' shortcut to accomplish this...

If you go the the System Preferences  -  Keyboard & Mouse and open that one, the last tab should be (under 10.4.8 at least) "keyboard shortcuts"... this will allow you to turn on/off various of the keyboard shortcuts... and down a ways is one that says 'contrast'... and if you open it (click on the arrow head to make it turn) you will see "Increase & Decrease contrast" shortcuts....  which MAY help you get things back in 'whack' so to speak..... or maybe not... ...  It may also explain how things could have gotten 'out of whack' if you've been experimenting with keyboard shortcuts....

About the snap/crackle/pop sound..... well I didn't notice any keyboard shortcut for adjusting that..... maybe if Mrs. Highmac sat a little farther from the screen she wouldn't hear it either....     .....

Best of luck with it all..

Bob K.   rnkiii

[tacit]

QUOTE(Highmac @ Jan 27 2007, 08:14 PM) [snapback]117154[/snapback]

In normal use, the screen looks like it needs adjusting for contrast.

However, we noticed today that:
1) The OS loads
2) The desktop picture comes up looking fine for a second or so.
3) Then there is a usually a click (heard by Mrs Highmac, whose ears still work just a little TOO well at times!) at the same time as the screen becomes very "contrasty". We've restarted several times and it's done the same every time.

We've checked out the Display Calibrator Assistant and the other display controls (not with any serious hope that it would make any difference), and I've had a look at Apple's support pages, but we'd appreciate the opinions of the gurus here before we call on the warranty.

Thanks in advance

Did you check the Universal Access preferences in your System Preferences? Open Universal Access, click on Seeing, and make sure that "Enhance Contrast" is turned all the way down to "normal."

[Highmac]

Thanks for your responses - in fact, Tacit, I got the same advice on another forum I frequent:

QUOTE

Check System Preferences>Universal Access>Seeing>Display:Enhance Contrast
Is the slider set to the far left, where it should be?
You might have increased the contrast accidentally by typing Cmd-Alt-Control (full stop).

That is obviously what had happened, because our desktop pic is back to normal.
I've edited the title of this thread to try to aid other people's searches.

Thanks again all.

[Highmac]

The poster on the other forum was asked how he'd discovered it and told us the story

QUOTE

I stumbled across this problem a few months ago when I went to PC World to have a look at the latest 24" iMac...

The display was garish and obviously "not quite right" (bit of an understatement).

I thought it was a shame that the iMac was not shown off to it's best for the PC people to see so I tried to find out the problem. I had a look at SP>displays and checked the colour profile - it was standard. I tried to recalibrate the display but could not improve it. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. A young PCW assistant asked if he could help and I pointed out there was something wrong with the iMac's display, and maybe they should get it repaired. He wasn't any help (predictably) and did not see any problem.

Later I was fishing around on my PowerBook and found the control in SP>Universal Access.

I went back to PCW and "repaired" their display iMac!

PCWorld is just what it says, but they have a small Apple section. However, if you can find an assistant who knows - or cares - about them it could almost be classed as a miracle. And if you have a spare hour, check out the reviews on Pricerunner UK. To the best of my knowledge the company has no connection with a US firm of the same name.