When a serial device is connected to a PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard and FireWire) or PowerBook G4, the computer may not startup properly.

Symptom

If a serial or LocalTalk device is connected to the S-Video port on the PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze Keyboard and FireWire) or PowerBook G4, the computer will not startup properly. The Mac OS splash screen and extensions along the bottom of the screen do not appear during startup. When the desktop loads, there is no menu bar however some icons may appear on the desktop area.

Affected Products

• PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze Keyboard)
• PowerBook G3 Series (FireWire)
• PowerBook G4

Do not connect serial or LocalTalk devices, such as printers, hand-held to the S-Video port on the PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze Keyboard and FireWire)or PowerBook G4 computers.

When a serial device is connected to the S-Video port, the computer believes an external display is attached. Under normal circumstances when an external display is connected to the S-Video connector, the built-in display becomes a secondary display and the external display becomes the primary screen. This is why the menu bar, welcome screen, and extensions do not appear on the built-in display.

If the computer is put into the sleep mode and the serial device is removed from the S-Video port, then taken out of the sleep mode, the computer will return to its normal display mode.