Users with one of Apple’s new 17-inch ADC flat panel displays who use DVIator with the built-in DVI video on a Power Mac G4 shouldn’t install the new Mac OS 9.2.1 update at this time, according to Eric Prentice, CEO of Dr. Bott LLC.
The updated video drivers in 9.2.1 can render the 17-inch LCD unusable in this configuration, he said. Only users with exactly the above combination of hardware, including the 17-inch flat panel display, are affected.
The DVIator (pronounced “deviator”) is a device carried by Dr. Bott, a manufacturer and distributor of Mac peripherals. The DVIator lets you use Apple ADC displays on computers with the industry standard DVI video port. ADC is the Apple Display Connector, the only type of interface that Apple now includes on its monitors. While ADC technology helps reduces desktop clutter by combining power, video and USB signals on a skinny little cable, it won’t plug into more widespread DVI ports. The DVIator lets you connect an ADC-equipped display to an older Mac or a Mac equipped with a third-party video card that supports DVI.
Dr. Bott is working with Apple on a final solution, Prentice said. Meanwhile, there’s an online workaround for users with a 17-inch ADC flat panel display who need to install the Mac OS 9.2.1 update
“They will find an easy procedure that will permit immediate installation and use of Mac OS 9.2.1 despite the issues,” Prentice said. “This issue does not exist under Mac OS 9.1 or Mac OS X for the 17-inch monitor. Users with a third party DVI card (such as ATI’s Radeon) or running a second display should not experience these problems. Users with a 15-inch or 22-inch ADC display can install Mac OS 9.2.1 normally.”
Only the specific combination of DVIator, Mac OS 9.2.1, the built-in DVI video card and 17-inch ADC Display can trigger problems, he added. It’s possible that the screen stays black after installing the update and you’ll need a Mac OS 9.1 CD or a second monitor to revive your system.