how to fix macbook isight’s green screen problem February 22, 2007
Posted by Timothy Li in green screen, isight, macbook.trackback
[dear visitors, could you leave a comment about what you think the cause for this problem is? – Tim 20070512]
I had the unfortunate experience with the ‘green screen‘ problem today.
Instead of going to the mac store and perform all sorts of tests, you can try a hard reset first:
1. System Preference -> Software Update, update everything
2. Shut down your macbook, remove the power plug
3. flip your macbook over and remove the battery, wait a few minutes
4. put the battery back, power on
5. try Photo Booth again
[symptom]
Catch Dreams 
Tried everything and came across your post and it worked a treat :)
glad to help kb. is this yours a brand new macbook?
Worked for me too :-)
I have a new black backbook with the same problem (Purchased in March 2007) with the same problem and just did what you suggested and it worked for me as well
Thx, it works now
do i have to unplug the power and remove the batt ?
tried it i but it going for about 10mins then it went back to green :( This starting to annoy me alot
Hi there,
I haven’t confirmed this, but perhaps the problem has to do with leaving the photo booth application on while closing the lid.
if you could confirm this please leave a note =)
thanks,
Tim.
no photo booth was turned off, after following your steps it seems to be working on and off it will work in imovie sometimes if it doesnt the screen just stays white
ok i found a update that wasnt installed i installed and the problem has gotten smaller i still get the green screen every second time i open it but if a close it and open it again its fine, however over the last hour or so ive checked heaps of times and the green screen is becoming more common
have you gotten it resolved?
oh my god you are a lifesaver. i just got a brand new macbook and i thought i would have to bring it back. thanks.
glad to help, enjoy the mac =)
Tim.
My photobooth showed a green screen, too, as well iChat wasn’t showing video, though iMovie showed video.
To fix it, I ordered some food at a cafe, ripped some CDs, wrote a file format standard, talked to a beautiful girl, colored a picture, started software update, then plugged the laptop into power when the reserve power warning came on.
Now it works just fine! Anyone know how the problem got resolved?
You’re a LIFESAVER thanks a million
yo if i can to do this hard reset do all my files get wiped? cuz i just got my mac today and i put on my 2000 itune songs.
It must have been the girl
Hi Alex,
to answer your question, no your files should not get wiped after performing this reset.
Tim.
Saw this linked from another forum. Thanks a lot, my wife about lost her mind. I got my reward. ;) Appreciated…macs rule!
Thanks Tim, What a great fix for a new user like me! Now I won’t have to blame my 14 year old nephew and “Mac Book Pro”! Well except for leaving my myspace page in mid-constuction…..
glad to help Carmen, enjoy the mac.
[…] how to fix macbook isight’s green screen problem « Catch Dreams (tags: Macintosh) […]
REALLY HELPFUL!! Had a brand new mac, followed your insturctions and it was fixed! Brilliant!
My problem is still persisting. Any other hints. The green screen will not go away
You are my hero! Thanks
I’m having that problem too. I tried restarting but no dice. I’m working with an intel imac. did anyone seem to have the problem after installing any new quicktime codecs. im wondering if there is a link there.
hi…. any ideas with the new 24inch imac, it is doing the very same!! i have followed your prompts, other than the battery (lol) … any thoughts
lovely piece of kit mind!
hi!!
2.4 ghz intel core 24 inch imac, is doing exactly the same … got to be software, as it works with isight fine … any help would be great!!!
Have had the same problem, attempted your fix plus every other fix i could find on the net to no avail. Rang mac and apparently my isight is earthing itself to the macbook and that is why i am having my green screen problem and my isight isnt working. not 100% to sure how that works, but their apparently going to replace the screen.
dont know it that helps anyone.
hi im having problems like this and imoviehd and on movie i get a white screen and im not a a notebook im on the whole computer can any1 help out it would be great and please leave a message on my e-mail because chances are that im goin to forget about this site my e-mail is static_boy54@yahoo.com
PLEASE E-MAIL
p.s. i just bought my mac 1 month ago
followed the instructions and it WORKS.
Thanks a million
glad to help, guardian, enjoy the mac.
Hello Macusers:
I had the really same problem, yesterday I turn on Photo Booth , for my surprise, was totally green screen. I tried to fix, in disk utility and worked but today happened again…a pain in the neck..isn’t..
Well I follow some instructions, I using a Imac G5 OSX Tiger 10.4.10, so i did search for updates and now Is running in 10.4.11, so the problem is gone. Now I open and close and re-open the Photo Booth and works…
Good lucks guys
Thank u for that! It worked!!
My macbook is just over a year old (ain’t that always the way!?) and this is the first time I’ve had the problem. I did as you suggested and I updated all relevant software updates and then took out the battery for 5 minutes. I now have a working isight again.
Thanks.
You are welcome frankie and Wayne. Enjoy.
Yes that just worked on my March 2007 Macbook. Did not know the problem was there until December, but you saved me a trip to the Mac Store.
Glad to help, Jeffrey. Cheers.
I’m also having the same problem with an Intel Imac. I did do a software update yesterday, and it seems that since then I have had this problem…. what can be done to fix it?
I’m ALSO having the same probelm with my Intel iMac. Haven’t used photobooth for a few months, so presume that a software update must have caused this? (Running OS 10.4.11 and photobooth 1.2)
Help!
me too. 24″ iMac, running 10.4.11.
First of all, thanks for the fix!
After more than a year with my MacBook, it was the first time it happened and I thought the camera was gone for good. I am glad it is okay.
The camera worked fine yesterday when I used skype, but today when I tried Photo Booth, it wasn’t worked. I didn’t updated any software meanwhile, so I think that is not the problem.
I had the impression the problem was due to a lot of static that I got from using a cover made of some sort of fabric. I used for a couple of days and stopped, but on the second day this happened. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but since the fix involved removing the battery, it may not be just a coincidence.
Anyway, thanks again!
GREAT! it worked thanks!
Fixed it on my brand new 2.0 MacBook.
Thanks!
Simply Put – You’re Brilliant! Thanx! It was nice not having to Call the mighty rangers for assistance!
Perfect! Saved my Year 9 Media Class
Worked great on my 2.4GHZ Core2Duo Macbook 2gb bought 2008! Was dissapointed it does this on the new machines!
Thanks for your help!
grr this is just a temporary fix not a solution
i’ve known for a while that you have to NOT restart, but actually shut down and turn your macbook back on for it to work
andd then it just randomly does it again whenever
ZOMG! it worked! thanks!!!
is there a reason why my ichat video chat works is compatible with some people and not with other?
THANK YOU!
Well my imac is from school and I can’t take anything out. This just suddenly started happening. It’s bothering the CRAP outta me
HELLPPP! SOMEONE!
Wow! Agree with Jim. You’re brilliant!! Thank you so much. Of course my warranty expired just 5 months ago and I didn’t buy Apple Care so I was really worried it was going to cost me my first born to get this fixed. I wonder why this works? Any other Apple advice is definitely welcome.
I also did the hard reboot with the battery and the works with a Mac tech over the phone for a different reason. But I still have the problem. Any ideas? Has Mac put out a patch or an update?
I have an intel iMac, and the green screen just started happening. It’s a desktop, not a laptop, so I’m not sure what to do to fix it. Any ideas?
It’s funny how little things can drive a person INSANE!!
my camera just won’t turn on. No green light appears for any application. Just black screen in photo book. any suggestions?
Thank you, got worried for a second. Works now!
awesome. worked perfectly. thanks so much! i was so worried i would have to take it to the “genius” bar!
This WORKED. Thank you so much.
Thank you for posting these steps. I discovered my camera was not working while using Skype – I could see the person I was talking to but there was no video of me. I then tried PhotoBooth, but got the green screen. Don’t know what the cause was, although I wonder if my cat walking across the MacBook has something to do with it. In any case it’s working now with PhotoBooth, so I’m hoping it will work again with Skype.
Its super late but i will try this in the morning. I keep thinking someone is behind the scenes LOL But yah I have Skype, we use Chat roulette and it isn’t working there or on Facebook to upload a webcam photo either – places like on the internet – but photobooth is still up and good for me! I’ll probably just need to restart :) Good to know everyone is keeping right up with this stuff Yay
Klee, hope you managed to get it working, sorry I’ve been away for a while.
The screen when I log in turns black automatically, it started doing this after working on an imovie project. This has been going on for 3 days now. Help!