Help with iMac with disfunctional LCD and using external monitor

[Turambar82]

So I have put up a post already about having an LCD problem. My imac's screen is completely bright white but the imac works fine with an external monitor. The apple store can't figure out the problem so I'm stuck with using an external monitor or selling it for parts and buying a new computer.

For right now I'm going to get an external monitor because it's cheaper for me.

Here is my issue, when doing any kind of diagnostic or having to reinstall the OS, I can't see any of this stuff because the external monitor doesn't work in mirror mode until the computer has fully booted up.

What can I do about this? Or am I stuck basically?

 

[MTI]

Basically, you are stuck.

What model iMac is it?

 

[killerrobot]

If you could manage to turn off mirroring and get the display menus over onto the external, you can move the "menu bar" to the external monitor in the arrangement tab making it the primary monitor.

It's a big if because once you turn off mirroring you'd be doing it all blind - but other than that it seems you're basically stuck.

 

[Turambar82]

so I guess I won't be able to upgrade to Snow Leopard then since I can't see those screens at start up.

 

[rtrt]

do you have access to another mac?

you might be able to share the screen early in the boot process - would that help?

I'm not sure if it's the same - but i think i've seen the apple remote application connect the the other mac pretty much as it's desktop is building at the end of the the boot.

 

[MTI]

so I guess I won't be able to upgrade to Snow Leopard then since I can't see those screens at start up.

Being in the "same boat" as you, my plan is to videotape the installation of SL update on my working iMac and then duplicate the keystrokes on the iMac that is limited to an external because of the failed LCD. Getting the intial setup done with the keyboard only (can't really duplicate mouse movements) should be fun.

 

[Turambar82]

Unfortunately I don't have another mac or access to another mac so I guess I'm going to be stuck with 10.5.8 until I get the money to get another computer.

Wow I'm so disappointed with apple through all of this situation. My computer is just over a year old and I didn't get the apple care which is my fault. Unfortunately I paid extra for an apple because of the "reliability". My old imac was reliable.

 

[MTI]

Yes, it's well known in the industry that Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, Lenovo, Asus, Sony, eMachines all have zero product failures.

 

[Turambar82]

oh I know about PC problems. My parents had a bunch of dell's and compaq's when I was younger and those computers were terrible. They would break beyond repair yearly it seemed. Of course they only cost like $500 or $600 where my iMac was $1,100.

The biggest thing that disappointed me about all of this is that Apple couldn't figure out the problem. 3 apple stores in my city couldn't figure it out. They were just guessing and nothing worked. I called the apple care number and they couldn't figure it out either. I was on the phone with the manager on duty that day and I had to tell him a bunch of keyboard shortcuts because he didn't know them to get my external monitor to mirror.

I've been a faithful mac customer for 10 years now but I just don't make enough money to buy thousand dollar computers that are going to be breaking and a company that tells me the only thing they can do is sell me a brand new one. Sorry, that's an unacceptable answer.