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I can't even use my brand new iMac. Please Help

A

alexcarter123

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 4, 2009
37
0
This is rediculous.

I bought a new iMac new replace my old macbook but its basically unusable.
The wireless keeps disconnecting every minuet or so. At times it wont even reconnect to the network for about 10 mins it just says operation timed out when i press join.
It's in exactly the same place as my old mac book, yet i never had a single problem with my macbook.
I've tried everything: Deleting preferred network, changing wireless channel, removing wireless encryption, moving position of router, changing frequency and still get the same problem.

Please someone help me so i dont have tot carry on using my old macbook instead of my nice new iMac
thanks
 
Are you getting good signal, or is it saying there is hardly any/none? If I recall correctly, you could download Kismac and examine the wireless signal from your router in more detail?

I hate to say it but sometimes wireless chipsets are just incompatible with each other. To confirm incompatibility, you'd need to borrow somebody else's router/buy a crappy cheap one and see if the iMac connects happily to that instead.

If it doesn't, then there's likely something wrong with your hardware :( perhaps one of the aerial cables is incorrectly mounted.
 
If you just got it, I would call Apple up and tell them the problem.

Make sure you convince them that its unusable, do not leave it in their hands to decide what is wrong with it.

Ask them to send you a replacement, then you can send yours back. Otherwise just tell them you want to return it, and then buy another one.

Definitely do not settle for the one you have.
 
aprofetto said:
If you just got it, I would call Apple up and tell them the problem.

Make sure you convince them that its unusable, do not leave it in their hands to decide what is wrong with it.

Ask them to send you a replacement, then you can send yours back. Otherwise just tell them you want to return it, and then buy another one.

Definitely do not settle for the one you have.
Click to expand...

I wonder why coming here is everyone's first move.

Seriously, call apple, your computer is broken. What are we going to do about it?
 
jtgotsjets said:
I wonder why coming here is everyone's first move.

Seriously, call apple, your computer is broken. What are we going to do about it?
Click to expand...

Google and Forums are usually my first stop for tech support.

Apple is better than some companies I've dealt with, but it's still a bitch to get any useful info from them.

You call with a problem and you've got to deal with the Tier 1 "Is it plugged in?" BS, then you get passed along to a "Specialist" who is half the time just reading material that you could find online anyhow, and since they're not allowed to recommend anything outside of the official manuals, their information is often not up to date with fixes the community have already discovered and posted online.
 
What kind of router are you using? If it's netgear or belkin, I have had a lot of trouble with using those brands with Mac.

Get an Airport Extreme, a linksys or a Dlink.

As for bluetooth, I am not great with that so I have nothing to say.
 
I live surrounded by a lot of wireless signals from the houses around mine. I kept receiving internet drop outs. First of all I thought it was my router crapping out but having researched it, the other routers signals were set at nearly the same channel as mine. This led to the drop outs. After a bit of trial are error I discovered a channel which was fine and since I have not had any interference.
 
trose said:
Google and Forums are usually my first stop for tech support.

Apple is better than some companies I've dealt with, but it's still a bitch to get any useful info from them.

You call with a problem and you've got to deal with the Tier 1 "Is it plugged in?" BS, then you get passed along to a "Specialist" who is half the time just reading material that you could find online anyhow, and since they're not allowed to recommend anything outside of the official manuals, their information is often not up to date with fixes the community have already discovered and posted online.
Click to expand...

This is all granted, but it seems to me that this is pretty clearly an issue of repair, not simple troubleshooting- the OP seems to know his way around a computer and has tried pretty much everything we could suggest. I mean, maybe try repairing permissions or something, but in general, this is totally unacceptable behavior for a brand-new machine.
 
I'm just worried that if i return i get a replacement the same thing will happen and backing everything up will just be a waste of time. Also. i bought it as a clearance 2008 top end model so which model would they replace it with. obviously a 2009 as there are no more new 2008 models, but which spec one do you think??
 
alexcarter123 said:
I'm just worried that if i return i get a replacement the same thing will happen and backing everything up will just be a waste of time. Also. i bought it as a clearance 2008 top end model so which model would they replace it with. obviously a 2009 as there are no more new 2008 models, but which spec one do you think??
Click to expand...

Don't stress, just take it back.
If Apple replace your iMac with a 2009 model, they must replace it with a model that's at least as good - not lower spec.
 
alexcarter123 said:
I'm just worried that if i return i get a replacement the same thing will happen and backing everything up will just be a waste of time. Also. i bought it as a clearance 2008 top end model so which model would they replace it with. obviously a 2009 as there are no more new 2008 models, but which spec one do you think??
Click to expand...

You can't have it both ways. If you think it's a hardware problem, you have to get it replaced.

Apple will replace it with a 2008 most likely. There are still some floating around, no doubt.
 
RE: Brand new iMac

alexcarter123 wrote:
"I bought a new iMac new replace my old macbook but its basically unusable.
The wireless keeps disconnecting every minuet or so"

Is the wireless router in the same room as the iMac?

If so, why not just hook via an Ethernet cable and be done with it?

Wired is ALWAYS preferable to wireless when mobility isn't required.

- John
 
If you have not eliminated conflicts with surrounding signals/routers, do so before taking the computer in. Use iStumbler to see how many networks are around and what channels they use. Don't assume that just because your old computer did not have a problem that the new one also will not have a problem. It could be that the new one is more sensitive with better wi-fi reception which has resulted in more interference with other peoples' networks. I live in an area with 1-2 acre lots, but I get signals from six neighbors! And they were all on one of two channels! I set mine to a channel as far as possible from those and I have not had a problem since.

Mooch
 
alexcarter123 said:
I'm just worried that if i return i get a replacement the same thing will happen and backing everything up will just be a waste of time. Also. i bought it as a clearance 2008 top end model so which model would they replace it with. obviously a 2009 as there are no more new 2008 models, but which spec one do you think??
Click to expand...

...why would this happen? It's called "Customer Service," not "Trick the Customer." Apple is not trying to screw you out of your wireless capabilities. You could have a brand new machine already on its way by now.

Fishrrman said:
If so, why not just hook via an Ethernet cable and be done with it?

Wired is ALWAYS preferable to wireless when mobility isn't required.

- John
Click to expand...

Uh, what? Are you really suggesting that he just ignore a hardware problem? He paid for working wireless connectivity, he deserves it too, whether he's hooking it up via ethernet or wifi.
I also take exception to your assertion that wired is "ALWAYS" preferable... it seems to me that bluetooth accessories might not have taken off as they have in the past few years if wired was really preferable. By and large, most people are not ever going to notice any difference in their computing experience whether they're tethered to their router via ethernet or connected over wifi. You're really projecting your own needs onto others here. Just to provide a counterpoint:

Wireless is ALWAYS preferable to wired unless when you're not using your home network for anything more than internet sharing.
(Why do you think "wifi" has become synonymous with "wireless internet" instead of "wireless networking"?)
 
My 2.8GHz iMac kept dropping the wireless connection, too, so I just said 'screw it' and hard-wired it to the modem (which is less than two feet away).. No more problems.

I don't really see the need to run an iMac in a wireless configuration unless it's physically in another room, separate from your modem. Perhaps I'm missing something..

-Jordan
 
so which iMac would they replace it with as its an 2008 model.
Also, whats the best way to back everything up to transfer to replacement one?
thanks
 
i called apple and they talked me through loads of possible solutions, none of which worked.
They spent ages just saying how i should buy an airport express router blah blah.

He said as i didnt buy it from apple ( i bough it from mac warehouse)i need to contact them and they might give me a refund!
but thats not what i want. I got the iMac cheap as it was clearance so with the money would not be able to buy such a good iMac.
If i took it to genius bar do you think apple would take it in and repair it?
 
should i just take it to genius bar then and show them the problem? will they have to see it dropping when connected to their wireless to book it in for repair or will they trust me when i tell them the problem?
I'm certian its not the router as i plugged my macbook into router by ethernet and shared internet via airport and my iMac still dropped the connection.
 
alexcarter123 said:
i called apple and they talked me through loads of possible solutions, none of which worked.
They spent ages just saying how i should buy an airport express router blah blah.

He said as i didnt buy it from apple ( i bough it from mac warehouse)i need to contact them and they might give me a refund!
but thats not what i want. I got the iMac cheap as it was clearance so with the money would not be able to buy such a good iMac.
If i took it to genius bar do you think apple would take it in and repair it?
Click to expand...


For what it's worth I had a "G" series router that did not like the "N" series in my Mac. I changer the router and viola it works like it should.

Just a thought.
 
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