iMac Dying?!?! Help!

[flyfish29]

So I have a 17" Flatscreen 1ghz iMac that has worked great up until now.

It is up to date with 10.3.9.

I have not changed any settings or installed any new software recently.

Here is my problem: The iMac's screen goes dark randomly (approx. 5-30 minute range- sometimes longer). When this occurs, the iMac is still running (fan and screen noises can be heard still) but the screen won't "wake up" from dark.

I have checked energy saving, monitors, and security preferences for any check boxes that would explain my problem- but no luck.

What could be causing this? Screen going bad? Software issue? Ideas?


additonal info: Under Security preferences the box that reads "log out after __ minutes of inactivity" has been checking itself on occasion. I never have checked this myself (and I am the only one using my computer) but randomly over the last several months this box becomes checked. Weird!

 

[smacman]

If this is a hardware issue it is most likely the inverter. The inverter is what provides power to the lcd screen. Unfortunately if this is the case, it will have to be repaired at an apple service center. The good news is, replacing the inverter will be a lot cheaper than having to replace a lcd screen (due to cracking, breakage, etc.). Good luck!

 

[flyfish29]

Something else happened after I posted. When the screen went dark last night I couldn't see anything even with the lights off but...

...this morning when it happened again the light was on and I could very faintly see the outline of windows, etc. Had a very hard time seeing the pointer, but was able to use the keyboard to close the open windows and select restart from the apple menu.

Of course, I have been backing up everything to dvd today and since I started burning the three dvd's it hasn't happened. Weird!!!

Anyone have any other thoughts- could it be software related somehow?

 

[iCliché]

Do you just leave your screen on when you're away from the computer?
My friend did this on his windows (sucker) laptop and the backlight eventually wouldn't work at all.
But you would always be able to see the outline of windows you described if you look at the right angle with the right lighting.

 

[flyfish29]

Do you just leave your screen on when you're away from the computer?
My friend did this on his windows (sucker) laptop and the backlight eventually wouldn't work at all.
But you would always be able to see the outline of windows you described if you look at the right angle with the right lighting.

No, I actually have the monitor go to sleep not long after use ends-

What is weird is this-

When it does go black I select restart and it restarts in black. When I select shut down and then push the power button it starts with backlighting on the lcd screen. That to me seems werid- does that possibly point to a software problem?

 

[mkrishnan]

When it does go black I select restart and it restarts in black. When I select shut down and then push the power button it starts with backlighting on the lcd screen. That to me seems werid- does that possibly point to a software problem?

This is a strange problem, and it really doesn't strike me as a hardware one... The backlight is turning off, and as far as I can tell, but that's it.

You said that when this happens, you select shutdown or restart. Are you doing this by the faint image of the screen you can see with no backlight? Or how are you doing this?

Can I ask some strange questions?

- What happens if you push the brightness up key (probably F2, it should be marked) after this happens?

- Do you have any system upgrades / application enhancers / anything that puts extra "Other" preference panes in sys prefs?

 

[korndog2003]

The backlight is going bad

 

[flyfish29]

You said that when this happens, you select shutdown or restart. Are you doing this by the faint image of the screen you can see with no backlight? Or how are you doing this?

Yes, I am using a flashlight and selecting it from the corner apple menu.

- What happens if you push the brightness up key (probably F2, it should be marked) after this happens?

- Do you have any system upgrades / application enhancers / anything that puts extra "Other" preference panes in sys prefs?

F2 as well as F1-F8 do nothing- is there a way to turn those on? I looked under keyboard in sys. prefs and found nothing.

No upgrades or enhansers except for logitech Control center which has been on there for ages. Although it is doing something weird- I will expan on this in another post- my backlighting jus5t died and I am using a powerful worklight/spotlight to submit this so I don't have to retype as i now need to shut down and start it back up again. Uggg!

 

[flyfish29]

So I am back- this is getting w weirder- well, it just went black again. Anyway, instead of restarting I put it to sleep and when I woke it back up after five minutes it was back full light. But then it only lasted one minute and went dark again. Over the last several days it has been working for hours on end before going dark.

(boy- my screen is very very dirty!!

Did I answer all your questions?

Oh yeah, the logitech- one of my buttons on my USB logitech mouse used to open a web page to Macrumors- now it opens directly to iTouch/logitech page. I have tried to reset the button to open Mac Rumors again but doesn't work. Not sure why- it used to. I assume this is unrelated though.

Found out F15 and F14 are screen brightness and it made no difference to do it that way or through sys. prefs using my spotlight to see the menus.

sorry for the double post!

 

[flyfish29]

So the backlighting is dead- works for 10 seconds or so every few days-


I need help connecting an older LCD Apple Studio Display(someone is loaning me) to my iMac. It is grey plastic with plastic stand in back I believe it uses an ADC connector?? Can anyone confirm? I already own an iBook adaptor to connect mini DVI to a VGA.

So I think what I need is either a miniDVI to ADC or a VGA to ADC?

can anyone help direct me to a connector that will work for the least amount of cash!

 

[flyfish29]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!


How is this for weird...so I borrow an external monitor . I mess with the settings for resolution, etc. to make it look good and use it for about a week. Then I realize not only does the original iMac screen come on, but it stays on the entire time I use the computer- every time. So I disconnected the external monitor and have been using the internal screen for over two months now with no shutting down like I describe above...dont' know what gives, but for now at least it is solved. Weird stuff!!!

 

[gorby]

just be happy it's solved!

i am! for you!