iMac Monitor Just Died

[Eric Idle]

Very frustrating, my slightly more than 3 year old iMac monitor just died. I'm pretty sure the computer still works as I can hear the fan and can power it on and off. But the monitor is clearly fried. It was acting all crazy just before it went black.

Is there a way to connect an external monitor to this iMac so that I can review what's on it before I haul it over to the garbage? I've never done this before so don't even know if it is possible.

$2400 computer did not last even 4 years of very light use. Very dissatisfied.

Thank you very much for your advise.

 

[glenthompson]

Yes, you can connect an external monitor. You will need a Thunderbolt 3 to whatever your monitor needs adapter. It may be repairable depending on what the problem is. Could be as simple as a bad cable or more involved like a GPU issue. If it is a GPU issue the external monitor might not work as it requires the GPU to work.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Yes, you can connect to an external monitor. That is, assuming the issue is actually the display rather than the display "card" (actually, chips on the main logic board) or some other, related function.

You haven't said enough about exactly which iMac it is. Assuming it's a 2017 it has a Thunderbolt digital video output. Connect the right cable to the right display. https://support.apple.com/HT202351 and https://support.apple.com/HT201736

If you have another Mac you can also access the internal HD by using Target Disk Mode. https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/transfer-files-mac-computers-target-disk-mode-mchlp1443/mac

To me, the big question is, for $2400 why aren't you consulting a repair shop before tossing the thing?

 

[4sallypat]

....
To me, the big question is, for $2400 why aren't you consulting a repair shop before tossing the thing?

Right ?

For $2400, I'd be all over many repair options.

For my out of warranty repair quotes, I go to ReBoot - they work on all types of tablet, Mac, PC, etc and they won't charge me a diagnostic fee.

That by itself is worth figuring out if it's worthwhile to do the repair.

Luckily, the new M1 iMacs start at $1299 USD which is a BARGAIN for what you get!

 

[Eric Idle]

Yes, you can connect to an external monitor. That is, assuming the issue is actually the display rather than the display "card" (actually, chips on the main logic board) or some other, related function.

You haven't said enough about exactly which iMac it is. Assuming it's a 2017 it has a Thunderbolt digital video output. Connect the right cable to the right display. https://support.apple.com/HT202351 and https://support.apple.com/HT201736

If you have another Mac you can also access the internal HD by using Target Disk Mode. https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/transfer-files-mac-computers-target-disk-mode-mchlp1443/mac

To me, the big question is, for $2400 why aren't you consulting a repair shop before tossing the thing?

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it. I tend to think iMacs are not very repairable (at least for a reasonable cost), but I guess I'm wrong. I have a TON of very sensitive financial information on my hard drive and cannot in any way relax handing this computer over to anyone. I would easily buy a new computer to avoid risking all my banking records falling into outside hands.

I'll try a monitor and see what I can find out.

This is a 2018 iMac, the small screen, not 27". Died almost 3 years to the day I bought it. I have a MacBook Air and will try to access the hard drive if I can.

Thank you again for your help.

 

[thingstoponder]

It might be a GPU. Will Apple open it up and let you know without charging a bunch for it? I’m not sure

 

[Eric Idle]

Does Apple have to have my password if I ask them to look at my computer? I just can't give access to my hard drive as all my financial life is on that device. What do people do in these situations?

 

[glenthompson]

Does Apple have to have my password if I ask them to look at my computer? I just can't give access to my hard drive as all my financial life is on that device. What do people do in these situations?

They don’t need your password but they will tell you your data might be lost. That’s why we have backup systems. Do you think you’re the only person with financial information on your computer? This is an everyday occurrence.

 

[esphil]

Meanwhile I'm still rocking my 2010 i3 imac, waiting to get my m1 in the mail. Only thing I've had to replace on it was the drive.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Does Apple have to have my password if I ask them to look at my computer? I just can't give access to my hard drive as all my financial life is on that device. What do people do in these situations?

I would do like this if my data worth more than 2500$.
- Buy a new iMac
- Bring both iMacs to a local repair shop.
- Ask them to transfer all data to the new iMacs.
- Ask them to open the broken iMacs and take out the SSD/HDD for you. Ask them to destroy the SSD/HDD physically to unrecoverable status, unless you want to reuse them.
- Dispose the rest of the broken iMacs (or give the shop if they want it).
- Take home the new iMac (with all of your data recovered to it).

If your iMac needs to replace the 4k LCD screen, or the logic board, the cost to replace will come close to a new iMac M1. And don't leave your data media out of your sight.

 

[Eric Idle]

They don’t need your password but they will tell you your data might be lost. That’s why we have backup systems. Do you think you’re the only person with financial information on your computer? This is an everyday occurrence.

My Mac is fully backed up.

I have never had to use a repair service before so have no idea how it works.

My last Mac lasted 11 years. My last MacBook died in 3 years and I just threw it away and now my latest iMac died almost 3 years to the day. A very bad string of luck for me. I am not at all impressed with Apple quality.

 

[Eric Idle]

If your iMac needs to replace the 4k LCD screen, or the logic board, the cost to replace will come close to a new iMac M1. And don't leave your data media out of your sight.

That's why I figured so bought a new Mac Mini. No more iMacs for me. I need more than 3 years from a computer that costs this much.

 

[Lihp8270]

I doubt it’s a gpu issue. If the only usable graphics adapter had failed I’d expect the machine to not boot.

Look at your warranty and statutory rights also. In the UK we get 6 years.

There are quite a few screens available on eBay too, for reasonable prices. If you look at an ifixit guide. You will see it’s really not too difficult to do.

 

[Eric Idle]

I doubt it’s a gpu issue. If the only usable graphics adapter had failed I’d expect the machine to not boot.

Look at your warranty and statutory rights also. In the UK we get 6 years.

There are quite a few screens available on eBay too, for reasonable prices. If you look at an ifixit guide. You will see it’s really not too difficult to do.

My iMac is 3 years old and both the warranty and AppleCare warranty have expired.

I can't be certain that it's booting, I'm guessing that it is because I hear the fan. The magic track pad also is "clicking" when I push on it.

Tonight I'll see if I can connect to it via target disk mode. If yes, then I'll inventory what all is on it and prepare for using my back up to set up my new Mac Mini. This relatively new iMac is hopeless.

 

[MagicMouse3]

My last Mac lasted 11 years. My last MacBook died in 3 years and I just threw it away and now my latest iMac died almost 3 years to the day. A very bad string of luck for me. I am not at all impressed with Apple quality.

Ouch that really seems to be very bad luck!

What do you mean in your original post that the monitor was acting all crazy before it died?
I also guess that it might be a problem that can be fixed rather easily. When everything else is working (you can hear the fan etc) it might really just be the monitor that is broken. I also don't think that you have to give the password when they repair it, they have other ways to test the functionality.
You should at least give it a try and ask what it would cost to get it repaired!

 

[BarredOwl]

My Mac is fully backed up.

I have never had to use a repair service before so have no idea how it works.

My last Mac lasted 11 years. My last MacBook died in 3 years and I just threw it away and now my latest iMac died almost 3 years to the day. A very bad string of luck for me. I am not at all impressed with Apple quality.

Since you seem acutely worried about your “financial information“, I’m assuming you securely disposed of your old Mac when you “just threw it away”. Do you use full disk encryption (e.g. FileVault) and destroy the ssd/hdd before you throw Macs/PCs away?

If so, you have nothing to worry about. If you did/do not, well, your security controls are not consistent.

 

[Eric Idle]

Ouch that really seems to be very bad luck!

What do you mean in your original post that the monitor was acting all crazy before it died?
I also guess that it might be a problem that can be fixed rather easily. When everything else is working (you can hear the fan etc) it might really just be the monitor that is broken. I also don't think that you have to give the password when they repair it, they have other ways to test the functionality.
You should at least give it a try and ask what it would cost to get it repaired!

Here's what happened. I logged into my iMac, saw that the App store had 4-5 updates to install so hit update all. I then noticed that 11.3.1 was ready to be installed so I started downloading that. Then I started a Facetime Call with my son. Shortly after that, the monitor screen started flickering like crazy. I almost could see nothing, like an old TV out of tune. I ended my Facetime call with my son and tried to reboot but the screen was 100% unviewable, flickering away like crazy. I did a hard shut down and the screen has never come back on. The start up chime works, and I can hear the fan going on a fresh boot, but no screen.

 

[Eric Idle]

Since you seem acutely worried about your “financial information“, I’m assuming you securely disposed of your old Mac when you “just threw it away”. Do you use full disk encryption (e.g. FileVault) and destroy the ssd/hdd before you throw Macs/PCs away?

If so, you have nothing to worry about. If you did/do not, well, your security controls are not consistent.

I use file vault.

My old MacBook is unbootable. The motherboard short circuited and once plugged in to the wall will heat up so bad that it would literally burn your skin. I have never in my life seen a laptop get so hot. Once I confirmed that my MacBook was dead, unfixable, I plugged it in and let it fry itself until it was on fire. I let it burn in my back yard. Loved that 12 inch Macbook. Best Mac I ever had, until it died. Wish they still made them that light and small. The MacBook Air I replaced it with is a poor substitute.

With this 3 year old iMac, I will take a hammer to it and make it look worthless, and tear out the SSD.

That's two Macs in a row that have failed me bad. I hope my new Mac Mini lasts much longer.