iMac stops responding

[chadwik147]

Just today, my iMac has started a nasty little habit. It has frequently stopped responding. It has happened 4 times today, in the span of about 6 hours.

The latest time it happened was during the software update to OSX 10.5.8

Anyone have any general solutions to help repair this problem.

The only thing I have really tried is repairing the disk permissions.

I've searched a little for a similar posting or forum for this problem but haven't found anything quite useful. If there is a published article or forum posting somewhere i overlooked, i apologize for the thread, and if someone can link the information, I would be greatly appreciative.

 

[geoffreak]

Take it to the Apple store.

 

[chadwik147]

I have had the iMac for 5 years. I don't think that I had AppleCare on it. So would that make taking it to the apple store pointless or do they have special prices for fixing machines or something. Sorry I'm not real famiar, this is the first problem I've had with my iMac.

 

[geoffreak]

Sadly, random lockups tend to signify that your logic board or hard drive has failed or is failing. If you have another hard drive, try to boot off of it.

If the logic board has failed, you would be better off selling the iMac for parts and buying a new (at least to you) one.

 

[chadwik147]

after countless hours searching the web, i found a lengthy discussion on it.

apparently the majority thinks that the problem lie within the temp. of the iMac and the graphics card slowly reaching its "death".

this seems logical, since, i havent had one single problem with the iMac since 2006. There was a big flood here where I live, and I got a few feet of water in my basement, frying my water heater and heating and air conditioning unit. I haven't had AC since last Tuesday. Its august, and with all the rain we have had its been extremely hot and humid. It's easily 85/90 degrees in my house. With this problem happening now, it seems logical it is a heat related issue.

Any other comments or suggestions would be appreciated....

I'm getting my ac unit replaced tomorrow, so i should have ac in the house again. I will continue to run smcfancontrol, trying to keep my mac temp down, to see if the problem is fixed. I will keep you updated, in case any one else is having this problem.

I might try to call Apple as well. If I do not have Applecare though, am I wasting my time?

 

[chadwik147]

**Update**

Here is a quick update on my situation, in case anyone has had similar problems.

I got the AC in my house up and running again, and it is once again cool inside the house. My iMac was shut down the previous 2 days, and I powered it up today after the whole house got to room temp again.

It has ran flawlessly the whole day. I even played 3-4 hours of WOW, with smcfancontrol running at half speed.

I'll keep those interested updated. But it seems, as of right now, to be working good.

 

[MTI]

I have had the iMac for 5 years.

You've had a 20" iMac, 2.66 GHz Intel since 2004?

Is time travel really as cool as they show in the movies?