Pixelation, then blue screen on Tiger

[StrangeMagic]

I have a 17 inch imac that runs on Tiger. This morning, the monitor suddenly became distorted (pixelated and striped pink and purple screen) while the spinning wheel turned.

I shut off the computer and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then turned it on and I couldn't get past the blue screen.

I tried starting it in safe mode and did make it past the blue screen but the picture was distorted and pixelated and it was impossible to see the desktop.

The installation disc happened to be in the computer so I rebooted it while pressing C and the installation screen came up but it, too, was distorted and pixelated. I ran disc utility and there wasn't a problem.

I restarted the computer and hit D because I read somewhere that it could diagnose a hardware problem. I couldn't read the screen clearly but it looked like it said there were no problems.

So then I turned it off and went to work. Six hours later, I came home, turned on my computer and it's fine.

Does anybody have any idea what this could be? Any suggestions as to what I could do to get to the bottom of the problem? While my computer is now running okay, I fear that this problem will rear its ugly head again.

Thanks in advance.

I am updating this post because, my computer again did this. I am actually typing this from my laptop. My computer is pixelated and I can't see the screen. Here is a screenshot: http://img9.imageshack.us/i/photogun.jpg/

 

[SDub90]

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Sounds like the same problems that my girlfriends MBP had shortly before the GPU died.

 

[StrangeMagic]

Did your girlfriend get it fixed or buy a new one?

 

[iRobby]

Did your girlfriend get it fixed or buy a new one?

Time for the 2011 iMac refresh!! BUY! This is a sign from God!

 

[StrangeMagic]

If it's a sign from God, then maybe i'll win the lotto tonight because I don't have 2k to spare. I also just got rejected for apple financing.

 

[StrangeMagic]

I would like to know how complicated it is to replace the video card on an imac.

I called the repair company my employer uses and the man I spoke to said that it sounded like a video card and, if that were the case, it would cost $5, maybe $10 to fix. He wasn't the mac specialist, though. I'm bringing it in on Saturday for a diagnosis at no charge.

I'm just wondering if it's salvageable. While my mouth waters at the prospect of getting a new imac, I don't have the money to invest and, unfortunately, don't have the credit. Besides, my imac isn't that old. I got it in 2007. Macs should be more durable than that.