Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
(update5/31)This 4th Imac/ hard drive crashed
- Thread starter Zmmin3
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have to agree. One bad system is surprising, 2 is shocking, 3 in a row is just unheard of. Bad socket, bad wiring, bad something. I cant see how anyone could have this much bad luck.
Oh I know you are not, but as I mentioned the 2nd one I got had no electrical issues like this. The first one which had the same symptoms as this one was diagnosed at the applestore as indeed having a bad power supply.
If the second one had done it then maybe I would think there was other problems but it didnt. I have even used different surge protectors, moved it to different rooms.
The problem goes away when I turn it on BUT comes back when the computer is turned off or goes into sleep mode. When I turn it off I have to unplug it to get the lights to stop blinking. Again the second one did not have this problem.
I called Apple and I am suppose to call the cr department on Monday to discuss the issue with them.
Good luck man. I'm not saying they owe you anything, but it would be nice if after all your trouble they offered the new equivalent or a new last gen or something. Heck it would be nice to have one tested before they send it out to make sure. Anyway, wish a speedy successful resolution to your problem.
I havent asked for any compensations but they have given me a couple. Only thing I really wanted was a working computer. I really wanted an Imac but tonight am going out to look at windows laptops to have a back up plan.
Let me throw this at those that have been following along....
After these refurbs have been giving me so much trouble I thought about getting the clearance version, 24" 2.8 perhaps.
As far as getting the new current version,the only current version that has a dedicated video card is the 2.93 which is $600.
Just kinda wondering if its worth another $600 just get past this problem....
And to think Im irritated with refurbs because I never get any unexpected "upgrades" like alot of people seem to get. Ive bought 5 refurbs and all have come with stock specs.
Let me throw this at those that have been following along....
After these refurbs have been giving me so much trouble I thought about getting the clearance version, 24" 2.8 perhaps.
As far as getting the new current version,the only current version that has a dedicated video card is the 2.93 which is $600.
Just kinda wondering if its worth another $600 just get past this problem....
How about the clearance 2.8? That would be cheaper for you. Do you have the edu discount?
Yah know whats weird I called about 24" 2.8 thats in the clearance section.
I was told that one is a previous generation white model. I said it appears to have same specs as the most recent alum one. She said they are all out of the 24" 2.8 aluminum in the clearance section, that is a previous generation white one listed
well I received my 3rd one yesterday over nighted....
I plug it in...and....it has the same problem as the first one!
Just simply plugging it into the light socket causes the lights in the house to blink. I didnt even turn it on
Your house wiring system mystifies me ( I am an Electrical Engineer , for 40 years ) pc/mac have a load that requires them to be plugged into a power outlet that is correctly earthed. They should not be plugged into a LIGHTING circuit , the wiring is much smaller and is protected with a smaller fuse/mcb, with the load a pc/mac imposes you will get volt drop , the wiring being smaller is unable to absorb the harmonics ( odd order ) that the PSU produces
BTW surge protectors are a wast of time , the only way to protect the pc/mac is to use a proper UPS system that has a buck and boost facility
Yah know whats weird I called about 24" 2.8 thats in the clearance section.
I was told that one is a previous generation white model. I said it appears to have same specs as the most recent alum one. She said they are all out of the 24" 2.8 aluminum in the clearance section, that is a previous generation white one listed
Doesn't doesn't make sense does it? So is it a white model with 2.8 etc etc? If so maybe go for that! Matte screen then I wonder or glossy? I would pin her down to exactly what they are offering.
Its a battery backed power supply
Uninterrupted Power Supply
See link below
http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=17
Thing is the 2nd Imac refurb I had did not have this particular problem. If that one also had done the same thing as this one I would have started to believe it had a problem with the wiring. Plus the first one that had this same symptons was diagnosed as having a bad power supply at the apple store. Also none of the other computers I have ever had have given me this problem.
I was looking at getting a UPS system to see if that helped but I am having a talk with Apple today and seeing what they say first.
...I missed what was wrong with your second iMac and why you returned that only to get another lemon?
Talked to customer relations today, they apologized for these problems I was having. They offered me a refund, so that I could go to an apple store and get one. That way I could check out right at the store and make sure it was okay. I said the problem with that is that this is a previous generation model and not offered in stores and to get a dedicated graphics card means spending an extra $600.00 something I really don't want to do if I don't have to.
I asked about getting the clearance one, they could do that if I wanted to pay the 300.00 difference. So I passed on that for the moment.
So they are sending me an RMA, and when this one gets sent back will send me the 4th refurb. At this point all I can do is shake my head and laugh.
(edit) Just got my RMA, fastest reponse so far
Maybe this is fate telling me I am not meant to have an Apple....ya think?
I asked about getting the clearance one, they could do that if I wanted to pay the 300.00 difference. So I passed on that for the moment.
So they are sending me an RMA, and when this one gets sent back will send me the 4th refurb. At this point all I can do is shake my head and laugh.
(edit) Just got my RMA, fastest reponse so far
Maybe this is fate telling me I am not meant to have an Apple....ya think?
Good luck to you sir! Just for kicks, plug it in somewhere else. LOL
Oh I went all over the house with it yesterday, kitchen, basement same result.
Talked to customer relations today, they apologized for these problems I was having. They offered me a refund, so that I could go to an apple store and get one. That way I could check out right at the store and make sure it was okay. I said the problem with that is that this is a previous generation model and not offered in stores and to get a dedicated graphics card means spending an extra $600.00 something I really don't want to do if I don't have to.
I asked about getting the clearance one, they could do that if I wanted to pay the 300.00 difference. So I passed on that for the moment.
So they are sending me an RMA, and when this one gets sent back will send me the 4th refurb. At this point all I can do is shake my head and laugh.
(edit) Just got my RMA, fastest reponse so far
Maybe this is fate telling me I am not meant to have an Apple....ya think?
Isn't the clearance $200 more? If you have edu discount would only be $100 more. For you might be worth it, altho I know more money is more money. Hopefully #4 is the winner. I'd never go back to Windows even if it took me 12 refurbs.
Maybe the damage was already done from the first outlet....
Okay, seriously, I'm just playing. And genuine good luck wishes.
Could you point to a link for a good UPS system online? What would you suggest a person uses for a computer?
Talked to customer relations today, they apologized for these problems I was having. They offered me a refund, so that I could go to an apple store and get one. That way I could check out right at the store and make sure it was okay. I said the problem with that is that this is a previous generation model and not offered in stores and to get a dedicated graphics card means spending an extra $600.00 something I really don't want to do if I don't have to.
I asked about getting the clearance one, they could do that if I wanted to pay the 300.00 difference. So I passed on that for the moment.
So they are sending me an RMA, and when this one gets sent back will send me the 4th refurb. At this point all I can do is shake my head and laugh.
(edit) Just got my RMA, fastest reponse so far
Maybe this is fate telling me I am not meant to have an Apple....ya think?
Either that or refurbs can be total crap!
Well the 4th refurb is currently up at the Apple Store awaiting diagnostic tests.
I took it out of box...the second it was plugged into socket, the house lights started flickering.
I know you are all saying it must be the house power then since 3 out of the 4 had done that....
I would agree EXCEPT, the second mac did not have this issue. Why would the 2nd not have this problem but the others do? I have a notebook and another desktop computer, neither have caused this type of issue.
So I made an appointment with the genius bar up at the Apple store and took it in last night. I explained my dilemma thus far, he himself said this shouldnt be going on especially if no other device causes this type of problem and also since the 2nd one did not have this type of issue. He advised instead of doing another exchange that I actually leave it there so they could run diagnostic tests on it and to try to track down what the problem might actually be. He said they should know something(or nothing) in 3-5 days.
Is it possible Apple got a bad batch of replacement parts?
I work in a manufacturing facility and it has happened where we have gotten large batch of bad parts in.
I took it out of box...the second it was plugged into socket, the house lights started flickering.
I know you are all saying it must be the house power then since 3 out of the 4 had done that....
I would agree EXCEPT, the second mac did not have this issue. Why would the 2nd not have this problem but the others do? I have a notebook and another desktop computer, neither have caused this type of issue.
So I made an appointment with the genius bar up at the Apple store and took it in last night. I explained my dilemma thus far, he himself said this shouldnt be going on especially if no other device causes this type of problem and also since the 2nd one did not have this type of issue. He advised instead of doing another exchange that I actually leave it there so they could run diagnostic tests on it and to try to track down what the problem might actually be. He said they should know something(or nothing) in 3-5 days.
Is it possible Apple got a bad batch of replacement parts?
I work in a manufacturing facility and it has happened where we have gotten large batch of bad parts in.