User profile for user: thedude19777
thedude19777 Author
User level: Level 1
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Display Freezing Too Frequently For Me To Take It Anymore!!!!

I have an iMac4,1 20" display. For about the last 6 months, the screen would periodically freeze up completely. The cursor would still move around, but nothing else would respond. Also, now and again, there is one line across the entire screen that seems to be randomly coloured. It's only a pixel high.

I would like to know just what the heck the problem is! Is it the OS? The video card? Overheating due to dust build-up?

At first it was only when I was using graphics-heavy software, but now it just happens at random. This computer has been such a good work-horse for so long, I'm really surprised to have all these problems now!

Any advice would be appreciated. I love my computer, but feel it's slowly growing ********....

Intel iMac4,1 20" 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 12, 2009 8:14 PM

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8 replies
User profile for user: malazan_empire
malazan_empire
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 13, 2009 8:17 AM in response to thedude19777

Just to confirm that this is not an isolated case. Having the same issue exactly. Anyone know the fix?

Going to do a hardware check when I get home tonight.

Using Apple Hardware Test
You can use Apple Hardware Test to help determine if there is a problem with your
iMac hardware.
To use Apple Hardware Test:
1 Disconnect all external devices from your iMac except the keyboard and mouse.
If you have an Ethernet cable connected, disconnect it.
2 Insert the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 that came with your iMac.
3 Restart your iMac and hold down the D key as your iMac starts up.
4 When the Apple Hardware Test chooser screen appears, select the language
appropriate for your location.
5 Press the Return key or click the right arrow button.
6 When the Apple Hardware Test main screen appears (after about 45 seconds), follow
the onscreen instructions.
7 Apple Hardware Test displays an error code if it detects a problem. Make a note of the
error code before pursuing support options. If Apple Hardware Test doesn’t detect a
hardware failure, the problem may be with your software.
For more information about, see the Apple Hardware Test Read Me file on the
Mac OS X Install Disc 1.



Thanks,

Kirk
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User profile for user: KyleFrennea
KyleFrennea
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 13, 2009 8:23 AM in response to thedude19777

I have also had this same problem. I've had my computer for close to 3 years and it's just now having this problem. My experiences are exactly the same. The mouse moves, all program panels are unresponsive, but the computer itself is still in check. For example, it happened while ripping a CD, and I could here the CD drive working so I waited a bit, forced shut down, and upon reboot, the files were there.

Agree with thedude, it's too much! Any advice would be great! I'll try the hardware test when I can too.
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User profile for user: aluska
aluska
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 13, 2009 1:41 PM in response to thedude19777

EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM HERE! I have done just about EVERYTHING to try to fix this. The freezing started in the middle of February this year. Until then my Mac was invincible....

Not to be a conspiracy theorist... but reading through the net ... seems like more and more people having an issue or two even with brand new Macs.... something I haven't heard ever before...

It seems odd, this started at the beginning of this year... after the report about more and more people switching to Mac from PC due to problems like these...
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User profile for user: thedude19777
thedude19777 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 13, 2009 7:56 PM in response to thedude19777

I, too, have just completed the suggested hardware scan. No errors. Perhaps it's time for me to just backup a few (thousand) things and reinstall my OS? I had really hoped it wouldn't come to that.

I saw a suggestion on another thread recently, and it was talking about cleaning the computer, in case dust is causing overheating. Come to think of it, where's the utility that allows you to monitor hardware temperature?

Thinking back, it all started when I decided to try World of Warcraft. When a few things would start loading at once, the screen would freeze about every 10-20 minutes and I'd have to power off. I stopped playing it, thinking it was a software bug. But eventually, it came back, especially when I would try to minimize a window to the tray. Now just at random once every couple days.

Should I go ahead and wipe this old girl?
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User profile for user: youngman
youngman
User level: Level 1
100 points

May 14, 2009 9:57 AM in response to thedude19777

i've experienced the same issues. it's a common problem with older intel imacs (white) with ATI video cards.

zachnap explains it well here:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9332948#9332948

because it's caused by heat, hardware tests won't report any problems and resetting smc or pram won't fix it. it's a manufacturer defect related to the graphics subsystem which is tied to the logic board.

running imac fan control to keep the internals cooler is a temporary fix until apple does an official product recall.
http://www.derman.com/Download/Special/iMacFanControl.html

also use a can of compressed air to clean out the circular intake vent on the back of the imac.
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Display Freezing Too Frequently For Me To Take It Anymore!!!!

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