Green wavy lines on screen - bootup fails

Question

Level 1

8 points

Green wavy lines on screen - bootup fails

I've already logged a warranty claim with applecare (which expires in 2 weeks, eek), but curious to see if anyone else has had this problem, and what the root problem ended up being.

See here: http://gallery.me.com/thecoppins#100105

Basically, 2 nights ago, the computer froze and put up the green lines you can see in every screenshot.
Since then booting doesn't work and every option i've tried has had the lines across the screen.

Intel Core Duo iMac 24" (Late 2006) + Macbook Pro Early 08, Mac OS X (10.6.1), 4Gb Ram - 80Gb Video iPod + iPhone 3Gs

Posted on Oct 16, 2009 5:33 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Oct 16, 2009 7:09 PM in response to atomicbomb

It looks like one of the display cables is loose (there are three: RGB). Apple should be able to repair it easily. I would assume you can't boot because the power-on self-test (POST) fails at startup. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Reply

Answer 2

myhighway

Level 5

7,270 points

Oct 17, 2009 2:11 PM in response to AlexJames88

Video card needs to be replaced. AppleCare will replace it. Did you run the Apple Hardware Test? and still saw the wavy lines, right? If it runs all the way through, you should get an error code that you write down and let AppleCare know it.

Message was edited by: myhighway

Reply

Answer 3

atomicbomb Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 17, 2009 8:29 PM in response to myhighway

Yeah, I did the hardware test, and this gave the only difference, instead of green, the lines are blue. I ran both the standard and extended/full test, with no error found.

I've already had the HDD, Video Card, Screen and Logic board replaced in this machine.

Reply

Answer 4

myhighway

Level 5

7,270 points

Oct 17, 2009 8:59 PM in response to atomicbomb

Your screen shots look exactly like what I saw from my Mac Pro last year, and AppleCare replaced only the video card (the logic board serial number was unchanged). Regardless, I'm sure they've seen enough of them so that one look and they'll know to replace it.

Message was edited by: myhighway

Reply

Answer 5

atomicbomb Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 26, 2009 12:45 AM in response to myhighway

All fixed. The tech came this morning and replaced the graphics card. That's the 2nd time that's been replaced in it's 3 year history.

Have already ordered a quad-core 27", and will be selling this as soon as it arrives.

Reply