eMac freezes randomly, open window turns into broken up jibber

For the record (and hopefully for Avanos to use) my Apple case number was #60731992 (and also #60843928). I don't know if these numbers are global or local - I'm located in Australia.

I had 2 case numbers as after receiving "no reply" from s_jobs@apple.com I again contacted Apple Australia, and was given the 2nd number, only to find out hours later that my email had been forwarded to Apple Executive Relations (Australia) and they had already assigned me the #607.. number.

As previously stated, my eMac was repaired free of charge (labour and parts). This took approx 1 week.

I'm trying a second time to email Steve Jobs... this time however i'm sending pictures of the blown caps. I had to take the full case off the eMac since the caps under the hatch at the bottom were not that bad. There are a string of caps on the right side towards the bottom that were leaking goo everywhere. I suggest for those people who open the RAM hatch and don't see anything to remove the entire case and the heat shield (or whatever the metal thing is) and check the rest of the board. Hopefully I'll get a call this time. Maybe we'll all get lucky and Apple will send us brand new laptops! :-D not likely but one can hope.

Here is the latest from me. After a few weeks of not being able to find a replacement logic board, the apple store called and said my emac was ready. I picked it up today, and so far, it works great! Apple fixed it at no charge, for which I am grateful.

Be sure to email, call, and be courteous. The logic board runs $500+ and the labor was another $130 or so. This was done, again, at no charge, and I will be sure to express my thanks to s_jobs@apple.com, and to Mark, in Executive relations.

The following eMac Repair Extension Program should make you all very happy:
http://www.apple.com/support/emac/repairextensionprogram/

Enjoy,

Elvin.

I just read about it on Appletalk.com.au - am so glad for everyone here that Apple have made this decision.

Hopefully the word will get out to everyone, and maybe some who have lost hope in Apple may find their way back.

This is great news! All the posts, emails, phone calls, complaints have finally paid off. Please note that those of you who have already paid for repairs should be eligible for a refund - even those, who like me, only paid for labor. I'm going to give them some time to contact me, then contact the AASP if I don't hear from them.

This is great. I just had my eMac repaired a few days before the Repair Program came out. Thanks to everyone on this thread for your help in getting this resolved. 🙂

Hi
I was writing in today to let you know that I just got my emac back from the shop today, fixed I think, and to let you know how I had convince Apple finally to do it. However I was pleasantly suprised to see that Apple has just today started a repair program (ironic for me). I've been without my emac for 5 months now.
I just want to congratulate us all for our hard work in resolving this matter, especially cosmichobo who kept with it long after his was fixed. I have since bought a macbook and my faith in Apple is almost completely restored. Way to go everyone! Larios

We win! Woohoo!

My 1.25 Ghz eMac has the described problems, but doesn't fall under the range of serial numbers mentioned in the repair program. What should I do?

The capacitors are bad, so I am sure my eMac is affected by the problem.

Send an email to s_jobs@apple.com. If possible, attach a photo of the bad capacitors. Explain that you have read the details of Apple's repair program and that your serial number is outside of the range.

You should just take it in to a apple store and have them take a look at it. If it is having the same problem, then it is still a manufacturer's error. They should be able to tell you what to do.

I'm not sure if this is a recall or not, but I was looking into this exact error tonight for a neighbor, and found it odd that so many people had complained about the exact same problem - all around the same time. Well, I guess we got really lucky with our timing, because Apple has announced "eMac Repair Extension Program for Video and Power Issues":

http://www.apple.com/support/emac/repairextensionprogram/

"If Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) determines that your eMac computer is eligible as part of the program, the repair will be covered by Apple for up to three years from the original date of purchase even if your eMac is out of warranty. This is a worldwide Apple program."

" The affected eMac computers have serial numbers where the first 5 digits fall into the ranges noted below.

Serial Number ranges:

* G8412xxxxxx - G8520xxxxxx
* YM412xxxxxx - YM520xxxxxx
* VM440xxxxxx - VM516xxxxxx"


PowerMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Just an update to say that we really believe that this forum helped Apple see the problem with the emac. Before the notice from Apple that they were agreeing to repair the problem for no cost, we had emailed Steve Jobs and received contact back within one day. The Apple representative was great and gave us a case number telling us to take the computer in for repair, no committment that it would be free of charge. The day our computer was ready to pick up, the repair notice was posted by Apple, so it's likely the Apple rep know this was coming. Anyway, I'm glad I continually checked this forum because it made me realize that Apple was listening..I hope all those that had to pay for repair get reimbursed!

Another happy outcome. I found out about the repair program on Sunday, called Apple on Monday, told them it was the capacitor problem and referenced my case number from when I had called previously. She gave me a new case number and told me to bring it into our Apple Store that day. I brought it in a couple of hours later and the mac genius took down the serial number and asked how I knew it was the capacitor problem. I told him because I had seen a bulging capacitor from the back hatch; that was good enough for the mac genius who promptly took my eMac into the back. I was called today to pick it up, and am now happily typing on it from home. Wow! A day and a half turnaround...that must be some kind of record!

Congrats (and thanks) to Apple for doing the right thing here in offering this exchange program.

ibook, emac, ipod Mac OS X (10.3.9)