iMac 27" Black Screen?

Been using my iPad, a friend just dropped an old USB one off... Still going good ... I say don't use the faulty key until Apple does something, took batteries out of mine too, feel like taking a hammer to it for all the time I've waisted, apple store is an hour away from me, took computer in twice . I have the one with graphic card recall, but was told it was fine and that I had corrupted software... Erased drive for nothing... Hope Apple is reading our posts. Last week my screen went white and didn't reboot until I brought it to apple... Don't know how they got it going again... Probably got lucky

That's funny. Once mine took more than a couple taps to wake up and I got nervous. But it's still not repeating the problem. I found one other thread that mentioned the keyboard but the discussion wasn't complete enough.

I'm still debating if I want to take the problem keyboard into the Apple store. It's past the warranty. But it would be nice if they confirmed it was the problem.

The store's close, but there's still the time issue. Why don't you do it? I came up with the possible answer.

Kidding of course, I wanted to tell other people what I found. I too went through a very frustrating process with the Apple store. A 27 inch IMac is not easy to take in and taking it in twice was not pleasant, especially when the problem recurred the third time. I had to get my son to help me. And I didn't have the extra time it took but there's little choice. I need my computer. I'm writing a book, and I use it in my business.

If you go three days without a recurrence and I'm at six days by then I'm going to say the evidence is overwhelming. I can wait.

I can't believe no one has figured this out, so many people seem to be having the same problems... You should get a prize from apple... Lol

I'm starting to think this is it... Been working my mac to the max... Music production, movies playing, music playing, all apps open at same time, no sign of problem, I really hope it's this simple. Apple should be able to fix this with an update

my keyboard has brightness control which did NOT work i dont think my keyboard is the problem. my imac is first gen and the displays been flickering for about a week now and i was watching a video and suddenly went black it still responded to the mouse i could hear the audio but i saw nothing. i cant get a replacement im waaayyy out of the warrenty. i turned it iff and back on then it went back to normal.

There's no reason to think everyone's computers are having the same problems. I read a couple people who had a part of the back light replaced with some success.

But there were also people who had the same part replaced and took their computers in 3 and 4 times only to have the problem recur. I took mine in twice and got home only to have the black screen come back

I'm on day 5 now, no blackouts. Rixxi's on day 3, I think.

My computer came back on several times before it started not staying on more than a second or two. If your problem comes back and you have an IMac, especially a 27 inch, buy a cheap keyboard (or borrow one) and give it a try. Be sure to remove the batteries from your Mac keyboard to be sure it is not sending signals to the computer. If you have success, come back to the thread and let us know.

By the way, a keyboard is hardware.

I saw your post in the thread you are talking about. It's was started 2 years ago. I wish Benford and come back to say what hardware needed replacing. "Hardware" can mean many things. I can relate to the frustration, the Apple geniuses told me the problem was the software because they couldn't find anything else. The reformatted the hard drive but it didn't fix the problem. I'm not the only one Apple told they had a software problem but reformatting didn't fix the problem.

In some of the cases, including mine, Apple could not find the problem hardware. But when I took my computer in, they used their own keyboard. So they never tested my keyboard.

I've now found a third person that had an Apple bluetooth keyboard causing problems. But he had a MacBook and not an IMac. This is what he said:

"My MacBook is a bit older than your iMac and I have had very few problems (battery replacement, hard drive replaced, but that's over 7 years). I use my laptop at a desk 80-90% of the time so I have a Cinema display and keyboard. The one thing I had tons of problems with was the "old" bluetooth keyboard. It is complete crap. So much so that I bought a wired version of the "small" keyboard."

So, while I wouldn't have thought of the keyboard for this issue, I am not surprised to hear that it may be the culprit.

I tried the keyboard thing itworked for about two days as of today my computer is caput i hadnt been using the keyboard even toke out the batteries but the screen as gone permanetly blck i turn it off turn it back on i restart it and nothing still black. Ganna go take it in soon ill let the thread know whatthe outcome is.

Did you also remove the batteries from your Mac keyboard? If not it stays on and the computer lets more than one keyboard be connected at the same time.

I don't know what other problems are causing the same symptom. When your screen is black is the computer still on? Hitting the volume key will tell you.

I know that a new hard drive and reformating the new one didn't fix my problem. The geniuses had it in for a week, the second time, tested everything, the problem did not recur and no hardware problems were apparent. They claimed it was my software and said the computer was going to sleep. But that wasn't even right because it wasn't going to sleep, just the screen was going dark. Anyway, back home only installing files and no aps from Time Machine, within a week, same problem.

That's when it dawned on me the keyboard has a screen brightness control and they didn't test the IMac with my keyboard.

Other people in these threads had some success replacing a backlight part (look through the threads for the part name). And the people at the store suggested the video card and a connection to the motherboard or something I don't recall exactly.

That's all I got. But my computer continues problem free.

Yes, the batteries were removed and I got excited because my iMac stayed on for a full 16 hrs. Lol. When the screen goes black, the music still plays. Everything works as before, just without sight. Lately, I would hit the power button twice on the back of the iMac to get it to work. I just thought it was weird that I didn't have this problem before I upgraded to Mavericks.

They don't merge any of these threads. Search for IMac black screen and read through the threads to see what else worked for people. One person thought Maverick would fix the problem but it didn't. The one thing that is apparent is lots of people have had this problem.

ARe you saying that a new keyboard fixed the issue? I use a USB connected keyboard, not a wireless one. who else has had issues with wired keyboards (I gave up on th wored version cos it chewed though batteries / rechargin... etc)?

Control-shift-Eject Assume the eject is the button to eject a drive....), which is down th thread a way out didn't work my situation.

Have apple come up wiht e reliable workaround, other than replacing the keyboard. replacing a keyboard doesn't look like a long term fix to me in any case.

What parts did you replace? And did the keyboard switch do anything?

It worked for me for a couple weeks then the black returned. The computer was on and by keying control-s at least I saved the file I was working on. I hit the sleep button, (not shutdown and restart) and then woke the computer back up.

So, I decided to just try jostling the computer. It's been working now for another week, no blackouts. But I don't believe my computer is fixed.

Regrettably, I believe I can assure you, your computer is not fixed.

In my opinion Apple makes its fortune not by producing exeptional hardware, but by designing an exeptional visual and ergonomic package using, relatively cheap, and easily sourceable components. Apple also designs some ot the best and most durable and useable software in the universe - which runs brilliantly on fairly "run of the mill" hardware.

The upshot (IMO), is that Apple software is indisputably the finest available,while the hardware is cleverly packaged, and often 2 or 3 generations behind that of its competitors. This is maddening, because while Apple continues to advance hardware, like Mercedes advances automotive technology, the hardware is mostly "GM" grade.

In terms of Software, Apple delivers all of the sizzle one has come to expect from the brand. In terms of hardware, the sizzle remains, but the steak is decidedly stale on the average, and has a slightly, or even completely spoiled flavor at its worst.

While other OS manufacturers struggle to build OS's which attempt to make the best of the latest and greatest hardware possible. Apple seems to sit back, and carefully assess the best combination of goood and cheap, and appears to build its newest offerings around proven, anrd relatively inexpensive internal hardware.

I don't knock the hardware engineering. Overall, I think Apple balances the best of the best of physical technology which is a generation or two behind ( to be kind), and configures its logic boards etc, in the most effecient ( and ultilmately - low cost) configuration possible.

In summation, where useable softwar is concered, Apple is the absolutely the ultimate. In tems of hardward Apple can do better, and shoud do better. Much better.

Before swithing to Macs, i built, and maintained PC's and Neworks for years. I understand the need to balance the best software avaialbe with the most cost efficient hardware available.

That being said, I love my 27" Imac. I love the softwars system. I love the functionality. I hate issues like Black Screen, and the lower LH portion of the LG display being darker than the rest of the display (this is still an issue).

As a designer I love the aesthetic, and as an IT admin, I am intensely disapponted hardware (not the very cool mono-aluminum case -and giant sized display). I hate that I am out of pocket for hardware which does not appear to be up to the same standards of the excellent software.

The fact that Apply remains largley silent on issues affecting numerous 27" Imacs, also creates a sense of profound discomfort with me.

After years of troubleshooting anc reparing computers - figuring out what was going on with my particular Imac, was both logical, and a matter of correct trouble shooting protocals.

The notion that a Mac is anything mystical is widely propofated, but unfortunately completely misguided.

There are two reasons the hardware does not perfom. 1). Hardware is defective 2). Software is not doing what it is suppossed to do. 3). A combination of 1). and 2).

If you have taken your Mac to a "diagnostic center", they are either capable of correctly diagnosing the probem (prefferable), or your Mac Tech is an incompetent.

Because I knew what to look for, my issue cost $26 for a part from Radio Shack. When I hear that people are shaking their Macs, or monkeying with the wireless keyboard and mouse with limited success, I cringe.

!st, check to make sure your remote component batteriers are fully charged and operationsl. 2nd make sure your peripherals are turned on and dislpiaying tiny green lights (this means they are looking for a blue tooth connection).

Make sure bluetooth on your Imac is enabled. Then boot your mac up and see if it now works.

If you think it is your blue tooth, keyboard and mouse, replace the batteries in your USB keyboad and mouse, plug in, and reboot. If you still have a black screen, go to Radio Shack, or whatever you Brits and Pakis, and Spaniards have, buy an apple to VGA adapter, and plug an SVGA monitor in to see if you have a picture. If you do, it is probababliy not the video card, Let the computer go to "sleep" and wake up.. If both screens wake up, it is software. Upgrade to the newest OS version your system will support. Your crappy files will be replaced, and your Mac should run fin without and external monitor.

If only the external monitor works with the Radio Shack adapter, use it. $250 for a decent monitor is far cheaper than a new Imac 27.

Smacking, cursing, kicking your mac, or throwing it out the window will not improve performance.

If you don't want to fix it yourself, you have a couple of options. Take it to someone who is actually competent fo fix it at a reasonable cost, or buy a new one and pay a "genius" to transfer you critical files.

Breath a sigh of relief. Unless your hard drive has completely crashed, all of your work can likely be recovered.

Rugerrio

The computer is just a tool, it is what your have created with it that is of real value.

Ruggerio is sadly right, no voodoo will fix this, only a new monitor... sadly apple has me by the balls, i need there software to operate, no pc will ever do... waiting for the next macbook pro... keep the 27 for storage...