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iMac 27" Black Screen?

For 6 long and painful weeks, my 27" iMac (10.7.5) has intermittently turned itself to sleep mode (black screen). It's driving me up the wall and sent my productivity through the floor. You'll be in the middle of something and whammo, black screen. I have to push the power button to get the screen to work again. It doesn't respond to keyboard or mouse.


The screen turns black when you're on the Internet, playing quicktime files, using Microsoft office, so it happens across different applications... it happens on my account, my daughter's account, the guest account. It is indiscriminate, it just does it whenever it feels like it, but not all the time. If it shuts down video, the audio still plays, there is just a black screen with no picture to watch.


The computer is 8 months old and I have Apple Protection as well, so that's not the problem, but I see other people have experienced a similar issue and I'm up for suggestions as to what you think might be causing the problem.


So far, these are the fixes that have been done and NOT fixed the problem:


  • OSX has been reinstalled twice
  • The logic Board has been replaced
  • RAM has been replaced
  • The graphics card has been replaced


The tech is coming back out Monday to replace the power supply and the screen. If this doesn't work I'm told I'll be reissued with a new machine.


So any other suggestions out there? Is it possessed by a ghost? Cursed? Just should be declared a lemon?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Bought July 2012, Built mid 2011

Posted on May 2, 2013 9:56 PM

Reply
148 replies

Feb 17, 2014 12:12 PM in response to girlsonboard

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.

Feb 18, 2014 6:34 PM in response to girlsonboard

Hey there, I tried a different keyboard (usb from my pc) and I STILL have the same problem (screen going black), exactly the same problems Rixxi had, except none of my parts have been replaced. I'm using anUser uploaded file smh... I've had this problem since I upgraded to Mavericks. I did not use Time Capsule (I should've), so I lost Mountain Lion. I re-installed Mavericks and still have the same issue.

Feb 18, 2014 8:50 PM in response to DeShaddow

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.

Feb 18, 2014 9:12 PM in response to girlsonboard

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.

Mar 8, 2014 11:21 PM in response to Rixxi

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.

iMac 27" Black Screen?

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