Imac g4 screen issue

These models of iMac G4 (flat panel LCD) across all builds, 15 inch to 20-inch

with 700/800/1.0/1.25 PowerPC CPU all have soft flexible surface over panel.

There are layers but no hard protection over the front, a few aftermarket comp-

anies sold clear plastic protective display covers for these, held on by static cling.

I have three of these iMac G4 computers, 1.25 17-inch; & had a 17-inch 800MHz.

The last models of iMac G4 with USB2.0 ports, share a service manual, plus

a few older specific manuals; these are hard to find but do show some of

the take apart and have expanded-views of the parts. Usually in the form of

a diagram and not photographic images, with part numbers for each model.

There may be an online source for the service manual covering these three

last versions of iMac G4; with this file name 339507APL_iMacUSB2.0_G4.pdf

From July 2005, for 15-inch 1.0GHz, 17-inch 1.25GHz, 20-inch 1.25GHz.

The display is a tedious take-apart, and the chrome arm itself can be, too.

You may be able to find service info on the display, and the rest of this model,

by using this link to get a manual download to save for offline use...

download iMacUSB2.0_G4 manual

iFixit.com repair guides page online appears to only cover the hard disk drive

replacement sequence in their guide; they have one for the 17-inch version

with 1.25GHz PPC CPU, essentially the same as the 20-inch model.

iFixit has a link to Read in browser, an older version manual, than above D/L file:

https://www.ifixit.com/Document/997/.pdf - 2003 version service manual, 5.3MB.

For offline use, to save in your own offline archive, it may be better to download.

Their version is older & not exactly the same. I prefer to save a copy for offline.

See other take apart views with info for hemispherical section of the iMac G4:

Mr Totes iMac G4 TakeApart:

http://www.mrtotes.co.uk/page1/page1.html

Earlier iMac G4 with later tips: iMac Takeapart for Drive & RAM upgrade

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/imac_g4/imacg4_takeapart.html

The site LowEndMac.com used to have information on most Macs, not sure

how current any links there may be now, since time marches on.

Replacement parts in working condition will be difficult to obtain, so that is another

matter; to match the correct part numbers for these, including power supplies &

other important restoration functions can be tough. Used parts from recyclers may

be a possibility, usually a second or third iMac G4 of same build model series is a

fair place to look, if the one(s) you find have the parts you need in working shape.

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

There are a few suppliers of plastic film layer materials of optical clarity

that may be used as protective and perhaps likely replacement of the

kind of product covering the panel, if that's removable from iMac display...

One that I'd looked into since they are a smaller company and appeared

to have customer service, along with several kinds of product, is worth

another look since they have different kinds of materials available, too.

This company is located in Michigan, and has been around awhile:

http://photodon.com/

They used to sell pre-cut sizes of protective film for certain Apple models

when their LCD panels had soft outer layering, and still offer a variety of

products that may be adaptable to other practical purposes. I've only had

contact with them a few times, but have not ordered, since my needs at

the time were resolved through means not requiring a purchase at all.

A search online may yield a few web pages created by people who have

taken apart just the display, and others who had comments & pictures of

the chrome arm (parts inside, a large spring, two metal bearings, etc) and

a showing of the parts. A call to a company such as wegenermedia.com

may be source for some parts, or at least information; they also fix Macs.

I'm wondering what may have caused the apparent separation of the layer

on the front of the iMac G4 20-inch 1.25GHz model computer display, as

your model is not unlike others in series of similar age & manufacture. If

someone had used an inappropriate cleaning solution, it may have done

some damage & caused separation damage to outer layer of that display.

Hopefully this may be of help to you, and perhaps others looking for a few

links to other places to find information...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

As I recall, the soft front layer of the LCD on iMac G4 flat panel models, could be lightly

rubbed to 'massage' an occasionally poor or weak liquid crystal in a specific location on

the panel, so there does not appear to be a hard glass layer in the display front section.

Another note, since your recently acquired iMac G4 1.25 20-inch model appears to have

an issue with dust or perhaps user-induced problems: Be sure when you get time, to go

into the base hemispherical section (plan on thermal paste removal-renewal to access

that section, since thermal pipes and conduits for CPU heat exchanger are involved) to

clean out any and all dust you can find, since this can be a cause of overheating, etc.

While in the vicinity of the inner section of the iMac G4, is a good time to replace the

3.6v 1/2AA Lithium battery. This area also gives access to the 184-pin standard RAM

chip set in place by the factory, it may be upgraded to a correct spec 1024MB chip, for

a total upgrade of 2048MB across both RAM chip slot locations, per spec type. The

lower user-accessible slot uses the same SO-DIMM as the mid-2005 iBook G4, btw.

Hopefully your iMac G4 'flat-panel' model can be a fun exercise...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂