nazzitron
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: 2008 iMac - screen issues

Hi all,

I put my iMac (circa 2008) to sleep last night and this morning when I tried to log in it seemed to be having major issues. The display is all messed up, and it takes awhile to log in. I haven't had any issues with the system other than some slowness since upgrading to Yosemite. I've turned it off for the time being.

Here are some images that I think might help more than me trying to explain the situation.

IMG_3209.JPGIMG_3212.JPGIMG_3211.JPG

iMac, screen issues

Posted on Mar 16, 2016 10:11 AM

by Carolyn Samit,Apple recommended
Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit
Level 10 (120,756 points)
Apple Music
A:

Hi ..

 

Possibly the graphics card causing the distortion.

 

If you can, run Apple Diagnostics or the  Apple Hardware Test



Posted on Mar 17, 2016 8:36 AM

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nazzitron

Q: 2008 iMac - screen issues

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,Apple recommended

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Mar 17, 2016 8:36 AM in response to nazzitron
    Level 10 (120,756 points)
    Apple Music
    Mar 17, 2016 8:36 AM in response to nazzitron

    Hi ..

     

    Possibly the graphics card causing the distortion.

     

    If you can, run Apple Diagnostics or the  Apple Hardware Test



  • by nazzitron,

    nazzitron nazzitron Mar 17, 2016 7:14 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2016 7:14 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Thanks Carolyn. Tried the suggested steps. The computer loaded something once but it was so difficult to maneuver that I wasn't able to sort anything out.. Now when I try to restart, it gets stuck on a grey screen after the first image posted deviously competes Loadi the bar.

  • by notcloudy,Helpful

    notcloudy notcloudy Mar 17, 2016 8:35 AM in response to nazzitron
    Level 4 (1,190 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 17, 2016 8:35 AM in response to nazzitron

    nazzitron wrote:

     

    Thanks Carolyn. Tried the suggested steps. The computer loaded something once but it was so difficult to maneuver that I wasn't able to sort anything out.. Now when I try to restart, it gets stuck on a grey screen after the first image posted deviously competes Loadi the bar.

     

    That is a bad graphics card -- they can fail overnight -- the card can be reflowed/repaired -- or replaced.   If you are not handy - and do not want to purchase a new mac - a third party repair shop may be able to fix it for you.   (make sure they have apple expert)

  • by nazzitron,

    nazzitron nazzitron Mar 17, 2016 8:37 AM in response to notcloudy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2016 8:37 AM in response to notcloudy

    Thanks notcloudy. That's too bad that it can just fail, but such is older technology, I suppose. I'm not particularly handy myself, so I will contact a repair shop and make sure they have an apple expert as you suggested. Thank you!

  • by Bill the turner,

    Bill the turner Bill the turner Mar 17, 2016 6:13 PM in response to nazzitron
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2016 6:13 PM in response to nazzitron

    Almost the exact same thing happen to my 24", 2008 iMac.  Graphic card was dead and so goes the computer.  After eight years I'm not complaining. Just purchased a new 27" iMac. I hope I get as much use out of the new Mac and I did from my old one.  For whatever it's worth I hope you have better luck and can get your Mac fixed.

     

    good luck,

     

    BIll

  • by nazzitron,

    nazzitron nazzitron Mar 20, 2016 3:04 PM in response to Bill the turner
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2016 3:04 PM in response to Bill the turner

    That's a pretty long life-span for a computer - even though I had hoped it would just keep working away forever...

    I went with a replacement MacBook. Right now I am trying to figure out if there is a way to access the old iMac as a external drive to pull data from it. I had important data saved on an external but there were some things in the last few days before it died that I didn't get to backup.

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Mar 20, 2016 3:25 PM in response to nazzitron
    Level 6 (17,201 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 20, 2016 3:25 PM in response to nazzitron

    You should be abke to start in Target Disk Mode How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode - Apple Support