Screen Freezing With Boxes on iMac

Question

Level 1

26 points

Screen Freezing With Boxes on iMac

This is the second time this has started to happen in the last month. It starts out with my screen freezing while I'm using the computer or after waking it up but everything else is still working like if I'm playing music in the background it doesn't stop playing but the screen freezes and looks like this:

So I do a cold boot and it looks like this:

This is where I'm at currently as the PRAM reset and starting into safe mode does nothing. The last time this happened a couple of weeks ago I ended up wiping the system and reinstalling the OS from scratch. The problem went away which makes me think that it is software / driver related but then again if I knew what it was I wouldn't be here asking.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you in advance.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Dec 28, 2016 12:56 PM

Reply

Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Dec 28, 2016 1:23 PM in response to Rigid Vacuum

Rigid,

This type of issue normally is not a software, it appears your GPU is failing. If the computer is covered by AppleCare, make an immediate call to them to get this addressed. If you do not have AppleCare then I would recommend visiting your local Apple Authorized Service Provider to have it professionally diagnosed.

Good luck.

Reply

Answer 2

Rigid Vacuum Author

Level 1

26 points

Dec 28, 2016 3:01 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thank you for the reply. My question would be if its not software related then why would wiping the system and reinstalling everything fix it at least temporarily for a few weeks because hardware problems don't go away once they're there. I will probably end up taking it in but it is well beyond its Applecare and I've read that fixes like this run in the $600-$800 range so I'm obviously looking for other options.

Reply

Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Dec 28, 2016 3:16 PM in response to Rigid Vacuum

I can't say why re-installing your system temporarily fixed it but my guess is you simply got lucky. You are correct replacing a GPU can be expensive. Just how old is the computer?

Reply

Answer 4

Rigid Vacuum Author

Level 1

26 points

Dec 28, 2016 3:35 PM in response to rkaufmann87

It's a late 2009 model I got in 2010.

Reply

Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 28, 2016 4:52 PM in response to Rigid Vacuum

There is some chance it's a RAM issue with the Fresh Install curing it.

Reply

Answer 6

Rigid Vacuum Author

Level 1

26 points

Dec 28, 2016 6:19 PM in response to BDAqua

Funny you should say that because it started up eventually after a half dozen times of the checkerboard effect and I immediately upgraded to Sierra and we're back in business at least for the time being. I don't think its fixed but it's fixed for now.

This is why I think it may be driver based, a fresh install of Yosemite "fixed it" last time and an upgrade to Sierra "fixed it" this time. I can't be that lucky lol. I'll leave it as unsolved for now though in case anyone else has the same issue or some insight.

Reply

Answer 7

Rigid Vacuum Author

Level 1

26 points

Dec 29, 2016 11:14 AM in response to Rigid Vacuum

Spoke too soon, got this lovely bit when I started it up today, took a few times to get it to go into the os. Guess I'll be taking it in or buying a refurbished one.

Reply

Answer 8

Jay_Z

Level 1

8 points

Dec 29, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Rigid Vacuum

I recently had the same issue on my Late 2009 iMac 27". My iMac was freezing from the moment it started up. I had upgraded my memory about a month ago. When I took out the new memory, I stopped having issues, it was running fine. I then re-seated all 4 modules again and it seems to be doing ok. For the moment, anyway ... I'm aware, it might change at any moment!

Reply