[333]

Does anyone have any ideas about repairing a "dead screen".
My 3 year old grape iMac powers up, the switch on LED flashes green, then orange, but the screen stays blank. Is this a major CRT fault, or is it a repairable one? transformer? What is my next step?
I have fixed TVs and know the dangers of high voltages. Repair centres are too expensive, so DIY a possibility. Anyone else had this problem - I think it is a common one.
Any help would be very useful

[mac_addict415]

Did you try to install OSX? If you did without the firmware upgrade you will have some problems, it is solvable but it takes some time.

[va3uxb]

Originally posted by mac_addict415:
Did you try to install OSX? If you did without the firmware upgrade you will have some problems, it is solvable but it takes some time.

After installing 10.1.5 on my iMac (Slot Loading) the screen became unpredictable, and after trying to upgrade to 10.3 a few days ago it died completely.

Are there some step-by-step instructions you could provide for how to solve this? I was quoted up to $400 by a repair shop to fix it.

Thanks!

[Ryøkan]

We had a similar problem -- screen went dead. I booted in target mode while hooked up to a laptop, and everything was there, so it seemed to be the dispaly.

I was told it was a dead analog board, and replacing it solved the problem. I didn't do it myself so I don't know how complicated it is, but it was only an hour's work. The part supposedly cost about $150.

The service guy said something about loading OS 10.3 and dead analog boards. . .so maybe there's a cause-and-effect, but I don't know for sure.

[va3uxb]

Actually, after much searching on google, I was able to fix the problem myself and saved $400.00.

1) I attached an external monitor to the VGA port

2) I dl'ed the latest iMac firmware

3) I used an external Firewire HD to backup all my important stuff - and the firmware upgrade.

4) I took the iMac apart and swapped a spare hard drive inplace of the original one.

5) I booted from the OS 9.2 CD, and installed 9.2 on the spare hard drive, then copied the Firmware update from the backup firewire hardrive. At this point the internal screen was working somewhat.

6) I booted the iMac into OS 9.2 off of the spare hard drive, and ran the firmware update. Now the internal screen was working properly.

7) I took out the spare drive and put back the original hard drive, and booted back into 10.1.5

8) I did the Panther upgrade and it worked perfectly. My old iMac is running just fine again and it cost nothing, only took about 90 minutes.

I know I probably could have cut some corners and just installed 9.2 directly onto the existing hard drive but I wanted to be extra-cautious and not risk anything.

[Kilbey]

Thank you for documenting the solution.

I hope it helps someone out there with similar problems.

[orangep0ny]

mine just went dead yesterday.
I believe they said if you put your imac to sleep and not shut down nightly it will eventually die which is ridiculous. I want a new imac if this is the case apple should of known this should have had an answer to this and it shouldnt be 400 bucks. I hook up an external monitor but see nothing on that as well so it looks like it is just a usless noise maker now.

[orangep0ny]

pop it open and turn the little black screw on the side that says screen by it. not the one that says focus. turn it clockwise and boom your screen works again. im a genius!