[cierra]

I got this IMac compact computer from a local thrift store. $99. With very nice speakers that were worth the price. It looked ok until I got it home. Words on pages overlap. MSN page lists in one single column. Some things on email are in blocks. Can anyone tell me how to fix this? It seems that most things in the OS work but when it gets online it goes crazy. Although some things in the OS don't work correctly. I have never had a Mac and right now am glad I have a Dell 8100 with Windows XP. Help. I want to get this computer working.

[ibook_steve]

Welcome to the forums!

Which iMac? What are its specs? Which OS? The best thing would probably be to just format the drive and start over with the installation disks (you did get disks, right?). If the machine can run OS X, get a copy and do a fresh install. It will be a lot easier than trying to figure out what is wrong with whatever somebody left on this machine.

Steve

[Big Mac]

High expectations for a $100 thrift store computer, eh?

[ghporter]

I've seen that sort of deal on really decent computers. Plenty of gumdrop-style iMacs show up in places like Goodwill Computer Stores (yes, that "Goodwill Industries"), and even at computer shows. They're not at all new, and often they're dirty and need a serious teardown to get them really clean, but they are almost always in good condition electronically. You get deals like that because the seller knows that most people want "new computers" and so older ones are really devalued.

[MacTheRiverRat]

$99. You must have money to burn.