Yet another question on my iMac

[NewJeffCT]

A month or two back, I had some problems with the screen graphics. With the help of a DUer that walked me through some steps over the phone, I was able to determine that it was probably a software problem. (the computer worked fine in safe mode with no graphics issues)

However, it was tolerable in the short-term, so I did nothing yet. (i've done 3-4 archive & installs)

But, the past few days, when I turn on the imac, it works okay for a few seconds and then the screen goes black. Completely black. And, it's not shutting off - the computer is still on, but the screen is black. It's not one of those "wave the mouse" things and it comes back to life. The only way to bring it back is to completely shut down the computer and turn it back on - and sometimes, that does not work. It will just turn on with the black screen.

Could the LCD monitor be on the fritz? Some graphics card?

We haven't really installed a lot of new software, other than Office for Mac when we bought it 26 months ago.

[ZombieNixon]

1. Probably the monitor.

Do you have an external monitor you can connect it to? If you can, and it shows up fine, then it's definitely the monitor. Otherwise, it could be a logic board or graphics card issue.

[NewJeffCT]

2. I have an external monitor

but, how do I do that with an iMac where the monitor & the computer are one & the same?

[ZombieNixon]

3. What kind of iMac do you have?

There's always a port on the side that'll let you do it, but what kind of port and where it is varies from model to model.

[NewJeffCT]

6. it's the G5 - it was

brand new 26 months ago - it was a few months before the Macs with intel chips started coming out.

[ZombieNixon]

9. Try here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86813

[NewJeffCT]

10. thanks

I'll try hooking up an external monitor when I get home from work tonight.

[Awsi Dooger]

4. I would run Software Update

The second item under the Apple Menu.

There are known problems with certain iMacs and the issue you are describing. I've seen many threads on Mac sites the past few months. Generally it seems to be isolated to ATI Radeon graphics cards and their drivers.

You didn't mention if you are on Tiger or Leopard. I think the black screen issue is more common to Leopard. Regardless, if you haven't run Software Update recently I would try that, to see if a fix is included. It might be in a system update, and not necessarily obvious.

Otherwise you might check System Profiler for your specific graphics card then see if a new driver is available for that card.

[NewJeffCT]

7. I run software updates regularly

but, will double-check on this one.

I'm also on Tiger, not Leopard.

[NewJeffCT]

11. did a software update

and no new updates were available, so I was completely updated.

[LeftyMom]

5. Get a PC!

Sorry, had to do it.

[NewJeffCT]

8. I did

the iMac was our back-up computer after we bought a new PC this past Thanksgiving.