iMac no starty
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
iMac no starty
Came home the other day to dead imac. Push the start button just a few motor and clicking noises, nothing else. Was on my way to Apple store and my buddy calls and says it's prolly the hard drive, no big deal, try to start it from a CD. Tried today. I put the OSX disc in, took it just fine. Tried to start while holding the C key. Nothing. Now I can't find him. Anything else I should try before I haul this thing 40 miles to the Apple Store?
PS it's about 3.5 years old, intel. Just out of Applecare, of course.
PS it's about 3.5 years old, intel. Just out of Applecare, of course.
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 45,965
Likes: 11,759
From: Florida
Either Power Supply, mobo or RAM. Try swapping RAM. If you have two sticks take the one from the 2nd slot and put it in the first slot and leaving the 1st slot empty, also try with just the 1st stick in and no 2nd stick. Get new RAM if necessary. I just bought 8GB of DDR3 RAM for $37 so DDR3 RAM is cheap, if that's what you use.
If that doesn't work then take it to the Apple Store. The PS in my mom's iMac died this year and they replaced it for her there.
If that doesn't work then take it to the Apple Store. The PS in my mom's iMac died this year and they replaced it for her there.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,487
Likes: 5,867
From: Los Angeles, Ca
doh....that means something on the board is faulty and a broad term to say they replace the whole board because of component integration.
I think apple charge like $250 for a new logic board out of applecare.
I just had them confirm my hard drive took a dump in my 2 year old MBP...just bought my own and replaced it.
Sucks, but it happens.
I think apple charge like $250 for a new logic board out of applecare.
I just had them confirm my hard drive took a dump in my 2 year old MBP...just bought my own and replaced it.
Sucks, but it happens.
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 45,965
Likes: 11,759
From: Florida
Or you can find a laptop repair place and take it to them and they'll find the bad part of board and fix or replace the bad part.
There's some guys down the street from my office that we take laptops to and if there's a short in the board or whatever they'll fix it. They charge usually $99 to fix.
The iMac is basically a laptop with desktop screen and hard drive, and a laptop repair place should be able to fix it for you without replacing the entire logic board.
I'm sure there's guys like that in your area.
There's some guys down the street from my office that we take laptops to and if there's a short in the board or whatever they'll fix it. They charge usually $99 to fix.
The iMac is basically a laptop with desktop screen and hard drive, and a laptop repair place should be able to fix it for you without replacing the entire logic board.
I'm sure there's guys like that in your area.
Last edited by #1 STUNNA; Dec 11, 2011 at 02:34 AM.
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Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 45,965
Likes: 11,759
From: Florida
These are the guys that we have fix stuff like this
http://tblaptops.com/
I know they're not in your area but there's probably someone like them in your area.
http://tblaptops.com/
Tampa Bay Laptops is a full service laptop repair shop in Tampa Bay Florida.
We work with many computer repair shops across the nation, offering their customers an economical alternative to traditional laptop repair.
This is how…
How many times have you had to say these words to a customer, “Your motherboard has to be replaced.”? The customer, rolling their eyes at the thought replacing this costly component walks out the door.
And let’s face it, you may never see them again because the average customer wants to believe that there’s another way.
What if you could tell that customer that the motherboard could be fixed?
Most problems that would lead to this situation are traceable to minor components on the motherboard. Maybe it’s just a 99 cent diode that needs replacing. Seems a shame to scrap the motherboard doesn’t it?
Tampa Bay Laptops was founded in 2002 by a computer technician and electrical engineer specializing in component level repairs. We will service any brand and any problem. Basic repairs can be done for as little as $99 dollars. When the problem is bigger, we always have you and your customer’s budget in mind.
In today’s economy, business must pull together to offer their customers the best price and the highest quality. This is the solution that we offer at Tampa Bay Laptops.
We work with many computer repair shops across the nation, offering their customers an economical alternative to traditional laptop repair.
This is how…
How many times have you had to say these words to a customer, “Your motherboard has to be replaced.”? The customer, rolling their eyes at the thought replacing this costly component walks out the door.
And let’s face it, you may never see them again because the average customer wants to believe that there’s another way.
What if you could tell that customer that the motherboard could be fixed?
Most problems that would lead to this situation are traceable to minor components on the motherboard. Maybe it’s just a 99 cent diode that needs replacing. Seems a shame to scrap the motherboard doesn’t it?
Tampa Bay Laptops was founded in 2002 by a computer technician and electrical engineer specializing in component level repairs. We will service any brand and any problem. Basic repairs can be done for as little as $99 dollars. When the problem is bigger, we always have you and your customer’s budget in mind.
In today’s economy, business must pull together to offer their customers the best price and the highest quality. This is the solution that we offer at Tampa Bay Laptops.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
Well, they already have it and have quoted $450 to replace the motherboard. THey're gonna check it out better and give me a call. I'm gonna try and get them to cover at least part of the replacement as we are good for buying one computer a year lately and buy apple care on every one. Wish me luck. If it was just the hard drive, i'd replace it myself. My area is pretty ass backwards in anything technical so I doubt MB repair would be an option.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,487
Likes: 5,867
From: Los Angeles, Ca
If your apple store says they can't do anything...email Tim Cook...
I'm being dead serious...be nice, courteous...explain you buy one mac a year, youre a loyal customer.
You could be very surprised at the outcome. I know I was when I had a software compatibility issue and I used Steve Job's email.
Whether he actually read it or not...I got amazing results.
I'm being dead serious...be nice, courteous...explain you buy one mac a year, youre a loyal customer.
You could be very surprised at the outcome. I know I was when I had a software compatibility issue and I used Steve Job's email.
Whether he actually read it or not...I got amazing results.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
If your apple store says they can't do anything...email Tim Cook...
I'm being dead serious...be nice, courteous...explain you buy one mac a year, youre a loyal customer.
You could be very surprised at the outcome. I know I was when I had a software compatibility issue and I used Steve Job's email.
Whether he actually read it or not...I got amazing results.
I'm being dead serious...be nice, courteous...explain you buy one mac a year, youre a loyal customer.
You could be very surprised at the outcome. I know I was when I had a software compatibility issue and I used Steve Job's email.
Whether he actually read it or not...I got amazing results.
They are now telling me that it's not the motherboard and will be trying to change the power supply tonight. If that doesn't fix it, i may try to push it further.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
They said the power supply failed and one of the components melted to the back of the lcd. Almost $850 to replace the PS and lcd. Kind of disgusted right now. Awaiting a return call from the manager to see if I can get some sort of relief. Kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place on wheher to spend that much$$$ to repair a almost 4 yr old computer.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
That's what i'm hoping. Even though my computer is a 24" , a new 21.5 in abasic configuration is less than $1200. Paying $850 to fix this one is not gonna happen. I could pay that and something else could go tomorrow. I'd probably be able to stomach half of that though.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
Shitty offer. They offered to repair the PS in my old computer for $107. The computer would still work but i'd have to use an external monitor, a crappy solution I think. They then would give me $107 off of a new computer also. I can get a new computer from a reseller for $100 off any day.
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 45,965
Likes: 11,759
From: Florida
Man I'm telling you I'd at least look for a repair place. All apple is doing is replacing the PS and monitor for that price. If that monitor is fixable then it could only be a couple hundred bucks if you could find someone to fix the bad monitor and replace the PS.
Maybe it's worth it to drive an hour or two to a place that can fix the monitor instead of buying a new one....
But you might be screwed if the board got burnt but then maybe that part is replaceable...
Maybe it's worth it to drive an hour or two to a place that can fix the monitor instead of buying a new one....
But you might be screwed if the board got burnt but then maybe that part is replaceable...
Last edited by #1 STUNNA; Dec 23, 2011 at 08:59 PM.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,487
Likes: 5,867
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Shitty offer. They offered to repair the PS in my old computer for $107. The computer would still work but i'd have to use an external monitor, a crappy solution I think. They then would give me $107 off of a new computer also. I can get a new computer from a reseller for $100 off any day.
I'm serious...you send that letter and you could end up with a reply or a phone call from corporate with some better news.
Its a worth a try.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
UPDATE
After going through a month of replacing parts they have decided that the computer needs a PS, LCD and a logic board. Over 1k to repair. I spoke to the store manager and there is nothing they can do. I told them to just replace the PS and i'll borrow an external monitor long enough to get everything I want off of the HD. Wow. $2500 4 years ago and now it's worthless. I thought I was buying a quality product. Time to go the Sarlacc route and email Tim Cook. Sounds like a design problem to me if the PS malfunctioned. and took out all inboard video capability. I'm pretty pissed.
What's that email addy.? tcook@apple.com?
After going through a month of replacing parts they have decided that the computer needs a PS, LCD and a logic board. Over 1k to repair. I spoke to the store manager and there is nothing they can do. I told them to just replace the PS and i'll borrow an external monitor long enough to get everything I want off of the HD. Wow. $2500 4 years ago and now it's worthless. I thought I was buying a quality product. Time to go the Sarlacc route and email Tim Cook. Sounds like a design problem to me if the PS malfunctioned. and took out all inboard video capability. I'm pretty pissed.
What's that email addy.? tcook@apple.com?
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
I think they are gonna cover the power supply. I'll prolly just get the info off of it and use an old monitor for a while and give it away after reformatting the HD.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,487
Likes: 5,867
From: Los Angeles, Ca
send the email before you do anything rash.
Trust me...Im going through my own computer piece of hardware nightmare right now...and I might have saved myself a lot of time and pain if I had just been patient.
I think thats the email...but you can easily google it.
Trust me...Im going through my own computer piece of hardware nightmare right now...and I might have saved myself a lot of time and pain if I had just been patient.
I think thats the email...but you can easily google it.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 198
From: New Orleans LA area
Yeah, I sent him a nice letter ASKING for help 2 days ago, nothing yet but hoping to hear something soon. I'm not in a HUGE hurry but exploring other options right now.
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