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Display won't work after hard drive replaced successfully?

The guide for replacing a hard drive on my 24" iMac 2211 was great, but despite following all the steps exactly, the display wouldn't go on once I got everything together. I then took it all apart AGAIN, confirmed all the connections were solid, no pins were bent, all things in the right place facing the right way, no loose wires, put it all back together and still the display is not working.

Note: The hard drive IS working, as confirmed through target disk mode from another computer, but the display just stays black.

I hear the startup bong, but absolutely no action on the display. Even if there was no startup disk the display would light up and give me a "sad mac" icon, but nothing. Despite that, I've tried repairing permissions from another computer via firewire (well, "verify and repair", actually, since that's the only choice from another comuter), trying to startup from another disk using option on startup, but no-go, display not working. I verified the hard drive and installed a system before starting, and as I say I can see it in target disk mode.

I'm wondering if there's anything particular I could look for--anything that might be common in this sort of procedure that has to do with the display--because even though I'm quite technical, I do not know what to do except take it to a shop, which I really really don't want to do.

I'm fairly decent at this sort of thing, and have done many, so please feel free to tech-talk me.

thanks very much for any help

Answer this question I have this problem too

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Did you pinch a cable? Or did you install the ribbon backwards by mistake?

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Thanks for the good suggestion, Dan, but when I took it apart the second time I spent a ton of time making sure I didn't do just what you said. I really believe I put everything back correctly. In most cases the connecters only go in one way. The main hard-to-get-to display ribbon only goes in one way also, per my testing.

An aside: I use little dixie cups to hold screws or whatever at each stage, and number them and stack them so as to have the right thing at the right time, which helps a lot.

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The only other thing I can think off is a burnt fuse. Also did you use proper ESD equipment & procedures? It doesn't take much to zap a circuit.

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Remembering that I did remove the circuit board that the ribbon connects to, just slightly, because I just couldn't get the connector to seat, and I'd seen others did same. Anything come to mind that could have been messed up there?

thanks,

Neil

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Thanks Dan.

Where's the fuse, in general? Is there only one?

I see a battery in there, and I think it's for things other than the display, right?

Any ideas on how to check various boards and components which could make for a bad display? I have volt meter thing here.

I'll check the fuse though. I did try to use good ESD, but not perfect. No different from other fixes, though. Thanks for the thoughts, I'm about to attack it one last time before taking it in.

thanks,

Neil

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NMcQ, start off by doing what Apple suggest:"

No Video, Boot Chime Heard

The computer will turn on, the boot chime is heard and fan or drive activity can be heard, but the display has no picture or color.

1. Make sure all software updates have been applied to the computer.

2. Check if the computer is sleeping. Press the space bar to wake the computer from sleep mode. Did the computer wake from sleep?

Yes: Put the computer to sleep from the Apple menu and wake the computer again to test. Check Energy Saver setting to see when the computer has been designated to sleep.

No: Continue to next step.

3.. Reset your computer’s PRAM (Parameter RAM):

Shut down the computer.--

Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. --

Turn on the computer.--

Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys simultaneously. You must press this key --combination before the gray screen appears.

Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the --second time.

Release the keys.--

4. Does the computer display video after successfully resetting the computer’s PRAM?

Yes: Restart the computer from the Apple menu and make sure the computer is working correctly before returning the computer to the customer.

No: Continue to next step.

5. Make sure the machine is powered off, and remove the access door and front bezel to access the diagnostic LEDs. Plug in and start up the computer to observe the diagnostic LEDs. At this point in the Power On process, you should hear a boot chime, and LED #1 and #2 are On. Is LED #3 On or Off?

LED # 3 is On: The video card and logic board are communicating properly. Go to the next step.

LED # 3 is Off: The video card and logic board are not communicating. Replace the video card. If the issue persists, replace the main logic board.

6. LED #4 should be On when the video card and LCD display have communicated properly to produce a video image. Is LED #4 On or Off?

LED # 4 is On: The video card and LCD display have communicated to LCD video. In this case, there is a problem with the backlights in the panel or the inverter, which is part of the display panel. First, verify the inverter cable is fully inserted into the inverter on the back of the panel and secondly, check that the cable is connected to the connector on the power supply. Check that the wires have not been pinched. Replace the inverter cable first and then the LCD panel if the problem persists.

LED # 4 is Off: The video card and logic board are unable to communicate to generate video. Replace the video card. If the issue persists, replace the LCD display.

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Ok,sorry for the delay, I was on a short tour. LED DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS: I only have #1 and #2 on. So#3 and #4 are off. These are display-related. FACTORS: - *The display DID work before HD replacement. Very careful re static. Connections all look/feel right. - I rebuilt permissions, pram reset, safe mode, etc. - I CAN see HD in Target Disk. - I CAN hear "bong". - I CANNOT see the iMac's screen using an external monitor. (Is there key press?) - Unconnecting the connector was undoable w/out risking damage, so I took the circuit board off. NP. - A nub on bezel broke off, went on fine w/out. PROCEEDING: I have it apart up to just after taking the connector from the circuit board off, and removing the display. 1.What could I look for? (I have a volt meter and can use it to check voltage and continuity, basic.) 2. How can I rule in or rule out the video card as viable or not? 3. How can I test the vertical sync cable? (someone else's problem). 4. Are there any "red flags" to look for? THANK YOU!

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Thanks Dan.

Where's the fuse, in general? Is there only one?

I see a battery in there, and I think it's for things other than the display, right?

Any ideas on how to check various boards and components which could make for a bad display? I have volt meter thing here.

I'll check the fuse though. I did try to use good ESD, but not perfect. No different from other fixes, though. Thanks for the thoughts, I'm about to attack it one last time before taking it in.

thanks,

Neil

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I'm having the same problem! I just installed a new HDD and RAM, started up, no picture. Tried resetting perimeter RAM, it restarted but still no video. Checked the diagnostic LED's, all 4 working properly. The only thing I can think of is when I took the LCD off I missed a small LCD heat wire and slightly bent the plastic retainer, but I got it back in without damaging it. I'm going to open it back up and check all the connections, but I'm tearing my hair out here!

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Hello trp311 Try reading through my issues here.

Display not working after adding SSD Hard drive

I discovered that I had somehow damaged the vertical sync cable, replaced it and that solved my problem.

Hope this helps!

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