Computer only works when there is an external monitor connected
My IMax Intel 24" A1225 Freezes up (except mouse it will mover but nothing else) after log in. When it first happened over a month ago I had the finder window open trying to get to Disk Utility. If I restart the same thing happens over and over, including the sames program opening and about 10 minutes after the computer locks up the screen goes white, sometimes black.
Took it to tech support, they said it was the video card. Next day said they installed video card but that was not the problem and that I needed a new monitor. I said the monitor displayed fine crystal clear color. He said it was the inverter board attached to the monitor. I said replace the inverter board he said they can't because it sells as one piece. Got the computer back, purchased and installed an inverter board, problem not fixed.
Removed Mac monitor and with Mac monitor out I plugged in an external monitor and the computer works great. Went to disk utility and fixed HD files, did a long extended hardware check and all was good. Shut off computer and installed Mac monitor and turned on...everything works great. Did hardware test again and all is good. Did dist utility again and all is good.
Here is where it gets weird. If I disconnect the external monitor the computer locks up about 10 minutes later and the screen goes white. If I reboot with the external monitor installed all in good in MAC world. If I reboot with just the Mac monitor installed I opens the exact same programs that were open when it crashed over a month ago and then freezes and ten minutes later screen goes white.
Don't want to have the external monitor plugged in to work. Any suggestions or test that will determine what is really causing the problem would be greatly appreciated.
Also my computer just started turning on, from OFF not in sleep mode, all by itself at 7:00 AM. That is a first and I did not set it to do that. Has done it twice in a row so far. Woooo spooky and it is not Friday yet!!! Wonder what will happen tomorrow....
Is this a good question?
4 Comments
Reply to machead3: Thanks for taking the time to reply. I posted the original question and your above instructions state, "post the contents AS AN UPDATE to your Original Question." Wanting to follow directions I looked for 10 minutes trying to find something to click that said UPDATE and I can't find it. I see Permalink, history, add comment, accept answer but no update. Up at the top along with my original question I see History • Edit • Delete • Add Comment But no UPDATE. So am I stupid or did you not give me good directions?
Assuming this is where I reply the link for the mac os x crash doesn’t work.
by John
REPLY TO Mayer, thanks you also for taking the time to get me some direction. First I downloaded a few temp Monitors but none of them tell me the temp of the monitor. The programs are neat but useless if I don't know what the operation temps should be. I read many posts of people asking the same questions and they are never answered. If you have that information that would be helpful. Since the monitor does have a temp sensor attached to the top of the monitor I would think that I should be able to display that temp reading, is that a correct assumption? As far as actually seeing that temp reading is another problem since the computer locks up after sign in and would not allow me to open the program.
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by John
So if it is the temp sensor causing the computer to first freeze and then after 10 minutes fade to white why doesn't it do the same thing when I have an external monitor installed at the same time the Mac monitor is also on and working? Isn't the Mac monitor still getting hot during use causing the same problem that it does without the external monitor installed. Do you understand my question and logic? If using the Mac monitor alone causes a problem then why does that problem go away when I use an external monitor at the same time? Is the temp sensor on the Mac monitor affected by the external monitor? Does the temp sensor control many functions like fan control etc or does it just send the monitor temp to the logic board where the information is processed and from there the fans are regulated and the monitor shut down as a temp override function? The temp sensor part is not expensive but I just replaced the monitor inverter board and that did not solve the problem.
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by John
Obviously I am frustrated with the problem that has been going on for 2 months. I took the computer to an Apply tech and cost me $$ and was told it was the inverter board. To date I have spent $150 and nothing has changed. In my industry, which is not computers, we systematically work through the problem to isolate the issue and pinpoint the problem. In the two months I have been trying to get answers I don’t see that link of applied logic. I understand that your help is free but I would think if all this knowledge is somehow linked together somewhere someone else has had the same issue and that the cause of this problem determined. I get the feeling that Apple does not want the issue know to the public in an attempt to force the issue back to they tech people where they can control the flow of information. Please don’t take my frustration personally it is not directed toward you or the others that try to help. It is my observation that this method of getting answers is terribly flawed.
by John