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Display fuzzy, stuck at start screen

hey,

my iMac (24", 3.06GHZ early 2008, NVIDIA 8800GS) has suddenly an issue with the gpu or so, while working the display went very colourful and got stuck. After hard shut off and switching it on, the display keeps stuck at the start screen (with the Apple logo). The image looks fuzzy, here is a photo of it:

https://twitter.com/#!/mceuskadi/status/...

Nevertheless the iMac is booting! I can hear the login sound from skype and I can ssh into my iMac using my iPhone. The screen still displays the same start screen. With time the top of the iMac gets really hot, therefore I shut it off after making a final TimeMachine Backup.

Is this a GPU issue? I saw a replacement GPU (installed is a NVIDIA 8800GS) at ebay for 200£, or is it more likely an issue with logic board.

Cheers

Max

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First try starting up in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key on startup and see if this relieves the stuck issue. Next restart from your system installation disk by inserting the disk and holding down the "D" key and run diagnostic and let us know your findings.

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[image|159039]

Well I tried the safe mode, nevertheless the screen always looks like on the photo I posted above. The system is actually booting and I can ssh into it, just the screen gets not updated and keeps stuck and flickering at the start screen with the Apple logo.

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This does not appear to be a GPU issue to me but a hard drive problem loading the system. Try running Disk Utilities from your system installation disk and see if you can repair the hard drive or if you get the same thing when booting from the DVD.

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as I said the system is booting and fully working, the display is not getting updated. I will try to run the disk utiliities over ssh when I get back home.

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I really can't tell much from your photo. I see the Apple and what appears to be text on the screen. Trying hooking up an external monitor and see if the problem persists. I know you said you were fully booted but had no idea how you could really tell with the Apple still on the screen. Interesting problem that I have not seen before.

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it is no text, it is a flickering - it's like 50px x 20px combined in a checker board pattern and flickering all the time. I know that the iMac has booted as skype started (I can even call it from my iPhone) and I can ssh into the iMac and use it via ssh. From Terminal (via ssh) I started a final Time Machine backup which appeared to have finished normally.

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Repair took one full day at Apple Store.

Replaced: 661-4664 Card, Video, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS (The video card) for $131.82 plus 39.00 labor. Fully covered if still under AppleCare. They also did a full diagnostic on it before and after, but found no other problems.

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Okay back at home I enabled VNC via terminal through ssh and logged in my iMac per VNC. Got straight away an error from Aperture that my GPU is not supported, got this never before. I ran the disk utility which showed no error, hence the hard drive should be fine. As I got this weird Aperture error I'm quite convinced it is the GPU. I saw that the GPU had 78degree C and the power unit had 82dgree C. Is this normal?

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Identical problem here, same iMac (24", 3.06GHZ early 2008, NVIDIA 8800GS). Of course, it is just weeks out of the Amex extended warranty period.

I used my wife's MacBook Pro and a FireWire cable (put the iMac in Target disk mode by holding down the "T" key and rebooting), to make a quick clone of the hard drive. Also ran repair and rebuild on the disk while I was there.

Bringing it to Apple service center today for the screen issue.

Difficult to search for iMac screen, static, snow, etc. Fuzzy was a lucky hit. Thanks. I will report back the repair and cost.

Followup: Repair took one full day at Apple Store.

Replaced: 661-4664 Card, Video, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS (The video card) for $131.82 plus 39.00 labor. Fully covered if still under AppleCare. They also did a full diagnostic on it before and after, but found no other problems.

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Did this ever get solved. I'm having the same issue. Wondering if anyone managed to find the solution?

Update

I did figure it out. I erased the hard drive by connecting a Firewire cable, then the DVD was working again. Managed to get OS X to finally load and we are back in the game.

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Thanks for sharing what actions you took. I will have to do this in the case it happens again in the future. I hope this won't happen again for a while.

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@philsimonson ..

The Nvidia 661-4664 video card itself runs around $400+ one ebay and other sites to purchase...r u saying the Apple store replaced the video card for $131.82 + $39 for labor ? If so which apple store was this and where ? Thanks.

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Same issue here

GPU is damagged ! The exactely same screen on an external monitor !

What the h€ll guys ?! Is that macs ! What do we pay for ? If we need to replace the same parts as on pc units in two years of use why should we make any differences ?! F*ck for 1.500 euros I'd better buy a PC and if my GPU is gone I change it in 5 min and not the whole f*cking night !!

Cheers

MAC NEVER EVER AGAIN

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And as if to rub salt in our wounds we have ALL had that wonderful Seagate hard drive failure, just when your most important docs are going be used. Latter is not faulted to Mac, but We are paying for extraordinary builds here. But we seem to be getting low bidder hardware. My plan for today is to attempt a GPU reflow. I’ve had some degree of success with this. One imac is still breathing and posting some 2 years after it’s lifegiving reflow I know this is a temporary workaround at best, but I get a lot of smiles. Some of this could be partially our own fault as well, The last imac that I saw suffer Gpu failure was so tightly packed with dust it was sad. but this same failure I’ve seen with sterile machines as well. I will proceed with a Hillbilly reflow and mark the borrowed time down on a sticky note.

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Max will be eternally grateful.
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