2008 iMac wavy screen lines

[PajamaPants]

Hi, I noticed that some wavy horizontal lines that have some kind of up-down motion have appeared on my iMac screen. As I said I have a 2008 iMac with a 20-inch (1680 x 1050) display and a ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB graphics card. The drivers are updated and I also tried changing the screen resolution and rebooting.

Has anyone experienced this before and is there a way to fix it?

 

[harrisonw1998]

Was the computer recently moved or handled where there is a chance it could have gotten hit? I don't think it any software fixes could help so you're stuck with it. The only advice I have is to go to an Apple Store or Authorized Retailer for a quote on getting it fixed or for more insight into this problem. Hope this helps.

 

[PajamaPants]

Was the computer recently moved or handled where there is a chance it could have gotten hit?

Actually, I did moved it and noticed the lines about three weeks later. But I recall I didn't hit it, at least with enough force to damage anything (I think). But I did move it, maybe you are right and I damaged it despite trying to be careful.

Just to add a little more detail, the effect doesn't seem to exist when the color is pure white or black. And if I look closely I can see RGB colors in the lines.

 

[harrisonw1998]

Actually, I did moved it and noticed the lines about three weeks later. But I recall I didn't hit it, at least with enough force to damage anything (I think). But I did move it, maybe you are right and I damaged it despite trying to be careful.

Just to add a little more detail, the effect doesn't seem to exist when the color is pure white or black. And if I look closely I can see RGB colors in the lines.

Ok. I would have thought that the lines would appear sooner after moving it but I guess that could happen. I'm not really sure what happened--the only thing I can suggest now is to go to an Authorized Service Center I guess for more insight or a quote on getting it fixed.

 

[PajamaPants]

Yeah, the thing is there are no apple stores in the country I live in, and there are no apple authorized stores too. So I would have to go a long way with it, probably to find out that I can't afford the fix.
Well then, for now it will stay like this because the computer is showing its age and in the next year or so I will probably have to replace it.
Thanks anyway!