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2008 iMac woes

Adamscomputerrepair

Adamscomputerrepair

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 9, 2015
549
287
Last night, I bought a 2008 (I assume cause that’s the copyright date on the bottom) iMac from a very generous individual for $5. Not knowing what condition it was in, I plugged it up and turned it on. It chimes, the screen comes on for a second, then goes right back off. I tried plugging in an external monitor. I can see things on the external monitor albeit with a lot of artifacting. I don’t want to believe it’s the graphics card cause when I move my mini display adapter the artifacting clears up.

So, any ideas? Or am I screwed?
 
Maybe you can use Apple's internet hardware diagnostic test, and see what pops up.

Simple Steps:
Shutdown your iMac fully, not restart
Press and hold in "Option" and "D" keys at the same time
Press and release the power button
Release the held buttons once you see the test icon

You can also use the "D" button without the "Option" button on some Macs, the "Option" automatically uses the internet hardware test.

I'm not sure if this works for the 2008 model, but might be worth a try.
 
vertical smile said:
Maybe you can use Apple's internet hardware diagnostic test, and see what pops up.

Simple Steps:
Shutdown your iMac fully, not restart
Press and hold in "Option" and "D" keys at the same time
Press and release the power button
Release the held buttons once you see the test icon

You can also use the "D" button without the "Option" button on some Macs, the "Option" automatically uses the internet hardware test.

I'm not sure if this works for the 2008 model, but might be worth a try.
Click to expand...


I’m assuming while I’m plugged into an external monitor? Also I should’ve explained better. The guy told me the monitor was bad. However, when the machine powers on, I can see the monitor for a few seconds which tells me it isn’t bad. I’m just praying it isn’t the graphics. If so I just payed $5 for a $~100 logic board
 
mikehalloran said:
Burnish the connectors. Remove the NV RAM battery. If it now boots, throw in a new CR2032. I've fixed a few 2008–2009s this way. A bad battery is worse than no battery.
Click to expand...

Yeah took out the NVRAM last night anyway. No dice. Could it be the backlight inverter?
 
mreg376 said:
Yeah, I'm not sure he'll be able to financially or emotionally recover from that...
Click to expand...


Ok are you guys going to help me, or just make fun of the situation? I saw what I thought was a steal, got it, and I’m just asking for a second opinion on how to fix it.
 
Cool your jets. Just kidding you. It sounds like a power supply issue. I've never replaced one -- maybe someone else can chime in. The trouble is when you're starting off with a $5 investment any expenditure to get the thing running will dwarf that many many times over. Are you willing to go that route with a decade-old machine?? Or in other words, if your repair budget is $10, that will affect the advice you will get, if any.
 
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Just to be absolutely sure, have you tried booting off an external drive.

I don’t think it’s that, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.
 
Power supply was something I didn’t consider however it does boot to an external monitor so I’m not sure.

I did try a drive out of my MacBook. Same thing
 
If it boots to an external monitor (as you mentioned in reply 11 above), then the problem is a bad display panel or perhaps something gone wrong with the GPU portion of the motherboard (if it uses a discrete GPU).

Probably going to cost you considerably more than it's worth to fix it.
 
Okay, I feel a lot better now....


It’s the backlight.

How do I know?

The ol flashlight trick.


So, now an important question I pose to you all:

Does anyone know a reputable Mac parts seller? Preferably in the US.
 
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