Help! White Screen with Black Vertical Lines on 2011 iMac

[mutrix]

Recently bought a used Mid 2011 iMac. Passed all hardware tests no problem. Reformatted and did a fresh install of Capitan upon purchasing. Been working great for 2 weeks and then it randomly shut down to a white screen with vertical black lines, see image. I've been googling and really don't see anything about this issue. It's got a Samsung 850 EVO SSD I'm running SSD fan control on SMART mode. Rest of the specs are in the screenshot below. Any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

 

[DeltaMac]

Do you always see the vertical lines?
Still there when you boot to your recovery system? (Restart, holding Command-R)
If the lines are gone in the recovery system, try reinstalling macOS.

If you always see the vertical lines - do you have an external display that you can try?
If you do not see lines on the external, then you likely have a problem with the LCD panel, or the connection from the panel to the logic board.
If you still see lines on the external, then you will likely need to replace the video card.
If replacing the card does not help, then you have a failed logic board.

That's pretty much it.

 

[mutrix]

Do you always see the vertical lines?
Still there when you boot to your recovery system? (Restart, holding Command-R)
If the lines are gone in the recovery system, try reinstalling macOS.

If you always see the vertical lines - do you have an external display that you can try?
If you do not see lines on the external, then you likely have a problem with the LCD panel, or the connection from the panel to the logic board.
If you still see lines on the external, then you will likely need to replace the video card.
If replacing the card does not help, then you have a failed logic board.

That's pretty much it.

The lines only appear when it shuts down suddenly, never see them when using it. Would you recommend just reinstalling macOS?

 

[DeltaMac]

hmm...
Do you mean "shuts off without any warning", and it didn't actually shut off, but stopped at that white screen with vertical lines?
And, you did NOT choose that shutdown at that time?
Do I have that correct?

Next time this happens - as quickly as you can do it - boot to your hardware test, and give that a try.
I know you said that passed, but trying it quickly after an event might show a different result.

 

[mutrix]

hmm...
Do you mean "shuts off without any warning", and it didn't actually shut off, but stopped at that white screen with vertical lines?
And, you did NOT choose that shutdown at that time?
Do I have that correct?

Next time this happens - as quickly as you can do it - boot to your hardware test, and give that a try.
I know you said that passed, but trying it quickly after an event might show a different result.

I was simply using the computer and it suddenly went to that screen with no warning, correct. Did not choose shut down. Will try that next time i have the issue, thanks for all of your help so far!

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Sounds as if you have changed the hard drive yourself, or someone else has done it not aware of the problems with late 2009 and onwards iMac requiring either the identical drive to the original and connected to the heat sensor, or a kit available from OWC to overcome this.

Fan control software is not good as it hinders the computer dealing with any heat problems by varying fan speed. What you describe as shutting down after going black is typical of overheating.


https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD11/

 

[mutrix]

Sounds as if you have changed the hard drive yourself, or someone else has done it not aware of the problems with late 2009 and onwards iMac requiring either the identical drive to the original and connected to the heat sensor, or a kit available from OWC to overcome this.

Fan control software is not good as it hinders the computer dealing with any heat problems by varying fan speed. What you describe as shutting down after going black is typical of overheating.


https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD11/

Yeah I've always wondered if that might present an issue with fan control apps. I did notice in iStat my Power Secondary Heatsink was running at 172... I found this software Macs Fan Control which allows you to customize your fan settings a little more, do you think this would help?

 

[DeltaMac]

Maybe, but OP says it is not shutting off.
It goes to that white screen with vertical lines.
I would call it "locked up" or frozen.

 

[DINAROID]

Hi, Everyone!
I see that no one hasn't responded to this topic for a long time. I have a similar configuration Early 2011 MacBook Pro and today the same situation happened to me. I have an external monitor attached to it and an external disk (if that has any impact on the problem). Suddenly my screen froze and a white screen with vertical black lines appeared. But I must admit that lately, I noticed that my fan is turning on very often, but I'm not playing games or something I just use it for graphic design works. I had a lot of programs open before, and the fan wasn't turning on so often, but the freezing screen is something that happened for the first time and now I'm a little bit worried. That you for any help in advance.

 

[CoastalOR]

Hi, Everyone!
I see that no one hasn't responded to this topic for a long time. I have a similar configuration Early 2011 MacBook Pro and today the same situation happened to me. I have an external monitor attached to it and an external disk (if that has any impact on the problem). Suddenly my screen froze and a white screen with vertical black lines appeared. But I must admit that lately, I noticed that my fan is turning on very often, but I'm not playing games or something I just use it for graphic design works. I had a lot of programs open before, and the fan wasn't turning on so often, but the freezing screen is something that happened for the first time and now I'm a little bit worried. That you for any help in advance.

If it is a 15" or 17" screen then I would suspect a dGPU failure. Apple had a video repair program for your model MBPs, but it no longer supports the 2011's.
https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

Check the MacBook Pro forum for more posts about the problem.