After installing Security Update 2018-005 on Sierra my iMac 2011 is having troubles waking up after few hours of sleep (doesn't seem to be the problem when the sleep mode is user-initiated and/or doesn't last long). The system seems to wake up on power button/mouse/keyboard but the screen stays black. Further behavior is erratic - sometimes it takes a few power cycles to bring the screen back to life, sometimes it's SMC/PRAM reset, sometimes the only thing that helps is plugging an external Thunderbolt Display I use with another Mac - the picture immediately appears on TB and shortly after on built-in. The problem persists after updating to High Sierra. Hope someone can help with the solution or advise what can be the reason. Thanks!
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iMac 2011 - black screen on wake-up after the latest security update.
- Thread starter Tim0
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This was an issue last year with El Capitán security update 2017-002 but should have cleared up with the 004 update.
That fix was to boot into the Repair partition, Command r, log into your Apple account and reinstall the OS. 20min–1 hour depending on your internet speed. I don't have high hopes but it's worth a try.
The most likely cause is a failing GPU. Baking the GPU at 200° re-flows the solder and often brings these back to life. This is a common problem with the 2011 and Apple replaced a lot of 2011 GPUs after warranty but only those that had failed—that program is no longer as far as I know. The heat from the HDD expands and contracts these over time causing this failure. In 2013, Apple installed slower, cooler HDDs to deal with this and other heat related issues in the 2011–12. Replacing the spinner with an SSD keeps this from coming back.
This is also a symptom of a failing NV RAM battery. The original is a BR2032 (readily available on Amazon). If you have removed the HDD, you can use the less heat-resistant CR2032 medical battery. With the screen loosened to replace the HDD (it does not have to be removed), the NV RAM battery is an additional 3 minutes labor.
That fix was to boot into the Repair partition, Command r, log into your Apple account and reinstall the OS. 20min–1 hour depending on your internet speed. I don't have high hopes but it's worth a try.
The most likely cause is a failing GPU. Baking the GPU at 200° re-flows the solder and often brings these back to life. This is a common problem with the 2011 and Apple replaced a lot of 2011 GPUs after warranty but only those that had failed—that program is no longer as far as I know. The heat from the HDD expands and contracts these over time causing this failure. In 2013, Apple installed slower, cooler HDDs to deal with this and other heat related issues in the 2011–12. Replacing the spinner with an SSD keeps this from coming back.
This is also a symptom of a failing NV RAM battery. The original is a BR2032 (readily available on Amazon). If you have removed the HDD, you can use the less heat-resistant CR2032 medical battery. With the screen loosened to replace the HDD (it does not have to be removed), the NV RAM battery is an additional 3 minutes labor.
Thank you, mikehalloran! As a matter of fact, my GPU was replaced during the last year of that program, so I would definitely like to hope it is not failing on me again. Also, my iMac is maxed out with top-of-the-line CPU and a fusion drive, so no original HDD there. - I took one out of Airport Time Capsule in hopes that having Apple firmware would solve the HDD Fan issue; no such luck, but I believe it's not quite as hot as the original one.
I will look into battery replacement.
Reinstalling the OS - meaning, a clean copy with no updates until next one comes along? Also, could you please tell a little more on the El Capitan security update issue - or provide some links? I don't think it affected me then.
I will look into battery replacement.
Reinstalling the OS - meaning, a clean copy with no updates until next one comes along? Also, could you please tell a little more on the El Capitan security update issue - or provide some links? I don't think it affected me then.
When your AMD GPU dies again, and it will some day, consider upgrading your GPU !
take a look at this thread :
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/
Tim0, did you happen to get this fixed?
I am having the exact same problem, mine started after my hard drive died.
I have had an ssd installed alongside the 2T apple HDD for the last 3 years but the 7 year old apple drive died. I replaced the HDD with a WD black but was greeted to a black screen when i rebooted after i changed the HDD.
Mine works fine if i can get the screen to turn on, it will sleep and wake up no problem, but if the screen is off for a couple of hours it will not turn back on. I have replaced the ribbon cable for the screen as it looked a little damaged, reinstalled High Sierra, done the apple Hardware test multiple times, which it failed the first time for memory but after i pulled them out, cleaned and reinstalled it passed 4 times. I will replace the battery next but am at the point of throwing parts at it and want to be sure.
It can take quite some time to get the screen to work and the only sure fire thing to get it to work is removing all the the 4 cables from the screen, and plugging them back in. The 4th led on the logic board is always off when i have this problem and lights up when it works.