iMac fan goes non-stop and now blue screen (of death?)

[csc]

This can't be good.....Any ideas/solutions for why an iMac of 2004/5 vintage (I would give precise details, but I can't) running Leopard would all of a sudden (a) have the fan refuse to stop (for hours)--I had to turn it off and (b) now will not restart at all--it was getting stuck on a blue screen (not the Windows blue screen of death, but a few shades lighter with a hint of purple) but would make it through if I restarted it a couple of times. Now, however, it is just stuck on the blue screen. It worked fine earlier today and has had no new software added since Leopard was installed about two months ago.

Thanks in advance.

 

[chairguru22]

I would suspect hard drive problems due to age.

 

[csc]

I knew it could not be good. I ignored i for a bit; when I returned, it was just dark with the fan running. Now I guess I start the buy/wait dance.

Thanks,

CSC

 

[MacHappytjg]

I knew it could not be good. I ignored i for a bit; when I returned, it was just dark with the fan running. Now I guess I start the buy/wait dance.

Thanks,

CSC

check to be sure put in the disc and boot from c drive could be something else? but probably hd

 

[MacHappytjg]

but why did ur screen turn blue thats odd

 

[csc]

Update: After letting it sit until I had time to get back to the issue, I tried resetting the PRAM (with the computer off, turn it back on while holding down the Command+Option+P+R keys, releasing them when you hear the SECOND start-up tone). Then I ran Repair Disk Permissions in the Disk Utility application. It fixed three things, including two Java-related permissions. After that, I verified the hard drive; everything seems copacetic.

[And, in a completely-unrelated aside: My daughter just walked into the room, looked at the MacRumors sliced-apple logo, and asked, "Is that a poisoned apple?" Disney strikes again.....]

 

[csc]

Well, that did not work after all...

The computer will start, cycle through the gray screen with the circle progress clock thing, and then stick at the blue screen--if it comes unstuck, it makes it to the Leopard purple/cosmic log in screen. After that, the computer is generally sluggish, but works.

I've made sure the software is fully updated, repaired disk permissions (again; nothing but a message that "ACL found but not expected in Library," but it does not work right. I'm sure if I leave it on as normal, the fan will start going constantly again, after which I will have to turn it off, and get it to work again by resetting the PRAM (unless that is coincidental, and not causal).

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks,

CSC

 

[MacHappytjg]

The computer will start, cycle through the gray screen with the circle progress clock thing, and then stick at the blue screen--if it comes unstuck, it makes it to the Leopard purple/cosmic log in screen. After that, the computer is generally sluggish, but works.

I've made sure the software is fully updated, repaired disk permissions (again; nothing but a message that "ACL found but not expected in Library," but it does not work right. I'm sure if I leave it on as normal, the fan will start going constantly again, after which I will have to turn it off, and get it to work again by resetting the PRAM (unless that is coincidental, and not causal).

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks,
CSC

take it to apple?

 

[starryeyedgypsy]

same blue screen issue with imac os x 2007

i have the same reaccuring problem with the blue screen.

i have taken my imac to tekserve twice now and they keep telling me that its the software - even though they told my friend in Cali that her blue screen was a hardware issue.

they keep telling me that it works fine but each time i come home with the computer it turns back!!! so i have a feeling this isnt software at all?!?

 

[BigBoDog]

Blue Screen

I also have blue screen issues which happen when I am in the middle of doing something on my iMac g5 pre intel. Dust can be a big problem with these so it helps to vacuum out the keyboard and the air holes on the back and bottom of the computer. I find that blowing cold air into the hole including the dvd hole can bring it back to life. Sometimes when the normal screen comes back it can be a different size or be in a different location (as in all but one corner off the main screen. Generally these made in China devices are of poor quality and may last 5 years if you are lucky. May try a Dell next time. Oddly when the screen is blue I can still enter in text etc in an email or spreadsheet but I can't reboot. If it stays blue for too long then I just pull the plug from the wall socket then start it up again.

 

[Drewbie]

run an apple hardware test off the original install disc

turn on the computer and hold down 'D' to get it to boot to that, from there run an extended text.