So I've done a lot of research on my problem and I've realized this seems to be a widespread issue that Apple refuses to acknowledge as an error on their side, surprise surprise.
Anyway, a few weeks my computer would refuse to come out of sleep mode. Well at least the screen. Video would run in the background as I could hear the audio still playing, I could have apps open and randomly click on the screen and hear noises within apps, such as songs starting with iTunes up.
When I would try to reboot, it would reboot fine yet after the initial white screen with Apple logo the monitor would stay black. I would turn it off, let it sit awhile with the cord unplugged and then plug it back in and fire it up. This would work about 50% of the time getting it started back up fine.
Slowly it started getting worse and now I'm at the point I think it has crapped out completely. Sometimes it goes to the Apple Logo and hangs. Other times it powers on and does nothing.
Late 2011 iMac, 3.1GHz i5 27"
Things I've tried
Boot to Time Machine Backup - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to Safe Mode - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to external - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to recovery - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to verbose - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Removed aftermarket RAM and replaced with original - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Unplug everything except keyboard and boot - here is a funny one, if the power cord is attached and I unplug any USB peripheral, the computer turns on. It doesn't boot or try to, but it turns on.
Reset NVRAM - after doing this I seem to have no picture at all. When it comes on I hear the chime prior to the white screen and Apple Logo, but have no picture at all now.
There were people saying that if it is on and the screen is all black that you could hold a flashlight to the screen and see an extremely dim picture it could be either the LCD or backlight panel going bad. I could see no picture.
While it was slowly failing some threads mentioned using hot corners could help. Hot corners did not help.
While it was running, I ran disk utilities and the volume came back verified.
Right before this last catastrophic failure I was bringing it out of sleep with the intentions of a full wipe and fresh install of Mountain Lion. Not sure how I can achieve that, or if it will even help at this time. It is looking like I have a $2000 paperweight. No, it is no longer under warranty or AppleCare. The closest Apple Store is roughly 2 hours away if I was able to take it in.
Any tips, tricks, or suggestions? I have spent days reading every similar thread to mine out there and have all the suggestions listed in them to no avail. Not sure whether trying to install a new hard drive should be my next step, or whether or not I would be willing to pay the $900 for a new backlight panel. I hate Windows, but if I can get 2 windows computers for the price of fixing my iMac would I not be foolish for going that route?
My iMac was fully backed up, and there was nothing on it that I cannot live without. Would the hard drive seem like the most likely culprit? Or does this seem like something that may be logic board related? I am at a loss and just taking stabs in the dark now praying for answers.
Anyway, a few weeks my computer would refuse to come out of sleep mode. Well at least the screen. Video would run in the background as I could hear the audio still playing, I could have apps open and randomly click on the screen and hear noises within apps, such as songs starting with iTunes up.
When I would try to reboot, it would reboot fine yet after the initial white screen with Apple logo the monitor would stay black. I would turn it off, let it sit awhile with the cord unplugged and then plug it back in and fire it up. This would work about 50% of the time getting it started back up fine.
Slowly it started getting worse and now I'm at the point I think it has crapped out completely. Sometimes it goes to the Apple Logo and hangs. Other times it powers on and does nothing.
Late 2011 iMac, 3.1GHz i5 27"
Things I've tried
Boot to Time Machine Backup - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to Safe Mode - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to external - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to recovery - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Boot to verbose - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Removed aftermarket RAM and replaced with original - hangs on Apple Logo then goes to black screen.
Unplug everything except keyboard and boot - here is a funny one, if the power cord is attached and I unplug any USB peripheral, the computer turns on. It doesn't boot or try to, but it turns on.
Reset NVRAM - after doing this I seem to have no picture at all. When it comes on I hear the chime prior to the white screen and Apple Logo, but have no picture at all now.
There were people saying that if it is on and the screen is all black that you could hold a flashlight to the screen and see an extremely dim picture it could be either the LCD or backlight panel going bad. I could see no picture.
While it was slowly failing some threads mentioned using hot corners could help. Hot corners did not help.
While it was running, I ran disk utilities and the volume came back verified.
Right before this last catastrophic failure I was bringing it out of sleep with the intentions of a full wipe and fresh install of Mountain Lion. Not sure how I can achieve that, or if it will even help at this time. It is looking like I have a $2000 paperweight. No, it is no longer under warranty or AppleCare. The closest Apple Store is roughly 2 hours away if I was able to take it in.
Any tips, tricks, or suggestions? I have spent days reading every similar thread to mine out there and have all the suggestions listed in them to no avail. Not sure whether trying to install a new hard drive should be my next step, or whether or not I would be willing to pay the $900 for a new backlight panel. I hate Windows, but if I can get 2 windows computers for the price of fixing my iMac would I not be foolish for going that route?
My iMac was fully backed up, and there was nothing on it that I cannot live without. Would the hard drive seem like the most likely culprit? Or does this seem like something that may be logic board related? I am at a loss and just taking stabs in the dark now praying for answers.
