Just last night when I woke my 17" 2GHz iMac C2D from sleep, a single yellow vertical line with a width of about one pixel suddenly appeared on the screen from out of nowhere. I've tried reinstalling the latest Leopard combo and graphics updates, zapped PRAM, reset PMU and massaged the LCD to no avail. My AC power source has all the requisite surge suppressors and voltage regulators, so power should not have been a cause. I've gone to AppleDiscussions only to find out that there were also many users who experienced the same thing with their 17" iMac G5 w/ iSight, 17" PowerBooks and a couple of iMac CDs. There was no solution to fix the LCD except to exercise the warranty, which in my case had unfortunately already expired. Users have even complained at the forum with the way Apple's been silent about this issue, going as far as saying that Apple's even "censored" or "downplayed" reports of these defects. I don't know much about this matter, but that's what they posted. Affected users at the thread posted their serial numbers and traced the defective units to Apple's factory at Shanghai, China. My iMac was a week 33 (September) 2006 release with a serial number beginning with W8***** - same as affected users at the forum. They even went on to say that the problem starts with a single vertical line but will worsen with more lines in the weeks ahead. The extended AppleCare warranty is looking pretty good on hindsight right now and I am just awaiting the cost of replacing my iMac's LCD by Ynzal. If it's more than P25T, I'm afraid I'll have to live with this vertical yellow line and just save up for the next iMac. It seems there's no way to avoid this problem other than purchasing an AppleCare and I highly recommend everyone to get one. Just a heads-up. Here's a screenshot:
Hi booblanco, I have the same W8*** series as yours, but mine is a C2D 2.0 GHz. Where do I find the 'release' info? I don't have the problem you reported, thankfully, but one can't ever tell...
our machines are the same, soloworx. here's the link for more info on your mac: http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
Thanks, boo... This is what I got: Serial number: W8*********** Name: iMac Intel (core duo) Model: Mxxxx iMac Intel (core 2 duo) 2.0GHz Bus speed: 667MHz Screen size: 17 inch Factory: W8 (Shanghai China) Model introduced: 2006 Production year: 2006 Production week: 48 (December) Production number: 9682 (within this week) I wonder if our Macs have the LG-Philips LCD (from an article I read somewhere back)?
ours is core duo bought Feb 2006... replaced the lcd 2X already... good thing there's applecare first appeared on the 13th month... and the 2nd appeared after 2weeks it was replaced. note: it has 1 line then becomes several in days.. until it was fully covered w/ lines... LCD replacement stocks took them 2week.
that's just about right because users at AppleDiscussions report this happening at the 13th to 15th month. this issue could affect secondary market (second hand) sales of macs without AppleCare. here's a link to an online petition to Apple: http://www.petitiononline.com/maclines/petition.html
this same vertical line phenom also happened to my PB 12" 1,5 Ghz. I also didn's have applecare then. The lines are about 20 right now. I;m using an external monitor with it. After that hard lesson, I immediately bought Applecare for my iMac 17" CDuo, Macbook Core Duo, and Mac Mini Core Duo
My Imac recently showed this vertical line, not one but 2 lines. Good thing I have the Apple care plan extended warranty work for me. But still it pisses me off. ----------------------------------- Model Name: iMac Model Identifier: iMac5,1 Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Speed: 2 GHz Number Of Processors: 1 Total Number Of Cores: 2 L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB Memory: 1 GB Bus Speed: 667 MHz Boot ROM Version: IM51.0090.B09 SMC Version: 1.8f2 Serial Number: W8**********
hmmm...am glad no lines have appeared so far on my 4-month old iMac C2D, but has anyone ever found out what causes it?
2 line appeared on my end. Good thing there is Apple Care. Apple Australia called and if I wanted the new model......... Now, I have the latest iMac model
Now, this thread makes me feel nervous. My iMac is now 15 month old, though I hope not to see that dreaded vertical line. Serial number: W8XXXXXXXXX Name: iMac Intel (core duo) Model: Mxxxx iMac Intel (core 2 duo) 2.0GHz Bus speed: 667MHz Screen size: 17 inch Factory: W8 (Shanghai China) Model introduced: 2006 Production year: 2006 Production week: 48 (December) Production number: 9757 (within this week)
Have any of you tried using an external monitor with your iMacs? If lines don't appear on the external monitor then the line probably is a result of a defective screen. If the lines also appear on the external screen then it's probably the video card at fault.
according to the threads at AppleDiscussions, this issue has been traced to a particular factory in China. on typical LCDs, the vertical line issue can be fixed by adjusting a jammed inverter cable or its replacement. the thing with the iMac C2D (inverters for the old G5 iMac are available at eBay), is that there's no available replacement inverter cable anywhere even via authorized resellers (if you come across one, please do tell). maybe Apple just really wants us to replace the entire LCD.
Model Name: iMac Model Identifier: iMac5,1 Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Speed: 2 GHz Number Of Processors: 1 Total Number Of Cores: 2 L2 Cache: 4 MB Memory: 2 GB Bus Speed: 667 MHz Boot ROM Version: IM51.0090.B09 SMC Version: 1.8f2 Serial Number: W8xxxxxxxxxx same serial number starting W8.....................help!!!!!!!!!
Oh no.... this just happened to us right now. The iMac that we use for work developed that line today.... This really sucks.. Here's the details of our iMac Serial number: W86354GQVUX Name: iMac Intel (core duo) Model: Mxxxx iMac Intel (core 2 duo) 2.0GHz Bus speed: 667MHz Screen size: 17 inch Factory: W8 (Shanghai China) Model introduced: 2006 Production year: 2006 Production week: 35 (September) Production number: 5192 (within this week) The bad thing is that this doesn't have AppleCare....... Grrrr...... Guys, I'm a believer na talaga of AppleCare good thing I got one for my MacBook Pro before the original warranty expired.
I got a similar problem here with my iMac G4 15'...boo! Can I use an external monitor for my system here?