gdgt

Have you tried calling AppleCare just to see what they have to say? There is a chance that this might be covered. Do you have an Apple authorized service center close by? That might also work if Apple Care says they will cover the repair.

Its likely the screen, but if you want to check before paying for a new monitor, try hooking up the output to a tv first.

iMac 24" (white) owner with the same problem. I'm sad to tell you that you're gonna have to live with that. From what I've learned, it seems that it's caused because something in it (processor or video card) is getting hot.

If it gets worst (it will), download SMCfanControl, www.macupdate.com­/info.php­/id­/23049 It seems that, because Apple didn't want the iMacs to be noisy, the fans run really slowly. In my case, the problem began with horizontal lines, like you, but then more problems appeared and ended with a frozen screen. I could start up again minutes later after letting it coold down. With SMCfanControl, I still ocassionaly get the lines, but it isn't freezing anymore.

Yeah, the line first appeared while I was burning a DVD, and my kid was playing a Flash game - all of which I assume is pretty chip-intensive and heat-generating. It doesn't go away when it's cool, though... it's as if something permanently went a micron or two out-of-whack. That's why I was wondering whether the problem would ALSO appear on a second screen relying on the same hardware. I don't want to shell out $50 for the appropriate cable just to experiment.

I'll sit tight with the one-pink-line problem for now, and hope that the external monitor will be the solution, sometime in the future if/when it gets worse. As someone else says, I may check with the one shop in town that's an authorized repair place; see what they think.

[I'll try the fan-control trick just out of curiosity, too.]

It sounds like a dead/defective pixel issue. I don't think that this would travel to a second monitor if you got one. There's more info here: en.wikipedia.org­/wiki­/Defective­_pixel

Only 1 of the vertical lines? Consider yourself lucky, if you do some Googling you'll find that this problem is not unique to just yourself. Over the past year my 1st gen intel iMac has proceeded to get an increasing amount of vertical colored lines running down the monitor, it makes for a very 'colorful' display.

Based on various discussions around Apple forums the problem is caused by an issue with the graphics card, the connectors to the monitor, or the monitor itself 'going bad'. Apple has never officially stated what the issue is that is causing the vertical lines to form, and never admitted to a defect in this iMac line that I'm aware of.

But in response to your question plugging in an external monitor does alleviate the issue. I'm using a 2nd external monitor and no lines display on that monitor, and as this 'line issue' has gotten worse I've made the external monitor the default desktop monitor for use.

I'd be curious to read experiences from other original iMac owning gdgt members with the vertical line issue.

Thanks LonelyBob. I had googled and seen the screenshots of folks worse off than I, but through all those threads and forums, I was never quite sure about the external monitor thing. Thanks a lot for letting me know. Like you, I'd be interested in others' experiences.

Best, R

rlbgator, if the video chip is the problem, it will likely transfer over to a monitor. If its the screen, it shouldn't. My bet is on the screen being the culprit. I'd borrow a friend's monitor and find out. Also, call Apple Care. They often cover screen defects even if you are out of warranty.

OK, since more than one of you suggested calling Apple Care notwithstanding my OOW status, I gave it a shot. The guy politely explained that I was OOW, and should pay $29.95, but if I didn't want to, he has some limited "self-help" resources that he would walk me through. He asked me to power down and unplug the machine, then plug in and reboot to the install DVD. (I figured this was pointless Level-1 script-following, but I remained cheerful while chatting with the guy.)

While waiting for the disk to load, he told me he'd be gone 3 to 5 minutes to consult with another support person. After about 10 minutes had passed, he came back and said, "Say, we're going to go ahead and take care of this for you. Here's your case number: ##########." Then he looked up the (only?) Licensed Mac Repair shop in this town, gave me the number, and told me to call them to set up an appointment. "With your case number, they should be able to see the notes I'm making here, and you'll get taken care of."

Hey hey! Haven't called yet, but will let GDGT know how it turns out. In the meantime, "Call Apple Care - see what happens," is great advice.

Local Mac Repair shop diagnosed the problem as screen, not chip. They overnighted a new screen on Thursday afternoon and installed it Friday - my Mac was away from its desk for about 27 hours total. No charge. Good stuff.

Did it work? It's the first time I hear that the problem is the screen.

It works just like new. In my case it seems it was the screen. Local repair shop says they installed a new screen, not board or chip. I have no reason to think otherwise.

Perhaps my machine's ailment was different from the many other complaints I've seen in forums, about vertical lines. In any event, I am really pleased with Apple's support on this issue. I'm not a fanboy, but this was extraordinary support, and I'm glad to post about it.

This just happened to me.. I can't believe that I would get a replacement on my 3 year old iMac but with your story, I'm tempted to give it a try.

I called Apple Care after the second vertical line showed up on my screen and they sent me to the nearest repair center, which happens to be an Apple Store, to get it fixed. I'm definitely impressed that they consistently address this problem for all impacted customers.

The ironic part is that I saw this thread before I even got the problem, came back when I noticed the first line, got the second line, and then got it resolved with advice from the thread. Go gdgt/Apple.

I had the same problem with my Mac G5. I called apple support to talk about another issue with the computer at work and during our discussion I mentioned the vertical lines on my home computer. The person was very helpful, did some research, gave me a case number and also attached an "internal document" to the case number so the next person would see it. Turns out it is a "known issue" and Apple will repair it for free even if it is OOW. I just took it to the Apple Store yesterday and they said it will be repaired in
3-5 days. If you have this problem with vertical lines on the moniter, you should be able to get it fixed for NO CHARGE!! Good for Apple...

I saw my first vertical line yesterday, and after reading this advice I called Apple Care. The person I spoke to looked up some information, but said my model, iMac Intel 17" 1st edition, was "not mentioned for this problem". He told me to take it to the Apple Store and see what they will charge. That did not make me feel too good, so I asked if there was a case number, which he gave me once I asked. I hope they will fix it. Does anyone else have this Mac and this problem?

cindij, If nothing else, call again and see if the next AppleCare consultant says something different. That sounds silly, but it seems like one can get different results from different support folks.

As these machines age, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple simply says, "No more, we can only freely repair this issue for so long...," but since I first posted, it seems like a large percentage of folks are finding satisfaction. If you have a store nearby, see what they say; if you don't, call again and chat with another support person. It can't hurt to keep trying, and it *could* really pay off. Good luck!

Thanks, I'll do that.

I use to repair lcds for a living for 5 years, I thought I might chime in on this.

It's more than likely an LCD problem. It's a common defect in LCD technology. Each row of vertical and horizontal pixels has it's own connector within the LCD screen. That particular connector has become loose. Usually the problem doesn't show up down the road but when you first get it and turn it on. I saw sometimes when the LCD gets warm (usually within 4 hours) from standard operation that the line would appear. Vertical lines are way more common than horizontal lines.

I don't know where specifically your vertical line is but if you press monitors adjust button and there should be a menu that pops up. If the line goes through that menu, then it's definitely an LCD issue. It will show up as well if you don't have the monitor cable attached to the monitor but I don't think you can disconnect that cable easily on a iMac.

Unfotunately, you won't be able to repair it yourself unless you have a clean room much like ones you see in CPU manufacturing. If you successful repair while outside a living room, there will be soo much dust inside the lcd that it'll be annoying.

* I meant clean room, not living room*

So it seems like someone tried to sue Apple over these issues saying Apple recklessly ignored the issue:
www.appleinsider.com­/articles­/09­/12­/22­/j...

That might explain why Apple aggressively fixes the problem when customers report it even when Apple Care has expired.

Interesting. Promptly repairing machines, even OOW, certainly deflates any defendant's claim that the maker has failed to take "remedial action."

Glad to see a company decide that A+ customer support is better than class-action courtroom defense.

A purple vertical line also appeared on my display. I have a late 2006 17" iMac, and my AppleCare warranty expired 3 months ago. I called AppleCare and the first rep said he couldn't help. So I told him that I read on gdgt that other people were having similar issues and their units were repaired, even OOW. I asked to speak to someone else, and he gladly transferred me. The other rep said he looked up an internal article and found out that it was indeed an issue and that Apple was repairing these units free of charge, even if they're OOW. I got a case number and a phone number, with an extension, to reach the rep personally if there were any issues.

So... CALL APPLECARE! Thx gdgt. ..and thanks to you too, Apple.

I have an 17" iMac G5 purchased Sep 2005 and it started getting lines about 2 months after the extended warranty ran out. After I got the 4th line I checked the internet and found it was a problem for many people and it would cost about $600-700 to get it fixed. I just returned from the Apple Store Genius who said that my Mac qualified for a new screen and Logic Board installed for free.

www.flickr.com­/photos­/43390911@N06­/sets­/...

grr, flash getting costy now :(

Glad I found this discussion, it finally convinced me to head to the Apple Store where they promptly offered to fix it for free. Will be getting it back in less than a week. Thanks again.

I'm going to have to give this a shot then. I called Apple on mine a couple years ago and they wouldn't do anything for me. I've since stopped using my machine because I had about 20 lines on the screen.

Vertical Line Issue,
Don’t bother calling using Apple Care. Nobody ever heard of this problem after I had called 3 different times. You need to take it in to an Apple Store and talk with an Apple Genius. My 17” iMac G5 was a Power PC (2005) not an Intel which came out a few months later. The great ending to my problem was that after they installed the new screen and logic board it developed an overheating problem. They kept it for 3 weeks trying to fix it but couldn’t. They ended up giving me a brand new iMac 21.5” (2010) for free!!!

FishNrib