Thanks Sam. The computer is all up-to-date so I phoned Apple yesterday evening. They were very helpful but only got me to try to re-create the problem while on the phone. The computer, of course, behaved perfectly all the time. They did not suggest anything that might be causing it other than some kind of software conflict.
They told me to run Disk Utility after a safe start-up, which I did whilst on the phone. Then tried to get me to reset the PRAM but this didn't work (not enough hands!). They said it would not matter that I didn't do that. The problem has only occurred twice so far, but it is worrying that it might happen again and not restart properly. The case is still open. They said if it happens again to phone straight away. It seems their next suggestion will probably be to completely re-install the System, but I don't really want to go through that again unless it is absolutely essential, having had a nightmare with Adobe's Creative Suite in the past . . . on my old computer I had to prove to Adobe that it was my software (guilty until proven innocent!!!) after re-installing the System. The computer still has another year to run on the extended warranty so I'm not worried too much yet. I would be very interested to know of anyone else who has a similar problem with the screen blacking out instantly on their iMac. David On 1 June 2010 08:42, Sam - MacAmbulance <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi David > > Sounds like a problem either with the graphics card or with the graphics > drivers, run software update and see if there are any firmware or video > updates for the iMac, if not then report the issue to Apple. > > Regards > > Sam > > -- > MacAmbulance > Sam Mullen > 07747778022 > [email protected] > > > On 1 Jun 2010, at 08:28, David Ransom <[email protected]> wrote: > > I have an iMac 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 4 GB ram, 800 MHz running >> 10.6.3. Everything has been running perfectly until a couple of incidents in >> the last week or so. >> >> I have had an instant screen failure, both times when trying to move files >> with the mouse. Half way through dragging the files from one folder to >> another the screen blacks out. I can still hear that the computer is on, but >> there is no way of "waking up" the screen. >> >> The only way out seems to be holding down the power button until the >> computer switches off, then restarting. On restart everything is fine again. >> >> Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know if this is a software >> or hardware problem? >> >> When everything starts up fine again, it has been more of an inconvenience >> than anything else, but I do wonder if it is actually going to start up >> again next time! >> >> David >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Sussex Mac User Group" group. >> To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] <smug%[email protected]>. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/smug?hl=en-GB. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Sussex Mac User Group" group. > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] <smug%[email protected]>. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/smug?hl=en-GB. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sussex Mac User Group" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/smug?hl=en-GB.
