Pink flashing columns on Screen

[michellesc02]

Hello! I was wondering if anyone might know anything about the pink flashing columns i'm experiencing on my iMac screen. at first, there was one column on the screen with pink stripes... the second time it continued the same, and the third time, another column of pink stripes opened up and it really started distorting the image on the desktop, moving up and down uncontrollably.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
xx m

 

[Natobasso]

Could be a bad video card:
http://thesalon.blogspot.com/2009/08/apple-laptop-video-card-issues-colored.html

When did you buy your mac? Is it still under warranty?

 

[michellesc02]

hi, thanks!
i got the imac in may 2007. i've had to reinstall the whole system because it froze last august and now 1/4 of the screen is either flickering or going completely black. can the installation disks that came with the computer help at all?

thanks again! xxm

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

The installation disks will do nothing for you if the problem is hardware-related, which it sounds like there's a good possibility of it being.

The only way to fix a hardware problem is to fix the hardware. The video card and/or monitor (which would be the two main culprits I'd suspect) are non-user-serviceable -- meaning an authorized repair center would need to repair and/or replace these parts for you.

I think your best bet is a stop by your nearest Apple store (make an appointment first!) or Apple-authorized repair center.

 

[Natobasso]

I think your video card is bad and no amount of software is going to fix it. You need to get it seen by a licensed Apple tech.

You can try things like repairing permissions first (go to my blog here: http://thesalon.blogspot.com/search?q=repair+permissions) but I imagine you'll end up where you are now: with a bad video card.

Let us know how it goes!