March 10, 2009

Lately, here, on comments

I'm preety glad that lately all your comments are positive! Many many of you were able to get their iMacs fixed.

I'm not posting often as I believe this problem is now solved. Is yours not solved? CALL APPLE :D

see you on my next post

51 comments:

Kaiwok said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kaiwok said...

I called Apple regarding the vertical lines on my screen. I found out about this blog and gave Apple a call immediately as I was so happy I'd be getting my Mac repaired. A few weeks after the repair, I see more lines on my screen to my horror. Gave Apple a call and they repaired it for free.

Yesterday, I was playing a game and I noticed yes another line, for the 3rd time! But I was excited because I read Pete's post about getting a replacement machine on the third incident of vertical lines. I called them and they said to have it repaired... I was furious!! I want my machine replaced! Since I don't have Applecare, they said if the lines come back, I'll be discussing with them paid upgrade options. Apparently a not so generous 15% off a new Mac.

I am in University studying graphic design, and I need my Mac. I was just wondering how Pete, who commented on the previous post managed to be told that on the 3rd time, his machine would be replaced.

I want to call Apple again, give them a link to this page and refuse to get told to have the screen replaced for a third time. I am losing my nerves here...

Anonymous said...

Apple in Hong Kong refused to replace my W860 imac screen. I already spoke to the Customer Relationship Manager, and he told me his words are final as there is no-one more senior I can speak with. When I asked him to check with his US counterpart, he refused and gave me the "we work as separate entities" speech... *sigh* I guess I am out of luck...

Kaiwok said...

I just sent an executive email carpet bomb to Apple. Instead of having technical support throw my issue into the trash, the email I sent made me get a call from an apple executive of relations of asia and australia.

Only because i sent a complaint via email, did it make the apple executives interested into my case.

Im hoping i get a replacement machine, and i have no warranty on it.

Just be firm, and make them feel empathy for you. im sure this problem will be solved.

Deryl Stonestreet said...

Kaiwak: Do you have the email address that you sent to Apple? I am from the US but am currently living in Indonesia. I just noticed black lines running through my iMac screen yesterday. I need to know who to get in touch with for this part of the world.
Thanks much...

Kaiwok said...

I sent it to steve jobs, and CC'd a number of other apple executives that i found details of on the apple press release page.

the emails are usually first initial, surname @ apple.com or whatever. I wont post the address here though, but i think youll manage. just have a look at the press release contacts and you should be ready to launch your executive email carpet bomb.

please be sure to comment on how your experience turns out - im in the middle of getting this dam vertical line case, so I can't comment on anything really, other then sending the machine for repair for the third time...

Anonymous said...

I have had my 20" imac for less than two weeks. It's the newest version, as far as I know. A pink vertical line developed last night on the left of the screen. It has come and gone three times. I'll call Apple today.

Anonymous said...

I have the same problem on a late 2006 17-inch intel based iMac. Serial number is W863*** though. Puchased in Canada without AppleCare.

Genius bar refused to acknowledge the problem. They tried replacing the LCD cable but it didn't work. Suggested replacing the LCD for $700.

Mike Hollosi said...

Up to 2 vertical lines and worried that it will get worse. Intel core due iMac, 17 inch, bought in Canada late 2006 without AppleCare. (Why would I buy AppleCare when previous 4 Macs I owned had no quality issues? I still have a working first issue Bondi blue iMac from 1998).

The Genius bar hasn't helped so far. They replaced the LCD cable/connector for free but it didn't fix the problem.

Kaiwok said...

Well, I received my line-free Mac with it's LCD replaced (this would be the third time) and I have no lines at the moment.

I'm psychic when it comes to these things, and I sense that I will be giving another call to Apple in a few weeks.

I wouldn't recommend going to the Genius bar - call tech support, and be firm. Ask if you could be transferred to level 2 support, and tell them that Apple does have an extension repair program for iMac's with vertical lines.

Anonymous said...

oh! i'm also suffering from this problem for a long time and i'm from hk. is there anything that we can do together to make the apple hk respresentatives take positive action?

well... i also got a 24" aluminum imac... and have been promoting mac to my friends for long!

Kaiwok said...

Send an email to Steve Jobs if you've exhausted tech support and the duscussions board (make note if the thread is deleted, because Apple likes to censor these problems). Oh and sign this:

http://www.petitiononline.com/maclines/petition.html

You might even want to include that in the email too.

I did that and got a call from Apple Executive Relations the next day :D

Anonymous said...

Called apple on my w860 iMac. Tech support said my model / seeial number wasn't on a problem list and I'd have to pay. Brought it to a genious bar, said it was on problem list but it was over 3 years old so no go. Asked him if he could try anyway. He called his boss. Free LCD replacement currenty underway. Just try hard and you'll get one too.

Mike Hollosi said...

My situation re late 2006 17 inch iMac has bee solved by replacement of the LCD. I phoned Apple support for Canada, spoke to a manager (Mark Vincent, 1 877 388 0879) and he authorized a replacement work order for free. There is 90 day warranty on the repair. Happy for now, hope it doesn't come back 'cause they may not do it again.

aha2648z said...

Thank you very much for this blog. I finally called the support for Germany and got a free repair for my late 2006 17" iMac W864 (not even W860!) showing two vlines.

It was an 800 EUR worth half an hour phone call and I'm glad I tried it - encouraged by those positive comments here. So thank you @all.

Unknown said...

My mom, just called Apple and received a case number to have her late 2006 17" Intel imac LCD fixed, serial # W864... Her problem was slightly different, instead of single pixel vertical lines, her's was an inch thick. Anyways, after one phone call she was told "I guess we can make an exception just for you." lol.

Mark said...

Well, hopefully I'll soon be joining the ranks of the repaired. After getting the runaround twice with Apple Support I was given an appointment at my local Apple Store. While they were able to "verify that it's a hardware issue" (HA!) they told me it would be a $500 repair and that there is no repair extension program for iMacs with my serial number (QP6....). To their credit, they did suggest an independent repair shop that could possibly do the repair for much cheaper. Apparently they send all of their out of warranty repairs there, which I thought was nice.

I, of course, knew better.

I called Apple Support once again, and this time was connected to someone who seemed to know what was really going on. He informed me that there was, in fact, a repair extension program and connected me to a Product Specialist. She not only booked an appointment at my local Apple Store to have it repaired for free, but gave me her contact info in case I meet any resistance on my return visit to the store.

This isn't over yet, but I'm feeling optimistic about it for the first time in months. Thanks, Internet!!

Jacky said...

Same problem with my 17" iMac outside warranty, called Apple support in Hong Kong, been told I need to pay just to have a look at my iMac and there is no repair extension program what so ever. Planning to call US apple headqarter to solve the problem tml. wish me luck, and any more suggestion? many thanks in advance

Unknown said...

A.A.A Looking for Apple phone number for claim...!!! :)

Lozanno said...

Hola mi estimado, tengo el mismo problema que tu. Van en crecimiento la cantidad de lineas. ¿Lo pudiste resoliver?
Por favor comparte la solucion!

Saludos de antemano.

Unknown said...

I've called Apple and they will not fix my problem. My Mac apparently doesn't fall within the range of serial numbers which qualify for the fix. You can see more at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20y8hSkq3Qw

Mark in Kyoto said...

One more success story -- possibly. After leaving my W8603 iMac in storage for a year waiting for Aple Japan to recognize the problem, postings started popping up on message boards indicating that they would indeed replace people's screens.

I made the call, and after some meaningless testing (power on/off, remove self-installed RAM, blah blah; we know where the problem is, already!), and a warning that my Mac was actually just over 3 years old so they'd be making a "special exception", I got an appointment for a shipping company to come to my house and take the Mac away for repairs.

Great!

Now I'm just worried about the problem recurring. Has anyone had success in, say, getting a new Mac with a discount equal to the value of a new screen? If a new screen really does cost $500 (that's what they quoted me at first; 50,000 yen), and my new one is just going to fail since Apple is just replacing the screen and not actually fixing the root of the problem, why even get it fixed? I'd prefer a new Mac Mini in trade!

Unknown said...

My 2 and a half year old 17" imac core 2 duo had the rainbow coloured lines and then changed to 2 wide vertical black lines after a few months.
I called Apple in Japan, machine's lcd screen was replaced for free. It was bought in Sydney, Australia and out of warranty.

Jon said...

My mid-2006 iMac (W861) started popping a vertical yellow line a couple days ago. It's only two weeks out of AppleCare, so I took it to the Genius Bar and amazingly they said they'd repair it for free. He said they would replace the logic board, which I hope does the trick since many others say it's an LCD issue. Hoping for the best...

next said...

My own mother came to me last friday with the news.. At her office, while working on a 17'' iMac same as mine but with a totally different serial number, she suddenly experienced not a line, but the center third of the monitor becoming a stripe!

How many calls did it take to have it fixed? Just one!

Gavin said...

After reading this blog and finding out about the repair extension program for the vertical line issue on early Intel iMacs, I immediately called Apple Support. I was given an exception for the repair and brought it to the local repair shop in Pasadena (Di-no Computers) and had it repaired in one day no charge. Thanks for creating this great resource.

Scott in Sydney said...

Firstly thanks to those with great data points on this issue. I would have lived with this permanently without your views.

Secondly thanks to Apple - IMAC W860 out of extended warranty period (> 3 years) and they replaced without question.

Ostentatious Transitioning Sophist said...

So my Dad's used 2006 iMac just started getting vertical lines in the screen about 3 weeks ago. I just spent 20 minutes talking on the phone with Apple Care and they gave me a case number that I can take into my Apple store and they will replace the the screen FREE! They did not ask me 50,000 questions. I was not transfered to anyone. And, most importantly, I spoke to a phone tech from the U.S.! ZOMG! I could not be more pleased right now. Apple FTW.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for everything! When I started researching the vertical line problem on my 2006 I-mac. I expected a simple software fix, not an intermittent hardware issue. I started out with one line about 5 months ago. By last week I had 6, and I just couldn't live with it anymore. Thanks to the advice on this blog, I called Apple on July 17th, got a case#, then took the I-Mac to my local genius bar. They ordered a new LCD panel and replaced it. I'm back home with my Mac free of vertical lines. It's so..nice and I got it fixed for free. I can't thank you enough!!

Anonymous said...

my apple care warranty was up two and a half months ago and yesterday i noticed a terrible blue line. the serial number was one of the ones that matched up with the W860-xxxx-u2n. i called them today and they were so nice. i'm taking the computer in for repair tomorrow for free.

i am very pleased with apple's customer service.

Anonymous said...

Sorry for bad english..I'm italian..

I've the same problem with 21 lines and a white stripe! My mac is out warranty and when I've call Apple, after 16mins (shit! 199 number!!) Vittoria says: "sorry! but doesn't exist no type of assist for your product..You can try to call local Apple tech center!"...damn! I call local center (Catania) but for repair the monitor I must spend 600€ What!?!?

Unknown said...

My lines started over a year ago and have gotten worse. I was dissapointed when I heard they were doing nothing but never actually called myself. Well I finally did a couple days ago and they are going to repair it at no cost to me. The Product Specialist seemed like he was familiar with the problem as he didn't ask many questions.

I took it in today and on the receipt it looks like they are replacing the lcd screen and cable. They also ordered a new logic board and have a note eluding that it will be replaced too, do they think it is a logic board problem? Hope it lasts when I get it back.

MIchael said...

Good news from germany. After having called for months without any luck, Apple finally agreed to repair my W860U2N iMac (5 lines so far) free of charge. Im might have spent EUR 20,- for phone calls so far, but that's nothing compared to the price for a replacement LCD. So just keep calling ....

Antistalinist said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

I just got off the phone with Apple and they said they are sorry but they can't fix the LCD and that I should buy a external LCD. I have the 17" IMac described in this blog with the exact serial number. What can I do?

ithinkitsnice said...

4 of our 6 2006 17" iMacs in work came down with this problem in the last few months, here in the UK.

They were a mixture of W and C serial numbers.

After calling Apple with our serial numbers, repairs were approved right away with no fuss (albeit we had to walk through their standard turn-it-off-and-on routine, tedious but but painless).

Essentially the advisor on the phone went through a few motions, but nothing was challenged. All things considered, a positive experience.

All iMacs are going into the store for repair on Monday.

Joedelta said...

My wife's W860...U2N iMac has been gradually developing the infamous vertical lines problem over the past year. One or two I could ignore, but the pace seems to be escalating, and now she's up to 18.

Some quick googling found this blog. Sweet!

Called 1-800-SOS APPL. The computer operator was efficient and pleasant, and a human picked up almost immediately.

I gave the serial number and briefly described the problem, and pointed out (from this blog) that apparently there's an extended warranty for this issue. She put me on hold to go check the internal memos. Came back after 10 minutes to have me count the lines, verify that they're top to bottom, and confirm that power-cycling the Mac doesn't help.

Another ten minutes on hold, and they came back to let me know that indeed they extended the warranty on this computer for this issue, and to take it in to the local Apple store for free repair.

Yay! And thanks!

Anonymous said...

You do have to be persistent, after he told me that the repair period for that issue was closed, I asked to speak with someone else. He came back after about 10 minutes and said that they would create a customer satisfaction number for the computer and that I could take it in in the next 30 days to have it repaired at no charge! Wow!!! What a great blog!!!

k said...

I just called to get my W8606...U2N imac repaired because of vertical line issues. They initially told me my screen did not follow under range. I pointed him to this blog and 'after reading more articles' he issued a repair ticket on it and made sure i was aware it was only to fix this exact issue and nothing else.
I told him I could call back numerous times but I would prefer not too.

kinless said...

I will echo previous posts here...

My mom's 2006 iMac (W864...) started picking up the vertical lines, and had 4 of them within a month.

Last week, I called the SOS-APPL number. The first guy said if it was not listed as an issue on the Apple website then there was nothing that could be done.

I was persistent and said this is a common problem, and that an extended warranty was supposed to be on this computer. I pointed him to this website, even though he said he "couldn't guarantee the validity of 3rd party websites." I also told him my tech level is high and I've researched the problem for weeks, and even mentioned the 2 pending class action lawsuits regarding this problem.

He told me to hold, and 10 minutes later I'm talking to a new specialist "Donna" and she immediately took care of my problem, saying we can "make a one time exception" and reserved an appt to my local Apple store (the same one where I bought the iMac originally).

I took it in last Friday, and picked it up 6 days later. They replaced both the logic board and the screen, and it didn't cost a thing. Thanks to this blog, and to Apple for keeping the mom happy.

Anonymous said...

I just called and they said that Intel based iMacs are not covered. Any idea if this is true?

Hassan said...

Thanks for the great Blog. Another Success story. I have an Intel Core 2 duo Imac which had vertical lines. I am from MOntreal QC. I called apple support and someone called Jenna picked up from Peterborough. I explained everything and pointed her to the blog. She told me to wait 5 minutes and talked to a boss. After this she was able to create an exception and gave me a number.

I went to the Genius bar and they have already ordered the part for me. It is the entire Logic Board becase the graphic card is embedded on it and they will have to replace it. Everything costs around 800 + tax and is free.

I do not have an apple care and the computer is now more than 3 years old. Bought in April 2006

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, I called the apple support and they have made an appointment for me in store to fix my blue line problem on mu iMac, brilliant thank you so much...another success..

Oli said...

I called Apple Support in Germany and guess what: I will get a new display!
My Mac is absolutely out of warranty and I'm not even the person that the imac is registered to.
You really have to try it!

Boaz Agmon said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I have just started researching this problem since my iMac 17 serial W870...UX developed a blue vertical line two days ago. It is three months out of extended warranty. My trouble is I live in a non-city situation and the nearest repairers are 4 hours drive away. Anyway, shall call Apple and see what I can do.

Anonymous said...

Found this blog, called Apple and got my iMac LCD replaced for free. The Apple store employee told me that the problem was with the displays they got from LG and that LG was paying for the repairs.

Stöt said...

Good News from Sweden today: After a first failed attempt, the second call to the Apple support (this time quoting the petition) was successful in convincing the operator that my display on the computer (iMac Early 2006 W860....U2R) was liable for a free repair. Woho!

Sign the petition!

http://www.petitiononline.com/maclines/petition.html

rajesh said...

I use to own a MacBook, now I own an iMac. I had to repair that thing like three times, for three different reasons, within four years. Purchasing the apple care protection plan was well worth it.
I purchased my iMac at Best Buy and I'm not sure how much their protection plan costs but I still qualify to purchase it. Do i require less Imac repairs because they aren't thrown around as much as laptops. Or is that not necessarily true. Thanks!

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