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Apple imac 21 5 inch late 2009 User Manual

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    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 51 2010-11-18
    Pixel Anomalies
    Unlikely cause: logic board, power supply, hard drive, optical drive, fans, speakers, camera, 
    microphone
    Quick Check
    SymptomsQuick Check
    Pixel Anomalies
    •  Dark dot anomalies
    •  Bright dot anomalies
    •  Debris on inside surface of 
    glass panel
    •  Debris on surface of LCD panel
    1.  Clean outside surface of glass panel.
    2.  See kBase #HT1721: About LCD display pixel 
    anomalies.
    Deep Dive
    Check ResultAction Code
    1.   Determine if “defects” are dust/
    debris on surface of glass panel 
    or LCD. Yes
    Clean glass and/or LCD using 
    procedures in Glass Panel 
    take-apart chapter.
    No Go to step 2.
    2. Determine if bright pixel 
    defects exceed acceptable 
    number. See kBase #HT1721: 
    About LCD display pixel 
    anomalies. Yes
    Replace LCD panel. L08
    No LCD panel meets bright pixel 
    defect specifications.  
    Go to step 3.
    3.  Determine if dark pixel defects 
    exceed acceptable number. See 
    kBase #HT1721: About LCD 
    display pixel anomalies. Yes
     Replace LCD panel. L08
    No LCD panel meets dark pixel 
    defect specifications.  
    Go to step 4.
    4. Determine if combination 
    of bright/dark pixel defects 
    exceed acceptable number. See 
    kBase #HT1721: About LCD 
    display pixel anomalies. Yes
    Replace LCD panel. L08
    No Explain to user that LCD 
    panel is operating within 
    specifications for pixel defects. 
    Do NOT replace LCD panel.  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 52 2010-11-18
    Vertical/Horizontal Lines
    Unlikely cause: power supply, hard drive, optical drive, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
    Quick Check
    SymptomsQuick Check
    Vertical/Horizontal Lines
    •  Vertical lines
    •  Horizontal lines 1.
      Boot from install DVD to determine if potential 
    software issue exists.
    2.  Verify if issue is visible on an external display.
    Deep Dive
    Check ResultAction Code
    1.   Boot from Install DVD and 
    verify if issue is still visible. Yes
    Go to step 2.
    No Issue likely caused by 
    software or driver issue. 
    Troubleshoot for software 
    issues. Make sure all software 
    updates have been installed.
    2.  Verify if issue is visible on an 
    external display attached to 
    mini DisplayPort. Yes
    Issue NOT caused by internal 
    LCD. For systems with a video 
    card, go to step 3. For systems 
    without a video card, go to 
    step 4.
    No Go to step 6.
    3.   If a video card is present, 
    remove video card and inspect 
    connector for damage or 
    corrosion then reinstall. Verify if 
    issue still occurs. Yes
    Replace video card.  
    Go to step 8. M24
    No Issue likely caused by poor 
    video card connection. 
    4.  For systems without video card, 
    horizontal lines may be related 
    to a failing RAM module. Verify 
    if video issue only happens 
    AFTER Apple logo and spinning 
    wheel appear. Yes
    Issue only happens AFTER 
    Apple logo and spinning 
    wheel appear. Go to step 5.
    No Issue present before Apple 
    logo and spinning wheel 
    appear. Go to step 8.
    5.   Start with shift key down 
    (safe mode) to disable system 
    extensions. Verify if issue still 
    happens when booting in safe 
    mode. Yes
    Go to step 8.
    No No video issue when booting 
    in safe mode. Go to step 6.  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 53 2010-11-18
    6. Isolate with only one memory 
    module installed, then with the 
    other one. Test with known-
    good memory. Verify if issue 
    only happens with specific 
    RAM module(s). Yes
    Replace affected RAM 
    module. X02
    No Go to step 7.
    7.   Isolate with one known-good 
    memory module installed in 
    one memory slot. Repeat by 
    testing in other memory slots 
    Verify if issue only happens 
    with specific memory slot of 
    logic board. Yes
    Replace logic board and 
    retest. M07
    No Go to step 8.
    8.  Remove LVDS cable between 
    LCD panel and logic board and 
    verify if there is damage to 
    cable or connectors. Yes
    Replace LVDS cable. 
    Go to step 9. X04
    No Reinstall LVDS cable . 
    Go to step 9.
    9.   Verify if issue is still present 
    after reinstalling LVDS cable. Yes
    Replace logic board. If video 
    card was present, reinstall 
    original video card.  
    Go to step 10. M04
    No Issue resolved. 
    10.  Verify if issue is still present 
    with replacement logic board 
    installed. Yes
    Go to step 11.
    No Issue resolved. 
    11.  Reinstall original logic board 
    and verify if issue is still present 
    with original logic board 
    reinstalled. Yes
    Replace LCD panel. L04
    No Issue resolved . If a video card 
    was present, reinstall original 
    video card.   
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 54 2010-11-18
    Non-Uniform Brightness
    Unlikely cause: power supply, hard drive, optical drive, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
    Quick Check
    SymptomsQuick Check
    Non-Uniform Brightness
    •  Brightness not uniform
    •  Color not-uniform 1.
      Verify System Preferences > Displays > Brightness 
    slider is set above minimum.
    2.  Allow 15 minutes for backlight to reach normal 
    operating temperature and output before 
    evaluating display.
    3.   Visually inspect glass panel for presence of dust, 
    cigarette smoke, or other contaminants. Clean 
    glass panel if needed.
    Deep Dive
    Check ResultAction Code
    1.   Determine if brightness 
    uniformity issue is visible after 
    display has warmed up for 
    about 15 minutes. Yes
    Go to step 2.
    No Display backlight can take 
    several minutes to stabilize. 
    Retest. If issue still not visible 
    return computer to user.
    2.  Look at user-provided 
    examples showing brightness 
    uniformity issue. Determine if 
    variation in uniformity appears 
    excessive when compared to 
    another same-model computer. Yes
    Go to step 3.
    No Demonstrate to user that LCD 
    performs similarly to another 
    computer of the same model.
    3.   Remove glass panel and 
    loosen screws securing LCD 
    panel. Determine if brightness 
    uniformity improves. Yes
    Inspect for mechanical 
    interference with screws 
    or cables making contact 
    with back of LCD. Reseat 
    components & cables, retest.
    No Go to step 4.
    4.  Remove LCD panel, then 
    inspect and reseat backlight 
    cables. Determine if brightness 
    uniformity improves. Yes
    One or more backlight cables 
    were loose. 
    No Replace LCD panel. L07  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Display 55 2010-11-18
    Cosmetic Defects
    SymptomsQuick Check
    Cosmetic Defects to LCD
    •  Cracked LCD
    •  Scratched LCD polarizer
    •  Scorched or melted LCD
    •  LCD impact damage
    •  Foreign material on LCD or 
    back side of glass panel.
    1.  Determine if damage was caused by user 
    environment, accidental damage, or abuse. If 
    applicable, inform user that Apple does not 
    warrant damage caused by accident, abuse, 
    misuse, flood, fire, earthquake, or other external 
    causes. For more information, refer to:  
    http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty
    2.  For dark and bright pixel anomalies see  
    Pixel Anomalies symptom flow.
    Uncategorized Symptoms
    Quick Check
    Symptoms Quick Check
    Uncategorized Symptoms
    •  Unable to locate appropriate 
    symptom code. 1.
      Make sure brightness level is set above minimum.
    2.  Clean glass panel to make sure external 
    contaminants are removed prior to evaluating 
    display performance.
    3.   Allow LCD display to warm up approximately 
    15 minutes before evaluating display color and 
    brightness uniformity performance.
    Deep Dive
    Check ResultAction Code
    1.   Verify if existing symptom code 
    applies to issue reported by 
    user. Yes
    Jump to appropriate 
    symptom code flow.
    No
    Document reported failure 
    and send feedback to 
    [email protected]
    stating that a suitable 
    symptom code wasn’t found. 
    Provide as much detail as 
    possible. N99  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 56 2010-11-18
    Mass Storage
    Hard Drive Not Recognized
    Unlikely cause: LCD panel, power supply, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
    Quick Check
    SymptomsQuick Check
    Drive Not Recognized 
    Drive No Boot
    • Flashing Question Mark
    •  Boots to Grey Screen
    •  Boots to Blue Screen
    •  Boots to Prohibitory Symbol 
    (Review kBase #HT2674: Intel-
    based Mac: Startup sequence 
    and error codes, symbols) 1.
      Use a known-good mouse. A stuck mouse button 
    will not allow boot.
    2.  Boot from Install DVD. Use Disk Utility to verify 
    S.M.A.R.T. status of hard drive.
    3.   Use Disk Utility to repair disk.
    4.  Verify that user’s data is backed up and that user 
    authorizes erasing disk and reinstalling software.
    5.   Use Target Disk Mode to mount user’s hard drive 
    on a known-good computer. Use Disk Utility on 
    host computer for Quick Checks 2 through 4.
    Deep Dive
    Check ResultAction Code
    1.   Boot from Install DVD and run 
    Disk Utility. Verify if user’s hard 
    drive is available for Disk Utility 
    to repair. Yes
    Go to step 2.
    No Go to step 5.
    2.  Run Disk Utility’s “Repair 
    Disk” function and verify if it 
    completes successfully. Yes
    Go to step 3.
    No Go to step 4.
    3.   Reboot computer. Verify if 
    system boots successfully and 
    that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
    reports no errors. Yes
    Data error. Issue resolved.  H07
    No Go to step 4.
    4.  With user’s permission, erase 
    hard drive and reinstall Mac 
    OS. Verify if installation process 
    completes. Yes
    Go to step 8.
    No Go to step 5.
    5.   Inspect hard drive SATA and 
    power cables and connectors 
    for bent pins, or other damage 
    to the cable. Yes
    Replace damaged SATA cable 
    or DC power cable.  
    Go to step 8. X03
    No Go to step 6.  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 57 2010-11-18
    6. Reseat hard drive SATA cable 
    at logic board and hard drive 
    connections, and verify if 
    computer starts up. Yes
    Go to step 8.
    No Replace SATA cable.  
    Go to step 8. X03
    7.   Test with known-good 
    bootable hard drive. Verify if 
    system boots successfully and 
    that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
    reports no errors. Yes
    Install user’s hard drive.  
    Go to step 9.
    No SATA cable verified or 
    replaced and known-good 
    hard drive installed. Replace 
    logic board. Go to step 1.
    8.  Reboot computer. Verify if 
    system boots successfully and 
    that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
    reports no errors. Yes
    Issue resolved. Return system 
    to user.
    No Go to step 7.
    9.   Reboot computer. Verify if 
    system boots successfully and 
    that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
    reports no errors. Yes
    Issue resolved.
    No User’s hard drive appears to 
    be defective. Go to step 10.
    10.  Replace hard drive. Boot from 
    system-specific Install DVD 
    and reinstall Mac OS X with 
    drive format option. Verify if 
    drive is formatted correctly 
    (GUID partition table) and that 
    software restore was successful. Yes
    Issue resolved by replacing 
    hard drive. H01
    No SATA cable verified/replaced 
    and new hard drive installed, 
    Check with known-good 
    restore DVD. If restore failure 
    still happens, go to step 11.
    11.  If restore is unsuccessful, 
    startup a known-good system 
    in Target Disk Mode and 
    connect it to the user’s system 
    with a FireWire cable. Once 
    set up, insert the iMac Install 
    Disc in its optical drive. Startup 
    user’s system while holding 
    Option key, select and boot 
    from the Install Disc DVD 
    and restore system software. 
    Verify if software restore was 
    successful. Yes
    Restore failure seems to be 
    due to internal optical drive 
    or media issue. Go to Optical 
    Drive Read/Write Error 
    symptom flow.
    No Restore failure seems to be 
    due to internal SATA bus 
    issue. Replace logic board. M19  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 58 2010-11-18
    Hard Drive Read/Write Errors
    Unlikely cause: LCD panel, power supply, fans, speakers, camera, microphone
    Quick Check
    SymptomsQuick Check
    Drive Read/Write Error 
    Drive Bad Sector/Defective 
    Drive Formatting Issues
    •  Cannot save documents
    •  Read/write error message
    •  Hang when accessing or saving 
    data 1.
      Boot from Install DVD. Use Disk Utility to verify 
    S.M.A.R.T. status of hard drive.
    2.  Use Disk Utility to repair disk.
    3.   Verify that user’s data is backed up and that user 
    authorizes erasing disk and reinstalling software.
    4.  Use Target Disk Mode to mount user’s hard drive 
    on a known-good computer. Use Disk Utility on 
    host computer for Quick Checks 2 through 3.
    Deep Dive
    Check ResultAction Code
    1.   Run Disk Utility ‘Repair Disk’ 
    function and verify if it 
    completes successfully. Yes
    Go to step 2.
    No Go to step 3.
    2.  Reboot computer. Verify if 
    system boots successfully and 
    that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
    reports no errors. Yes
    Data error. Issue resolved.  H07
    No Go to step 3.
    3.   With user’s permission, erase 
    hard drive and reinstall Mac 
    OS. Verify if installation process 
    completes. Yes
    Go to step 6.
    No Go to step 4.
    4.  Inspect hard drive SATA, power 
    cables and connectors for bent 
    pins, or other damage to the 
    cable. Yes
    Replace damaged cable.  
    Go to step 6. H04
    No Go to step 5.
    5.   Reseat SATA cable on hard 
    drive and logic board. Verify if 
    computer starts up. Yes
    Go to step 6.
    No Replace hard drive data cable.  
    Go to step 6. H04
    6.  Reboot computer. Verify if 
    system boots successfully and 
    Disk Utility “Verify” function 
    reports no errors. Yes
    Issue resolved.
    No Go to step 7.  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 59 2010-11-18
    7.  Test with known-good hard 
    drive. Verify if system boots 
    successfully and Disk Utility 
    “Verify” function reports no 
    errors. Yes
    Reinstall user’s hard drive, go 
    to step 8.
    No SATA cable verified or 
    replaced and known-good 
    hard drive installed. Replace 
    logic board.
    8.  Reboot computer. Verify if 
    system boots successfully and 
    that Disk Utility “Verify” function 
    reports no errors. Yes
    Issue resolved.
    No User’s hard drive appears to 
    be defective. Go to step 9.
    9.   Replace user’s hard drive. Verify 
    if drive formats correctly with a 
    GUID partition map and installs 
    Mac OS without errors. Yes
    Issue resolved by replacing 
    user’s hard drive. H03
    No SATA cable verified or 
    replaced and new hard drive 
    did not resolve issue. Replace 
    logic board. M19
    Hard Drive Noisy
    Unlikely cause: LCD panel, logic board, power supply, speakers, camera, microphone
    Quick Check
    Symptoms
    Quick Check
    Hard Drive Noisy
    •  Noise during start up
    •  Noise during operation
    •  Noise when drive is copying or 
    saving data 1.
      Boot from Install DVD. Use Disk Utility to verify 
    S.M.A.R.T. status of hard drive.
    2.  Use Disk Utility to repair disk.
    3.   Determine if noise is comparable to another 
    machine of the same model.
    Deep Dive
    Check ResultAction Code
    1.   Boot from the Install DVD and 
    run Disk Utility. Verify if user 
    hard drive is available for Disk 
    Utility to repair. Yes
    Go to step 2.
    No
    Go to Hard Drive Not 
    Recognized symptom flow.
    2.  Run Disk Utility ‘Repair Disk’ 
    function and verify if it 
    completes successfully. Yes
    Go to step 3.
    No Go to step 4.  
    						
    							iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 60 2010-11-18
    3.  Restart the computer. Verify if 
    the noise is still present. Yes
    Go to step 4.
    No Issue resolved. Return system 
    to user. H06
    4.  With user’s permission, erase 
    hard drive and reinstall Mac 
    OS. Verify if installation process 
    completes. Yes
    Go to step 3.
    No Replace hard drive.  
    Go to step 5.
    5.   With replacement hard drive 
    installed, reboot computer. 
    Verify if noise is still present. Yes
    Replacement hard drive did 
    not resolve issue. Go to step 6.
    No Issue resolved by replacing 
    hard drive. H06
    6.  With hard drive removed verify 
    if rubber vibration isolation 
    grommets are properly 
    installed in hard drive bracket 
    (attached to hard drive) and 
    to mechanism in rear housing 
    (where hard drive pins insert). Yes
    Go to step 8.
    No If grommets are missing or 
    damaged, replace hard drive 
    bracket or mechanism as 
    appropriate. Go to step 7.
    7.   Reboot computer. Verify if noise 
    is still present. Yes
    Go to step 8.
    No Issue resolved. Return 
    computer to user. H06
    8.  Disconnect hard drive SATA and 
    power connections then boot 
    from the Install DVD. Verify if 
    noise is caused by fans. Yes
    Go to Fan Failures/Thermal 
    Issues symptom flow.
    No Go to step 9.
    9.   Disconnect hard drive and 
    optical drive then boot from an 
    external volume. Verify if noise 
    disappears when optical drive 
    has been disconnected. Yes
    Possible optical drive or 
    media issue. Go to Optical 
    Drive Noisy symptom flow.
    No
    Noise issue still present, but 
    does not appear to be caused 
    by hard drive. Go to Noise/
    Hum/Vibration symptom 
    flow.  
    						
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