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My old IMac crashed today

DeniseM

DeniseM

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Even though I have a much newer laptop, I am emotionally attached to it, and it has a lot of "stuff" on it. (I'm not joking - I feel like my friend is in the hospital!) :rofl:

I know, I know, I know, I should back up... :p

It will boot up, and make all appropriate noises, but the monitor is grey.

The Mac repair place that I have used for 20 years wants $110 for the diagnosis (applicable to repairs) and $55, to back the data up and transfer it to my laptop.

I also have a family member who can transfer the data.

Should I just give up on it and save $165, or go ahead and get the diagnosis & then decide?

This is my Mac - it is probably 8 years old?: (sniff, sniff, sniff...)

imacg4.jpg
 
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$100 there, $50 there.. this week. How about next week, next month or within the next year? How much do you put into it before you decide it's time for something new. Keep in mind that newer software may not support your old model. It's old and these things are not designed to last forever.

Your most important asset is the data on your disk. Get that on a flash drive or DVD and get yourself a new model. To me, it's like replacing that old car you really liked. BUT.. when you get in the newer model and test drive it, all is forgotten.
 
If what you have is important, I would pay them to back it up, as you can't do it now that it is dead. Then treat yourself to a new Mac desktop.
Liz
 
carl2591 said:
is the hard drive dead or just the monitor.. I see them on ebay for kinda cheap.. just swap out hard drive and it should be like NEW... or maybe not..
Click to expand...


I don't know yet....
 
Denise, I LOVE that model. I would be sad too.

We recently bought a used one on Craigslist, we like it so much. It's not our main computer, but we do use it and like it. It was actually kind of hard to get; we had to chase down at least three of them before we finally got a nice one that wasn't already gone.

My recommendation is to copy the data over yourself, put it on an external hard drive, get another G4 on Craigslist, and use it with the external drive. I recommend Craigslist instead of eBay, since you can sit down in front of the computer and try it out.

If it's a bad monitor but the hard drive is ok, it's really easy to copy the data - the general idea is to connect this Mac to another one (can't remember if it was via Ethernet or Firewire), have the newer one running, then start up the old one while holding in a key that tells the old one to just be an external drive (I think it was "m" but I can't remember.....). Then you have the old one showing as a drive on the new one, and can just drag over your files. I can look it up, or you can probably find it via Google.
 
"Misery loves company," or so they say. My PC hasn't croaked yet, but...
I started getting read/write errors and SeaTools flunked the HD, so I cloned it onto a backup and switched 'em. That solved the problem, for a while...

Then the new HD didn't boot 2x ("no boot media"). I eventually got WinXP to load, but the drive was messed up... chkdsk took ~3 hours and defrag reported 3000 frag'ed files. So I'm thinking, it's prob'ly the controller, and looking for a new 'puter.
 
Denise


after 8 years you have your money's worth ... the new iMac's are awesome and SO SO SOMUCH FASTER .... help the economy...-)

Greg
 
But this time, for God's sake make sure you Buy A PC, Running Windows!

I only wish there was a way to make the text blink!


Seriously, I'd give the hard drive to the family member and try to salvage what you can. I could tell you a joke about computer backups where the punchline is "Jesus saves," but you might have to delete it for religious content.

Eight years on that Mac is pretty good. They tended to heat up more, and heat is the enemy when it comes to computers.

 
No....I love my Macs....not happening. :p

It's pretty hard to complain about a computer that worked great for 8 years! ;)

I just have to let go....sigh.....sniff, sniff, sniff....

My first [Apple Product] -

AppleIIe_platinum.jpg
 
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Yeah - you're right...I'll fix it...
 
I have the exact same problem, but mine is the original iMac, the one that's all in one piece. The only reason I have a pc laptop is because it seemed easier to get software for a pc. Let us know how you make out if you get it repaired. I'm trying to decide what to do about mine.
 
DeniseM said:
No....I love my Macs....not happening. :p

It's pretty hard to complain about a computer that worked great for 8 years! ;)

I just have to let go....sigh.....sniff, sniff, sniff....

[/IMG]
Click to expand...

No, just replace it! It's an amazing model, and if you've been happy with it, just get another used one - or two - or three --- and this is coming from someone who has owned just about every model from the earliest to the latest, that particular one is seriously my favorite. :clap:
 
Just make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar to have them look at it. It is free and they will tell you what it would cost to repair and if it is worth it. Also if you purchase a new one (which they are wonderful) they will transfer your information for you.
 
What is the Apple Genius Bar?
 
Every Apple Store has a counter for one-on-one consultations about questions/issues with Apple products. If you go to apple.com and look under support, you can find out about the Genius Bar and make an appointment online, then carry your Mac in to the store. I wonder how they'd react to a Mac that old? Maybe they'd think it was pretty cool (???)
 
My local Mac repair shop, that I've used for 20 years, told me that our local Apple Store only services current products that are still being sold. I don't like the "hard sell" in the store. If I buy a new one, I will order it online (free shipping.) I will probably wait until the fall when the new models come out and they offer freebies with purchase. With my Mac laptop I got a free printer and Ipod by ordering in Sept.
 
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This isn't servicing, it's advice. They'll plug it in, play with it a bit, and give you some advice. (That's if they'll make an appointment for an oldie-goldie.)

If you get a new one, consider ordering a refurbished one online - you'll save a few hundred $ and it has the same warranty AND the the current free printer/ipod deal.
 
The OS software was corrupted, but everything else is fine. They saved all the data and reinstalled the OS and it's good to go. Since I have a new laptop, I'm not going to buy a new desktop right now, but I am going to back up the old desktop! :D

Thanks for all the kind suggestions! :hi:
 
Hi

It is still IMPRESSIVE to see how nice Apple Stores are -- when you are driving by one. I appreciate you support your existing source ... but just look so you know.

They solved a problem on a trip in Hawaii. The downtown SF store has a WOW factor. And then the one down the road from Aviara is OK , too.

Glad to see you resisted the suggestion to 'do windoze' :)

Greg
 
DeniseM said:
The OS software was corrupted, but everything else is fine. They saved all the data and reinstalled the OS and it's good to go. Since I have a new laptop, I'm not going to buy a new desktop right now, but I am going to back up the old desktop! :D

Thanks for all the kind suggestions! :hi:
Click to expand...

Yay!!!! Who fixed it ?
 
The local Mac repair shop that I've been using for 20+ years.
 
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